-Submitted photo
A wall of cartons heading for soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines serving overseas was adorned with an American flag after Edward Jones financial advisers and their family members filled them with snacks, soap, lotion and other items. The boxes were packed in Forest City. This year’s version of the care package effort is starting, and donations of items to be sent to the troops are being accepted.
Some American troops serving overseas will be getting care packages this holiday season thanks to an effort conducted by financial advisers in northwest Iowa.
“It’s giving back to those that have decided to enlist and protect our rights and freedoms,” said Gabe Pettit, a Fort Dodge financial adviser with Edward Jones.
Pettit and Ryan Kent, the other Edward Jones financial adviser in Fort Dodge, are participating in the effort, which includes financial advisers in their company’s northwest Iowa district.
Kent and Pettit are accepting donations of items to be included in care packages to be sent overseas. Donations can also be dropped off at Shiny Top Brewing.
They are also soliciting names of military service members to send packages to. Anyone who has a friend or relative serving overseas can give their names and addresses to Kent or Pettit.
“We will make sure that they get one of our soldier boxes,” Pettit said.
The package project was started in 2012 by Mark Frakes, the Edward Jones financial adviser in Forest City. That first year, 56 boxes were shipped.
Since that first year, more than 1,500 packages have been sent.
The biggest year for the project was 2020, when 256 packages were shipped.
All donated items for the packages must be received by Nov. 14.
The donated material will all be transported to Forest City, where Edward Jones financial advisers from throughout northwest Iowa, along with their families, will pack the boxes.
The financial advisers chip in to pay for shipping the boxes. The Edward Jones firm and its associates cannot accept cash donations to help pay for the shipping or any other part of the project.
Where to donate
Items for the soldier care packages can be taken to:
• Edward Jones — Gabe Pettit, 517 Central Ave.
• Edward Jones — Ryan Kent, 1411 First Ave. S.
• Shiny Top Brewing, 520 Central Ave.
The following items are being collected for the soldier care packages:
Q-Tips
Bars of soap
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Dental floss
Toothbrush holders/covers
Mouthwash
Lotion
Oatmeal packets
Dried fruit
Deodorant
Hand sanitizer
Foot powder
Razors
Shaving cream in tubes
Sunscreen
Bug spray
Chapstick
Crackers
Drink mixes
Instant coffee
Tea bags
Flip flops
Baby.body wipes
Hard candy
Peanut butter
Popcorn
Small packages of peanuts
Gum
Individual pouches of tuna
or chicken
Shampoo/conditioner
Mrs. Dash variety spices
Sunflower seeds
Beef jerky
Pens
Pencils
Note pads
White socks
Slim Jims
Note cards
Magazines
Old paperback books
The following items are being collected for the soldier care packages:
Q-Tips
Bars of soap
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Dental floss
Toothbrush holders/covers
Mouthwash
Lotion
Oatmeal packets
Dried fruit
Deodorant
Hand sanitizer
Foot powder
Razors
Shaving cream in tubes
Sunscreen
Bug spray
Chapstick
Crackers
Drink mixes
Instant coffee
Tea bags
Flip flops
Baby.body wipes
Hard candy
Peanut butter
Popcorn
Small packages of peanuts
Gum
Individual pouches of tuna
or chicken
Shampoo/conditioner
Mrs. Dash variety spices
Sunflower seeds
Beef jerky
Pens
Pencils
Note pads
White socks
Slim Jims
Note cards
Magazines
Old paperback books