From the Home Front to the Frontlines, Volunteers Team up in Elmhurst to Send Care Abroad

Spirits were high, 80’s music was thumping and balloons filled the air in Elmhurst today as volunteers gathered to send a piece of home to 5,000 service members around the world.

The From the Home Front to the Frontlines program was part of the USO of Illinois’ Operation Send Support.

The 224th 2nd Battalion Marines and members of the Air Force, partnered with Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service, AT&T and the Illinois Lottery to assemble Sweet Home Chicago care packages for servicemen and women abroad.

Superior Ambulance hosted the event at its Elmhurst campus and donated ambulances and medi-vans to carry the finished packages to the post office in Addison.

“Before my father founded Superior Ambulance in 1959, he was a Marine,” said Superior president and CEO David Hill III, as he loaded one of the many finished boxes into the back of an ambulance. “It’s a personal honor sending cheer to our service members overseas.”

Some of the care packages will go to military personnel serving in Afghanistan, others to the Navy and Marine Corps units assisting with relief efforts in Japan.

Monday’s event marks the second year of the initiative, which started last year under the supervision of state representatives Randy Ramey (R-55th) and Patti Bellock (R-47th).

They were joined at the event this year by state Rep. Dennis Reboletti (R-46th) who helped coordinate the efforts with Superior Ambulance.

Each of the representatives reached out to their constituents to rally volunteers and to collect donations for the care packages. Through the USO, service members make requests for items, including deodorant, DVD’s, sun block and playing cards.

The USO estimates 3,000 service members will benefit from the packages, while another 2,000 will receive prepaid phone cards courtesy of AT&T.

“At AT&T, we want to help our troops stay connected to their loved ones while they are serving our country overseas,” said Paul La Schiazza, president of AT&T Illinois. “These calling cards are just a small way we can thank them for their courage and service and help them stay in touch with families and friends.”

To date, AT&T has donated more than $6 million in prepaid phone cards to troops.

The Illinois Lottery will take proceeds from its Vets Cash ticket program to contribute to the care package shipping costs. Vets Cash tickets are purchased for $2 with a potential payout of $20,000.

All the proceeds, minus the payouts, go to veterans’ programs. Since the Illinois Lottery began offering the tickets in 2006, it has raised more than $8.4 million.

The festive flair of Monday’s event was partly to keep the volunteers’ spirits high, but also to commemorate the ongoing celebration of the USO’s 70th birthday. So, to kickoff the affair, service members held a Marine Saber cake cutting ceremony.

On hand to celebrate was the president and COO of USO Illinois, Tony Enrietto, and Kevin Cavanaugh of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs.

“For the last 70 years the USO has entertained and boosted morale among our troops,” Enrietto said. “We’re very grateful for folks like Superior Ambulance, AT&T and the Illinois Lottery for helping us continue carrying out that mission. I can think of no better way of celebrating a birthday then by sending gifts around the world.”