Hundreds Of Care Packages Made For Troops

Some special packages will soon be headed from the metro to U.S. troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

KMBC's Jere Gish reported that the effort is due to the generosity of truck drivers from across the country.

The care packages are being put together by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association in Grain Valley.

The group raised more than $40,000 for the effort during a weeklong telethon held on an XM radio show that is popular with truckers.

The show originally set a modest goal of raising $5,000 for the troops.

"The first day, before the day's over, we've passed our goal, and we've scheduled five days of this," radio host Mark Redding said. "So many people called so quickly; we couldn't get it all added up."


Hundreds of boxes are filled with everyday items that we may take for granted.


"They send food, stuff like that, socks -- it's a great thing," said Shane Zeysing, who is serving with the U.S. Army.


There are also some special items that troops may appreciate.


"We have a self-heating beverage, because a lot of the guys don't have access to heat or hot water, so we find a beverage that can self-heat and they can have that anywhere," said Nikki Johnson with OOIDA.


The current shipment is about 350 care packages for the troops. The group plans to send out five more shipments over the next few months.


"Keep it coming. It's great. It means a lot. It makes everybody think about home," Zeysing said.

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