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SJIHM students send packages to troops
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Students at Saint Joseph and Immaculate Heart of Mary School packed boxes full of nonperishables Nov. 11. The school sponsored a "Support Our Troops" drive from Oct. 25 through Nov. 5.
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Fifth-grader Daniel McCarthy held a bundle of Christmas cards and a thank you letter signed by students from the Saint Joseph and Immaculate Heart of Mary School Nov. 11. These items were included in each care package.
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Austintown's David Durba (left) and Canfield's Alex Sanders carefully placed items in boxes Nov. 11 for local military service personnel who are deployed. Each box contained items such as sunflower seeds, batteries, foot powder and hygiene items.
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Saint Joseph and Immaculate Heart of Mary fifth-grade teacher Barb Demesko (left) has a son, Adam, who is currently deployed to Iraq with the United States Air Force. He will be receiving one of the care packages from the school.
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Fifth-grader Meg Welsh helped pack care packages Nov. 11 that were sent to local military service members who are deployed overseas.
After two weeks of preparation, it was time to start packing.
Saint Joseph and Immaculate Heart of Mary students worked together to package items Nov. 11 that were collected through a “Support Our Troops” drive Oct. 25 through Nov. 5. Rather than sending boxes to a random battalion or company, the packages were addressed personally to local service members who are currently deployed overseas.
Kindergarten teacher Barb Demesko, who has been teaching for 34 years, has a son serving in Iraq. She orchestrated the collection efforts, with the help of student council members, and ensured they were shipped.
“We have done other things for other causes, but we have not, to my knowledge, done anything to support our troops,” Demesko said.
Non-perishables such as hygiene items, batteries, sunflower seeds, foot powder and chap stick were collected. Students stuffed 16 boxes full of goodies for the deployed service members and shipped them Nov. 12.
United States Air Force Staff Sgt. Adam Demesko will be receiving one of the packages. He is scheduled to return from his six-month deployment in Iraq sometime in February. He will then be routed to the Lakenheath Air Force Base in England to finish an ongoing duty tour. Since Demesko’s son is benefiting from the school project, she said it touches her in a comforting way.
“This is a very heartwarming experience for me,” Demesko admitted. “Knowing that these boxes are going around the world to our service men and women is just a great feeling.”
This was sixth-grader Patrick Thomas’ first time preparing packages for service members. He doesn’t personally know anyone in the military, but is anxious to learn more and help whenever he can.
“This was a good experience to teach us about the troops,” Thomas said. “I hope they enjoy the boxes.”