With the help of community members, area businesses, and civic organizations, Benjamin Logan fourth-grade students were able to assemble more than 100 care packages to share the spirit of the holidays with service members in Kuwait, including several individuals with local ties.
The care packages were sent to the HHC 16th Engineer Brigade in Kuwait, where Joshua Shields, MSG, of West Mansfield is currently serving for the next year. Alexia Boling of Zanesfield, SPC, a BLHS Class of 2015 graduate, is also part of this brigade, along with others from Logan County.
Shields is married to Benjamin Logan teacher Abbey Shields, and their daughter, Marley, is in the fourth-grade at Benjamin Logan.
This project was organized by fourth-grade teacher Barb Kuck and her students.
“The educational value this project had for the students included persuasive writing, letter writing, fund raising, handwriting and civic responsibility,” Kuck said. “Their goal was to make people in the military feel loved during the holidays.”
Benjamin Logan students from across the district brought in care package items and other donations from Nov. 30 through Dec. 4. The donations collected were used for military postage and care package items to pack in the boxes.
The fourth-graders also wrote letters to donors, assembled the boxes, completed customs labels, researched military packaging rules and more.
The care packages contain items ranging from Beef Jerky, Slim Jims, tuna packets, dried fruit, drink mix, sunflower seeds, mac and cheese cups, Tide Pods, Pringles, dryer sheets, trail mix, peanuts, ramen noodles, and cheese/peanut butter crackers.