Recently, the commander of the Seminole VFW Post #9272, Bill Fagerquist presented a $500 check to two Seminole Elementary fifth graders, Graci Tubbs and Ava Spano for their nonprofit Operation: Military Matters.
The organization Operation: Military Matters is a 501 (c) (3) and was created by the two girls to let the military serving overseas know how much people back home care about them. Tubbs and Spano collect donations from the community to put in the care packages. They include: handwritten cards, toiletry items, shampoo, soap, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, snacks, hard candy, wipes, games, instant coffee, creamer, romen noodles, beef jerky, tuna or salmon packs, tea gallon zip lock bags, hand lotion, trail mix, socks etc.
Since 2016, the girls have sent more than 130 care packages. Each package costs $17.35 to send, so the VFW donation will cover the postage of 28 packages. If you would like to donate items or money there are several drop off locations throughout Pinellas County including: Seminole City Hall, 9119 113th Street, Seminole; Hendricks Enterprises, 7800 Belcher Road Suite 114, Pinellas Park; Seminole Elementary School 11015 72nd Ave, Seminole and Answered Prayers Project, 400 23rd St. S, St. Petersburg.
For more information go to Operation: Military Matters Facebook page www.Facebook.com/OperationMilitaryMatters or the Go Fund Me Page at www.GoFundMe.com/MilitaryMatters.