Here’s a nice story about an easy way to bring joy to the men and women who are fighting for our country all around the world, far away from their homes and families.
It’s the Adopt-a-Platoon initiative, begun in 2016 by the Webster Rotary Club. Its goal is to send care packages stuffed with snacks, toiletries, beverage items, writing supplies and more, as often as possible to as many soldiers as possible.
Pretty much since it began 16 years ago, the effort been coordinated by Rotary member Rich Comins, who latched onto the project the moment it was proposed. He remembers,
(Rotary member) Herb Gauch saw an article in the paper saying that Fort Drum was sending people to Iraq. I had a brother in the Navy, and you could see how lonesome he was. I was never in the military but I said if there’s any time that I can do something I’m going to do it. So when Herb announced it at the meeting I said I want to lead that.
Rich likes to ship his care packages at least every couple of weeks, but it all depends on how many donations he gets. For example, a month ago he only had enough donations to send out seven boxes, but last week he was able to ship another 12. Over the course of the program, he and the Rotary Club have packaged and shipped 978 boxes to more than 20 platoons.
Each Adopt-a-Platoon package is different, but candy, snacks, popcorn and cookies (especially Girl Scout cookies) are especially popular. Basically, Rich just packs as much as he can into a USPS Flat Rate box before shipping it off.
Right now Rich is relying on donations from friends, neighbors and acquaintances to purchase items for the care packages. He also puts in a lot of his own money, and the Rotary Club covers the shipping cost of $20.35 a box. Right now they’re collecting items for 185 men and women from the Rochester area who are serving with the Army National Guard in Kuwait.
And if there’s ever a moment he wonders if the effort is worth it, he need only read back through the emails he gets from grateful soldiers. One wrote, “I had a real bad day, and I came back to headquarters and there was a box for me. It lit up my day. It meant that somebody back at home likes me.”
In short, this is a very easy way for us to let our soldiers know that we here at home have their backs, and we appreciate the sacrifices they are making.
How you can help
Cash donations and/or donations of items for Adopt-a-Platoon care packages are greatly appreciated. Click here to see a list of suggested items provided by officers at Fort Drum, and email Rich Comins at richecomins@gmail.com to arrange drop-off. If you’d prefer to write a check, please make it out to The Webster Rotary Foundation, Inc., and contact Rich for a mailing address.
The Webster Rotary Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, so all your donations are tax-deductible.
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(posted 8/9/2023)
webster on the web 
This is wonderful! I just emailed Rich to coordinate dropping off a few things!
That is so kind of you and so good to hear!!!
😊😊😊