The Arizona Republic January 28, 2010
Military wives, mothers gathering socks for troops
By Emily Gersema
Two groups of military wives and mothers are on the hunt for one item we often take for granted that U.S. service men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan lack: socks.
The Gold Star Wives of America group in Arizona, as well as the Blue Star Moms organization, launched a sock and valentines drive earlier this month with help from Ahwatukee, Chandler and Tempe area schools.
Another sock drive led by the same two groups has kicked off in Gilbert Public Schools and Mesa Public Schools.
WHY SOCKS?
Patty Termini, a member of the Gold Star Wives of America, said the rainy season is hitting the military service men and women in Iraq pretty hard. The season lasts from December until April, according to GlobalSecurity.org. Soldiers writing and calling relatives at home have complained it's impossible to find a dry pair of socks.
Troop levels are gradually lowering to 50,000 by August 2010, under a plan announced by the White House in the fall. The soldiers who are still there are enduring cool damp conditions.
"Some of them are getting foot fungus," Termini said.
The recipients include Arizona servicemen and women in the National Guard and U.S. Air Force.
WHO HELPED?
Students and staff at Chandler Unified School District, where Termini had been a teacher until she retired, and Kyrene Elementary School District kids brought in loads of socks that she picked up Wednesday after collecting them for several days.
Chandler students donated about 2,000 pairs of socks while Kyrene students gave about 3,000 pairs.
WHERE CAN YOU DONATE?
Schools in the Gilbert Public Schools and Mesa Public Schools districts are gathering socks for troops now until the end of this month.
The final day for donating socks in those districts is Feb. 24, when Termini will pick them up in a U-Haul trailer and take them to volunteer Gold Star Wives and Blue Star Moms to be packaged and mailed.
HOW ELSE CAN YOU HELP?
Termini said it costs the Gold Star Wives and Blue Star Moms $10.35 per box to send the socks overseas.
If you want to help them sock away money to mail those socks from Gilbert and Mesa at the end of the month, contact Termini at 480-857-6865.
© Copyright 2010, The Arizona Republic
