Caring is  mission of the Ed Isakson/Alpharetta Family YMCA, and that care is extending overseas in Operation Care Package, a YMCA and Georgia Power initiative.

A decorative bin was be placed in the front lobby of the YMCA to collect items for care packages to military troops overseas. Children in the Y's summer day camp decorated the boxes and will help collect items for the care packages. They even wrote speeches to introduce the initiative to the community and to encourage participation.

Vernita Hilliard who is both a Georgia Power employee and a member of the Y's board of directors, encouraged participation in Operation Care Package, and introduced one of its previous recipients who now helps make sure the right items are sent to the military troops. Lafayette Reid served in Iraq for 12 months starting in 2006, with six months spent in one of the "busiest" places in the country at the time. She said she knew what it was like over there, and how important it was to receive mail. Every month she got a care package from the Georgia Power initiative that the Y has now joined.

If you have family or a friend overseas that you would like to receive a care package, please email Kim Nelson at 770-663-3532.

ITEMS TO INCLUDE:

• Packaged Snacks
• Instant Coffee & Tea
• Gatorade
• Drink Mix Singles
• Seasoning & Condiments
• Canned Foods
• Oatmeal & Noodles
• Magazines & Books
• Art Supplies
• DVDs & Music CDs
• Clorox/Lysol Wipes
• Plastic Utensils
• Packaged Hygiene Products
• Band Aides & Nail Clippers
• Sunscreen, Moisturizers
• Lip Balm & Cotton Balls
• Footballs, Frisbees
• White Athletic Socks
• Towels & Twin Sheets

RESTRICTED ITEMS

• No chocolate (it melts)
• No batteries
• No products with alcohol
• Items containing pork
• No aerosol cans
• No homemade foods
• No obscene articles