New Hampshire's Pease Greeters are asking for donations after seeing a large increase of soldiers departing and arriving at the Portsmouth International Airport at Pease.
The Pease Greeters welcome and send off troops and also send care packages to soldiers in foreign countries, according to NH1. Supplies, though, have started to run short because of the large number of soldiers passing through the airport, more than 6,000 in July alone.
"We ship 600 to 700 pounds to our troops every month," JoAnne Schottler, who coordinates care package collections, told NH1. "That's a lot of items."
The greeters told the television station they need toiletries, snacks, socks, and knit hats so they can restock. Organizers said that the care packages are sent to more than 100 different soldiers every month.
The Pease Greeters did get help last month from the New England Professionals Golfers' Association, which donated $2,000 to the group after the greeters welcomed their 1,000th flight at the airport, reported SeacoastOnline.com.
"I am beyond words. We've been out pretty straight," said Chuck Cove, chairman of the Pease Greeters, who added that it costs the organization $600 to $900 for each troop flight.
"… The people of the Seacoast are unbelievable. I know the airport has a heart. It's great that the golf course at Pease also has a heart," Cove added.
The Pease Greeters have donation drop off locations at the Pease International Tradeport, including the Service Credit Union and the Seacoast Media Group. Organizers said those interested can go to their website at www.peasegreeters.org for a complete list of items needed and additional drop off points.
In April, President Obama agreed to send American military advisers closer to the front lines of the conflict against the Islamic State in Iraq in a series of moves that will escalate the United States military campaign there, according to The New York Times.
In July, Obama announced that there will still be around 8,400 American troops in Afghanistan at the end of his presidency. He promised to end the war there when he came into office in 2008, wrote National Public Radio.
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