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Grand Slam Wing first sergeant organizes care packages to go downrange

  • Published
  • By By Senior Airman Joel Mease
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  When 46 care packages from Spokane, Wash., ended up at the front door of a 379th Air Expeditionary Wing first sergeant, he considered how to get them to those who needed them most.

Master Sgt. Patrick Lund, 379th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron, received the packages from a local TV station near his home duty station at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., who wanted to send care packages to service members during the holidays.

"They reached out to Fairchild AFB and found I was a deployed first sergeant here," Lund said. "After talking with them, they discovered my main job was 'taking care of people,' so they sent me 46 of the 400 care packages (they put together)."

When the first sergeant received the packages, his co-workers suggested sending them to service members in Afghanistan.

"I thought of the outlying areas where service members are who may not have the amenities or services that many have here," Lund said. "I made a phone call to the 816th (Expeditionary Airlift Squadron) who put me in touch with the 421st Quartermaster, Det. 4 'Riggers.'"

The Army riggers, who regularly prepare items to be air dropped across Afghanistan, told him they could help arrange for those care packages to go downrange at forward operating bases across Afghanistan.

"Since we already have cargo allocated to be air dropped, adding a few care packages to a few of our pallets isn't a big deal," said Army Sgt. Barry MacDonald. "We get calls and notes from those guys downrange who say how much they appreciate those packages."

Besides the standard food and hygiene items included in most care packages, these carried special notes from those back home.

"Most importantly, these packages had a picture of children from a Spokane-area school and cards thanking service members for what they're doing for them," Lund said. "These words and pictures are a reminder of what they are fighting for each day.

"It gives them drive, purpose and bolsters morale. It reminds them they're not forgotten."

All of this wouldn't have been possible if it wasn't for those who were back home thinking about deployed service members and putting these packages together, Lund said.

"Their donations, thoughts and prayers go a long way and truly mean the world to our service members," Lund said. "A huge heartfelt 'thank you' goes to the children who took time to write and give words of encouragement. We appreciate all you do from home to support what we do here in deployed locations."