Everyone gets a sweet tooth now and again, even soldiers. And local mom Kathy Buckley makes sure our fighting men and women don’t have to go without.
After two of her sons were deployed 10 years ago, Buckley began sending them care packages full of goodies. She quickly learned, however, that many of the soldiers were not receiving the same comforting treatment. Determined to help any way she could, Buckley started Military Mom in Action (MMA) right out of her home in Melrose, where she began collecting donations of food to send to soldiers overseas.
Now in its 10th year, MMA has sent more than 75,000 care packages to soldiers in 17 countries. The packages are often sent to a commander, who hands out items to soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines. Packages differ, but they usually include easily preserved snacks like granola bars, cookies, beef jerky, crackers and candy. Depending on the season, they package individual servings of iced tea or hot cocoa.
Buckley said she likes to send food that “they can’t get over there.”
“They like what we send because it’s stuff they can throw in their pockets when they’re out on the road,” she said.
Fundraisers and donations help buy the items for the care packages. Shaker High School’s World of Difference Club been working with MMA for at least five years and this year is collecting Halloween candy on Wednesday, Nov. 7, at the group’s annual Veterans Day celebration. Shaker social studies teacher and World of Difference Club advisor Dan Weaver said in past years the club has collected the items and then sent them to Buckley’s home. This year, they’re going to put the packages together themselves.
“We’re doing a lot of the legwork. It gives our students of my club an awareness of what we’re doing and why it’s important to do it,” Weaver said.
One year, Weaver said the club received 60 boxes of Halloween candy from the district’s elementary schools and another 40 to 50 boxes full of food, supplies and toiletries to send to MMA.
Buckley said schools like Shaker donating their candy and other goods is always helpful.
“I think it’s great. It helps get the community involved, too. That’s important,” Buckley said.
Other fundraising standbys include asking for donations at Sam’s Club. The Native American Pow Wow in East Greenbush will be raising money for MMA this year.
Buckley has a full-time job and now eight grandchildren, and admits that sometimes she gets overwhelmed and exhausted from running MMA. Yet the overflow of thank you letters and emails from soldiers keeps her going.
“There are times we get to the point where it’s like, ‘I can’t do this anymore.’ You just sometimes want a break. (Then) you get that letter or email and it gives you that kick in the butt that says, ‘Hello! They’re still serving our country over there.’ I feel selfish that I want a break where day by day they’re looking for a pick-me-up,” Buckley said. “They love knowing that the American people are still supporting them.”
Buckley also likes to add a letter in each package, often just talking about her own family, the weather or how some of the volunteers have been helping.
Terry Matthews, who was deployed in Kuwait from 1998-2001, used to receive care packages from his mother full of Pepsi and chocolate chip cookies. Matthews will be celebrating the one-year anniversary of the opening of his Troy restaurant, The Brown Bag, on Saturday, Nov. 10, and asked Buckley to come to try to raise money for MMA. He had met Buckley when she was tabling at Sam’s Club and remembered how wonderful it was to receive packages from his mom.
“It’s a huge morale booster,” Matthews said. “It gives the service men and women a little taste of home.”
To volunteer or donate to MMA, visit militarymominaction.org.