Posted on September 27, 2012
Waiting. Counting down the days. That is what Joe and Cheryl Schachter do.
Five more weeks and their son Joseph will be home from his fourth tour of duty overseas, which included service in Afghanistan.
To keep busy, the Schachters of Lower Southampton started mailing care packages to soldiers in the war zones of Iraq and Afghanistan. Schachter, who also is a veteran, knows what it means to receive the packages.
“They love getting TastyKakes,” he said of one popular item.
“At one time it cost $1 a pound to mail a package.” said Schachter. “I would spend $500 a month to mail things to the troops on my own.”
Rich and Sue Bucher had been sending care packages to troops for years before joining the Schachters and helping them found Food4Troops, a 501(3) © nonprofit organization.
Rich Bucher is a Vietnam veteran.
Today Food4Troops is made up of families, friends and veterans plus adviser and chief benefactor Gene Epstein, a philanthropist who lives in Wrightstown.
Almost everything sent overseas by the organization comes from donations. Car shows, the Girl Scouts, schools and many other organizations contribute to the cause of helping feed those risking their lives overseas.
With each package sent, a message is enclosed expressing appreciation to the troops for the sacrifice they are making while away from their loved ones.
The mission of Food4Troops is to send as many care packages as it can and to help the Veterans Administration office in Bristol spotlight the men and women in need.
“One hundred percent of what goes in goes out,” Joe Schachter said recently. “In the winter, people from all over will bake cookies for us to send the troops.”
Annually, the group sends about 2,000 packages to war zones. It takes anywhere from one to three weeks to get them to the soldiers, depending on how deep into the field they are.
“Dentists would pay kids for their Halloween candy so they could donate it to the troops,” said Schachter. “The troops loved that.”
Food and supplies are generally the items mailed to the troops.
In August, a group called The Candle Committee of Bucks County approached Schachter with extra hand-dipped candles. The candles were sent out to those stationed in Afghanistan to be used on Sept. 11 to commemorate those lost in the terrorist attacks on the United States 11 years ago.
The candles added to the tireless efforts of the Schachters and the Buchers to bring a taste of home to troops out in the field.
Want to contribute?
For information on Food4Troops visitwww.food4troops.org. You can add your soldier to the list to receive CARE Packages. The wish list can be viewed online for anyone wishing to help the organization.
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