UPDATE 1:50 with photo.
IOWA CITY –Maria Tyson said the idea to send care packages to Iowa soldiers came to her and her family one day as they were just sitting around, chatting.
“We send out care packages quite a bit and it can get expensive,” she said. “We wanted to come up with a way for the community to become involved.”
Tyson, 23, of Iowa City is the volunteer chairperson for the recently established Iowa Troop Pantry, a service that provides Iowa Service members with care packages.
The new program was created by The Johnson County Military Affairs Association as part of their service to the community. Tyson serves as the current secretary for the association.
Tyson, a University of Iowa senior, said the pantry is collecting various items from canned and dry foods to personal care items, as well as local magazines and news papers.
“We are taking really anything that would make them feel more at home,” she said.
The Iowa Troop Pantry is also asking for donations from local corporations to help pay for various items the group will send and possibly postage after their postage fund runs out.
Tyson said the pantry received a donation from The Johnson County Military Affairs Association for $1800, an amount allocated for postage.
Each care package costs about $50 to send, she noted.
The Iowa Troop Pantry began collecting donations on July 27 and hope to continue for as long as they have the funds to send packages.
Families and friends of service members can make a referral to send care packages, she said.
Donations can be dropped off at Re/Max Real Estate Centre, 201 E. Benton St., Iowa City. Tyson can be reached at 319.930.8333.
“We are really excited about it and trying to get as many of the community members involved as possible,” she said.
Donated macaroni and cheese sits in one of two donation drop off boxes located at RE/MAX Real Estate Centre, 201 E. Benton St., Iowa City. The donated items will be shipped in care packages to Iowa service members by the Iowa Troop Pantry. (Katie Stinson/SourceMedia Group News)
