Euharlee Police Joins Public To Send Care Packages To Soldiers

BARTOW COUNTY, GA — One Euharlee police officer’s effort to help an old classmate stationed overseas in the military has blossomed into a countywide campaign, thanks to social media.

It started a few weeks ago when Officer Reginald Heathington spotted an online post by U.S. Army Sgt. Aubrey Morris, who'd graduated with him from Cedartown High School. Morris enlisted in the military soon thereafter and was now stationed in Syria, in need of necessities for his soldiers not easily found in the middle of a desert.

“They lack basic things, such as hygiene products, clothing and snacks,” Heathington told The Daily Tribune News in Cartersville. Most soldiers have families who can send care packages, but some don’t. “Morally, I felt obligated to help,” he said.

Heathington brought the project to the Euharlee Police Department, where both Chief Jody Matthews and Sgt. Tim Merrell are Army veterans. From there, the campaign spread to other veterans and, eventually, to Bartow citizens at large through a Facebook post requesting basics like soap, toothpaste, non-perishable snacks and playing cards.

“The community support has been amazing,” Matthews told Atlanta news station WAGA-TV. First, the police department and veterans contributed, he said. Then, families and children “who just want to be a part of making (the soldiers’) day a little brighter” pitched in as well.

The first boxes shipped out on Monday. Heathington told WAGA-TV that he plans to keep collecting donations and sending a few boxes every week.

“This is a small token of our appreciation” for the troops, Matthews said to the Cartersville newspaper.

Donations can be dropped off at the Euharlee Police Department, 30 Burge’s Mill Road in Euharlee, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Read the story in The Daily Tribune News.