United Way of McLeod County Community Impact Committee chair Jacob Sanken announced today that the organization collected nearly 2,900 items during its’ Military Care Package drive August 12-22. The donated items, with an estimated retail value of $5,800, were processed and shipped August 23-25 to the local National Guard Unit recently deployed to Kuwait.

“We want to thank the generous individuals and businesses that made this initiative a success,” said Sanken. “We hope that these items come in handy for the nearly 150 National Guard troops from our region.”

“After gathering the collection boxes from the 19 sites around McLeod County, it was amazing to see it all assembled in our office,” said Executive Director Paul Thompson. “It took our volunteers three days to sort through all of the items and get them prepared for mailing. In the end, we sent 51 flat rate boxes and an additional five 30-plus pound crates. Thanks to everyone who donated items, or money to off-set the shipping costs.”

Military Care Package - United Way board members Ron Johnson (left), Jes Grandgenett (right) and Bonnie Fimon (background) sort through some of the 2,900 donated items.