The 24/7 drop-off trunk is in the parking lot to the right of the First Baptist Church.
May 7, 2019 by Carol Britton Meyer
As part of Compass Cares and in honor of Military Appreciation Month, the real estate agents at the South Shore/Hingham Compass office at the Hingham Shipyard are collecting donations for deployed U.S. soldiers stationed in the Middle East.
This collection is in support of First Baptist Church's year-round participation in the nationwide Soldiers Care Packages effort. First Baptist's "Care Package Program" was started by Joy Thomson in 2005.
As background, Congress designated May as National Military Appreciation Month in 1999 to ensure the nation was given the chance to publicly show their appreciation for troops past and present.
Contributions from the community may also be dropped off in the 24/7 Donation Trunk to the right side of the church -- located at 85 Main St. -- in the parking lot under the bright "Soldiers Care Packages" sign, which has been the drop-off location for many years.
First Baptist's initiative has grown from being a congregational effort to a community-supported one. Church members collect donation items, package and ship them at the church's expense, and maintain a dedicated website. To date, First Baptist has shipped more than 28,000 lbs. of donated items overseas.
The program is structured around "point leaders" who receive the packages and distribute their contents to other soldiers in their unit.
Financial contributions toward postage are gratefully accepted as well. Postage costs mount up quickly. Checks may be made out to First Baptist Church, notating "Care Package Postage" in the memo line. If you wish to contribute online using PayPal or credit cards, go to www.SoldiersCarePackages.com.
“The intent of this initiative is to continue our outreach to deployed US personnel as long as there is a war. Despite the diverse feelings about war management, we must support and care for our soldiers," the church website states.
"Compass is collecting donations of these newly-requested items: peanut butter, beef jerky, nuts, protein bars, cans of fruit (small with pop-tops), coffee, feminine care products, hand sanitizer, and Icy Hot patches," said Sales Associate Sharon Norman.
Donations may be brought to the Compass Office at 18 Shipyard Dr., 3C, which is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m, Monday through Friday through the end of May -- or taken directly to the church. All donations are mailed in a timely manner.