Packages for a purpose

SALISBURY, Md. — There’s an organization in Salisbury making an impact on many people. Operation We Care gives military members and first responders reasons to smile, but the group needs the community’s help with donations.

Since 2007, Operation We Care has provided care packages to those who sacrifice so much.

Founder Jeff Merritt said, “You’re doing something for somebody with no expectation of something in return, and you might not know this person. We don’t know everybody we send packages to, but we get emails from people all around the world.”

Operation We Care packager Jim Adkins said about 75% of their work is sending care packages to military members. “Whether they happen to be on a ship, an aircraft carrier or stationed in a foreign land, we just try to reach out, send them some items and let them know people back home appreciate what they do, especially during the holidays,” he said.

The organization has also supported local fire and police departments. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they created small packages for TidalHealth and other local hospitals.

18 years of history

Merritt said they’ve shipped about 38,000 care packages in 18 years. He explained why he started the effort in 2007.

“I was at the Pentagon on 9/11, and there was no civilian capacity. That, I think, was the catalyst for what we do. Things that are up here will never leave. I wanted to give back and help somebody who might not be having their best day. When you’re thousands of miles away from your family, it’s not like sitting down at a table for a Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner,” he said.

He said the idea took shape in October 2007, when the Salisbury and Easton National Guard were deployed to Iraq. “I said to my wife, ‘What do you think about us sending care packages to the troops for Christmas — the local troops here in Easton and Salisbury?’ She said, ‘That’s a great idea. What do we do?’ I said, ‘I have no idea, but I’ll find out.’”

Merritt went to the National Guard Armory in Salisbury and sent packages for the first time. “We had no plan, no goal, no five- or 10-year plan. But we quickly realized that the community got a hold of it,” he said.

“We wanted to remind the men and women serving our country that not just their family cares about them.”

All the care package goodies

The care packages consist of toiletries and snacks.

“Also known as junk food,” Merritt said. “I think the healthiest thing in our care package is a granola bar, and that’s kind of on the edge.”

The packages include canned pasta, body wash, toothpaste, toothbrushes, ramen noodles, snack mix, trail mix and granola.

Adkins said Girl Scouts of the USA are a major supporter. “They are just phenomenal in the amount of cookie boxes they donate to Operation We Care,” he said.

Local comforts are also included, such as Fisher’s Popcorn. “Everybody around here likes to go to Ocean City and get some. These guys get it delivered to them in a box from us,” Adkins said.

Merritt said they often receive special requests. “We do get requests for socks, Pop-Tarts. We’ve been told ramen noodles can be a five-course meal if you do it right,” he said.

Adkins added that handwritten notes from local children are always included. “They do a lot of drawings and cards. We include a card or drawing in every package,” he said.

The impact is lasting. “It’s hard for a lot of military people to communicate with you. But when you get a Facebook post or a picture back with 30 or 40 people standing on the deck of an aircraft carrier, each holding a care package, it’s really gratifying,” Adkins said.

Merritt also shared: “We’ve had our care packages airdropped at locations because there’s not a very easy way to get there with a vehicle. That’s how our care packages get to the ships that are out at sea.”

Donations needed

Merritt said the work is not done, and they need money, supplies and addresses by November.

“We generally pack between 600 and 800 boxes for the holidays. If you can imagine 600 or 800 cans of Chef Boyardee, we need lots of everything,” he said.

Adkins said most food and hygiene items are donated. “The majority of the money we raise goes to pay shipping costs,” he said.

Merritt added, “If anybody is doing trunk-or-treat events and has leftover Halloween candy, please contact us. We’ll gladly take it because we use it to fill gaps in the boxes.”

Those interested in donating can visit the group’s website: Operation We Care.