“Christmas For Our Troops,” an event organized by Santa Clarita residents and volunteers which sends holiday care packages to active military members serving overseas, held a card making and donation assembly event Saturday.

“I’m helping out volunteering to give our veterans a little piece of home this holiday season,” said Rick Mendoza, local resident and event volunteer at the Nov. 25 event. “We’ve got some food, snacks, health products, personal hygiene, some entertainment, cards and dominos. We’re letting them know we appreciate what they’re doing.”

Dozens of Santa Clarita residents turned out for the event, preparing care packages consisting of hundreds of donations given in support of servicemen and women stationed overseas.

The event was hosted by Prayer Angels For the Military (PAM) at the Church of the Nazarene in Newhall.

“Your family can send you a care package, but when you get something from the community it’s really special,” said Suzon Gerstel, the president of Prayer Angels For The Military. “We have some of our young Marines that are deployed now that used to help us do care packages. It’s nice to have support from people that you know personally.”

Event organizers asked for and received donations of Christmas stockings, individually packed holiday treats, thick cotton crew socks, jerky, razor blades, baby wipes, tuna kits, canned ravioli, chili, fruit and anything else that a military member overseas would appreciate, according to event organizers.

“We’re putting candy, christmas cards, food, cleaning supplies, flashlights and socks and stuff like that,” said Enzo, a local student volunteering at the event on Saturday. “Basically anything they might need to help them over there in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

Related: Christmas For Our Troops

In addition to the local students, residents and veterans volunteering, Santa Clarita community leaders also spent their Saturday morning assisting at “Christmas For Our Troops.”

“I wanted to come here to be supportive of Prayer Angels For The Military and The Gold Star Moms who are here to send packages to the men and women overseas,” said Santa Clarita City Councilwoman Marsha McLean. “My son served in the Marines flying helicopters in Iraq and I know how he loved to receive packages from home.”

While not having an exact number, event organizers speculated that by the end of the day volunteers would have hundreds of care packages assembled and ready to ship abroad.

If Santa Clarita residents are still interested in volunteering, “Christmas For Our Troops” and Prayer Angels For The Military have stated this will not be the only opportunity to donate or event to help at this season.

Related: 12th Annual Military Honor Christmas Tree Lighting Hosted By Prayer Angels For The Military

“We’re collecting donations and sending care packages throughout November,” said a PAM news release. “Additional (care package assembly events) will be added as needed.”

Those wishing to donate can either bring donations to a packing site during event times, or can be dropped off at the 24/7 bin at PAM offices, located at 21609 Oak Orchard Rd.

For more information about the donation list, future events, how to adopt a service member or how to add your troop to the mailing list, visit Prayer Angels For the Military’s website by clicking here.

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