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Colusa Lions make grand gesture on care packages
To learn more about how to join or be an associate of Tri-Counties Blue Star Moms, how to donate items or to make a cash donation, call chapter President Lori Danby at 682-3487 or e-mail her at ljdanby@netscape.net.
The Colusa Lions Club recently donated $1,000 to the Tri-Counties Blue Star Moms to help with the cost of sending care packages to military personnel.
The local chapter, which received its charter in 2007 and covers Colusa, Sutter and Yuba counties, has mailed out more than 5,000 packages since being formed.
"The items are usually donated by the community," said Lori Danby, president of the chapter. "We average about 1,000 care packages a year, so our postage is over $10,000, and that is what the $1,000 is going toward."
That included providing packages to the whole unit of a Maxwell serviceman after having their personal belongings stolen while in Pakistan.
Blue Star Moms is a chapter of the national Blue Star Mothers of America organization, which was founded in 1942.
"We are nonpartisan, nonpolitical, just totally promoting patriotism and supporting our veterans and servicemen," Danby said.
Currently, there are 35 chapter members and about 20 associates, mostly relatives of the members.
"Our membership fluctuates. Some moms join only while their children are in the military, some are in it for the duration," Danby said.
It costs $20 a year to be a member. There is no cost to be an associate.
The group also supports the Gold Star Moms, members of which have lost family members in combat. There are a couple of Gold Star members in the local Blue Star group as well.
"And we have helped families who have lost members as far north as Redding," Danby said.
The group meets at 6:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month at Hillcrest Plaza, Suite D, 229 Clark Ave., Yuba City.
The chapter also holds two community care package events each year, at which many members of the communities gather to put together care packages to be sent out. It has averaged more than 400 packages at recent events.
The next one is scheduled for April 28 at the California National Guard Armory at 310 B St. in Yuba City.
Participants will begin putting together packages at 4 p.m. A fundraiser dinner will follow. The cost is $15.
