After watching the twin towers fall on Sept. 11, 2001, Kathleen Lewis’ son enlisted in the Army the next day. While he was deployed to Iraq in 2004, she began sending him care packages. When he mentioned none of the other soldiers were getting any, she rallied her community to adopt his unit. Packages From Home, a nonprofit dedicated to serving the military, was born.
It wasn’t long before Lewis became everyone’s adopted mom, receiving thoughtful packages. She and her army of volunteers first operated out of cars and garages until they received a donated space to do their work for troops. Since its inception, it has evolved to serve veterans in need as well as military working dogs and service dogs for veterans.
Meghan Richards is the development director for Packages From Home. She believes deeply in its mission and personally knows the difference it can make. She herself was an Army Combat Medic, with two tours in Iraq. “I came on board about three years ago. As a veteran, I, myself, received care packages while I was deployed to Iraq in 2006. I knew all their good work and the impact of the care package and it’s a really amazing job to put smiles on people’s face,” she said.
Although the founder has now retired, her daughter Jennifer Leavitt is now the CEO and Director. Her husband is a Marine veteran himself, so the cause continues to be one close to the family’s heart. In 2019, Packages From Home sent 10,412 care packages overseas to troops, impacting 20,824 servicemembers. Local veterans received 45,391 pounds of food and 6,616 pounds of hygiene products. Military K9s were sent 272 pounds of goodies as well.
“The military is just a microcosm of society, it’s not just one demographic. You can go much deeper and find so many people from different walks of life, there’s so much diversity. Everybody’s experience in the military differs but everyone deserves to feel cared about and thought of. That’s our goal – to show people we care,” Richards explained.
As the United States heads towards 20 years at war, the work of Packages From Home is more needed than ever. With rising rates of negative mental health symptoms and suicides, finding ways to uplift and encourage those who serve is vitally important. “The thing that troops remark on the most is the notes they receive, the idea of being thought of,” Richards explained.
The pandemic has impacted businesses and nonprofits everywhere, including Packages From Home. Their warehouses used to be bursting at the seams and are now starting to look quite bare from lack of donations. As the country heads into its holiday season amidst a pandemic, giving to these programs is a great way to truly and deeply thank the military for their service.
“Most of the people deployed are young folks. Many of them away from home for the first time. A lot of them from a socioeconomic background that isn’t advantageous and their families don’t have the means to send care packages. We want to step in for them,” Richards said.
And they do, one package at a time.
To get involved, donate or sign up for a care packages, visit www.packagesfromhome.org.
