It might sound crazy, but when I learned that my son, Jesse, was deploying overseas, I was honestly excited. As someone who enjoys sending letters and packages to family and friends, in my head, this was an opportunity to do just that.
I sent Jesse packages two to three times a week with things he needed and goodies he wanted. Always thinking of others, one day Jesse asked if I could send packages to a couple of his battle buddies who weren’t receiving mail. No one was ever lonely or upset in his presence, and he couldn’t stand his fellow soldiers not feeling supported. So, for the next 11 months, I mailed packages to Jesse and 15 other soldiers in his unit based in Baghdad, Iraq.
Jesse was killed on Jan. 7, 2004. He left behind his wife and two babies.
I was lost and suddenly without purpose. My husband suggested I keep sending packages, but Jesse’s unit was now home.
Rediscovering Purpose
I eventually got the name of a soldier in Afghanistan. I wrote him a letter asking if I could send him a care package with toiletries and snacks. I’m sure he must have thought: A crazy woman in California wants to send me things, sure!
Once again, I bought supplies and goodies and rediscovered my rhythm of packing and shipping. In each package, I included a letter asking for the name of any soldier who wasn’t receiving mail. My one soldier soon became five, then 15, then 50! It was then that my friend, Stephanie, suggested we form a nonprofit organization. And, so, Packed with Pride was founded.
Names of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines from all over the world came in, and once word got out, we began receiving donations — from $5 to $500 — allowing us to buy supplies and ship hundreds of boxes. What began in my living room eventually moved to the garage. Before long, even the garage was too tight for our operations.
Pitching In
Volunteers — including parents of service members who received one of our packages — helped with packing. Businesses, including Starbucks and See’s Candy, donated items. And a local church offered Packed with Pride their old youth building — space to accommodate our growing operation.
Packed with Pride operated for 10 years, sending over 60,000 packages to hundreds of men and women serving in the military. I have binders full of letters thanking us for the boxes — letters that brought us joy and encouragement.
Find Your Place, Make a Difference
Throughout our 10 years, I spoke at churches, service organizations, and anywhere else I could find an audience. Each time, I talked about Jesse. That helped me to heal. With each engagement, speaking about him and our loss became easier.
In serving the deployed, I found a way to keep Jesse’s memory alive and continue his legacy of supporting others. But you don’t need to start a nonprofit to be of service. The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) has supported all those grieving a death in the military and veteran communities for over 30 years. Through TAPS, you step into that circle of support — volunteer as a Military Mentor for grieving children, lend a hand at events, or host a fundraiser that brings hope and critical funding to survivors.
Visit TAPS.org/Fundraise to learn how you can be of service.
