Moms collect donations for care packages to US troops

The NE2 Heartland Blue Star Mothers group came together to hold a care package drive today at the Walmart at 3400 N 85th st.

The Blue Star Moms send care packages to deployed troops 3 times each year.

Today, they collected the items that will be used to fill those care packages.

“I had two people right in a row bring out whole cart loads. Just leave the whole cart for us. And it’s just like… It brought tears to my eyes,” Vice President of Blue Star Moms Lincoln, Cara Johnson said. 

Johnson’s son has been in the military for 6 years and has been very receptive of the donations his company has received.

“I’m proud, he’s proud,” said Johnson. “He’s received several boxes and he’s told me that when the boxes would come in, he’d sit down, he’d open the boxes and he’d just start throwing it out to whoever is around him.”

And they are forever thankful for the community involvement.

“You come out and do the things like this and you’re so humbled by the fact that they’re willing to help you, that it just makes it all worthwhile,” Johnson said. 

Local Ken Cousino expressed his love and concern for the moms today.

“Keep up the good work, I appreciate it that you guys are out here doing it. Especially when it’s as hot as it is here, i know it’s even hotter over there,” Cousino said. 

Johnson says behind the front lines, the blue star moms are a family.

“It’s like this great band of mothers that just works together, you know, sometimes you don’t even have to say anything, you can just see it in their face that they need a hug or that they need something,” Johnson said. 

And she says they come together to do what’s right within the community.

“Sometimes those new mommas never had anybody else in the military, they don’t know what to expect,” Johnson said. 

The group says the troops love everything from protein to toys, even Tide Pods laundry detergent and they miss the Nebraska community every day.