Volunteers Spread Good Tidings as They Box Goodies for the Troops

Christmas came in July as residents filled boxes with goodies to send to the troops in an Operation Care Package community service project event Friday at the Will County Extension Office in Joliet.
"In my opinion it's important because they're out there fighting a war," said Marianna Maldonado, an office support agent with the University of Illinois cooperative extension. "A. lot of people tend to forget it's still going on. And I strongly feel we need to help.
"It means a lot to them. Debbie Smothers from Operation Care Package is constantly posting stuff on Facebook letting us know what our troops are getting. They're thanking us everyday for the support.
"And now with the economy the way it is they're not getting as much support from the military, so we're kind of having to step that up here with Operation Care Package."
Three local Patch editors were part of the volunteer crew and were spreading tidings of comfort and joy -- Dawn Aulet, Ron Kremer and Karen Sorensen.