Residents asked to ship Mardi Gras items for soldier parade
With a month left until Mardi Gras, many residents are already buying throws, registering to ride in parades or looking over this year’s routes. And because this is such an exciting time to live in Louisiana, many soldiers overseas become homesick in February.
To help alleviate that, and give those brave men and women something to take their mind off of the ongoing war, one local group is urging residents to send beads, costumes and even King Cakes in care packages.
Soldiers’ Angels is a statewide group that sends care packages, letters, e-mails and even handmade blankets to soldiers serving overseas throughout the year. While the group does a lot of its work in December, Mardi Gras has quickly become one of its most popular events.
“Right now, we are collecting throws, costumes, Louisiana inspired food products like King Cakes, Mardi Gras decorations and even Mardi Gras cards made by kids,” Gail Welk, a Luling representative of Soldiers’ Angels, said. “The soldiers will use these items to have their own parade, so it really reminds them of home.”
While this year’s donations will go to companies and small teams deployed from around Louisiana, several of the soldiers who will receive care packages and participate in the parade are from outside of Louisiana.
“Every group has some soldiers that are from another area, so it’s really exciting for them because this is something that many of them don’t get to experience,” Welk said with a laugh. “I have heard that they have a lot of fun.”
Last year, 711 packages of Mardi Gras items were sent to service members. The resulting parade was such a huge success that members of the Iraqi military vowed to visit New Orleans for a real Mardi Gras.
This year, plans are to double the number of boxes sent and include every currently-deployed Louisiana unit.
Welk has been a part of Soldiers’ Angels for over a year, but used to write letters to soldiers when she was younger. That eventually turned into sending care packages and joining Soldiers’ Angels so that she could make more of an impact.
“It’s just very rewarding to take part in a program like this and hear back from the soldiers,” she said. “I hear from a lot of them that all they smell everyday is the smell of the army. When they open up those care packages though, even if its just for a minute, they get the smell of home.
“It really brings them a wonderful feeling.”
Packages must be mailed no later than Jan. 26 in order to get to the troops in time for Mardi Gras.
For more information, visit www.soldiersangelsla.org
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