Stagg Students Send Care Packages to Troops Overseas

Boxes lined the table, shipping labels were at the ready and students were hard at work Friday afternoon at . 

Several students groups banded together to gather donations and send care packages to troops stationed overseas.

The project was started seven years ago by two students, Melissa Gabel and her sister Emily, who had a relative stationed overseas. Gabel is now a special education teacher at Stagg and has continued the tradition with her own students.

"We felt the need to show all of the men and women in the armed forces our support," Gabel said.

For the past several weeks students have collected toiletries, books and snacks as well as monetary donations to help pay for shipping. Gabel says the project is just one example of the desire young people have to make a difference.

Donations are collected from across District 230 and in total about 60 packages were sent out.

"It's not just one club doing this, but it is really the entire school working together," said Barb Rajski, a Stagg senior.

As students packed the boxes they did so with a sense of pride.

"It makes me feel like I am doing something important," said Paula Mikosz. "It is good for [the troops] to know we are thinking of them as they are fighting for our country."