The MarineParents.com, Inc. Care Package Project™ was started in Memory of LCpl. Nicholas Larson who was killed in action in Fallujah, Iraq on November 9, 2004. The Larson family graciously requested donations to MarineParents.com, Inc. in lieu of flowers, with the request that the donations be used to support the Marines in Iraq and their families back home.
The project was begun on December 5, 2004 to honor and support all of our Marines who serve and their Marine families waiting at home. The Care Package Project™ is lovingly served by the many volunteers at MarineParents.com, with care package items and shipping funds donated by individuals and businesses around the United States.
The Care Package Project™ has grown beyond what anyone anticipated. We sent just over 100 packages on the first packing date in January, 2005 with a handful of volunteers. Those numbers have grown steadily since then. In 2008, the average number of packages we ship each 10 weeks is over 1000. In August of 2008, we had over 100 volunteers show up on the packing date to prepare and ship the boxes to our Marines.
To date, we have shipped nearly 28,000 care packages to Marines stationed in combat zones overseas with over $334,000 in content and shipping costs. We now have donated warehouse space next to our corporate office and have two huge rooms donated entirely to the production of the care packages. Thousands of individuals have supported the project with donations, fund raisers, and care package drives around the United States.
Involving communities and groups from around the US to participate is one of the reasons the project is so successful and continues to grow. The Team Spirit of this project comes from the principal values of the Marine Corps.
We proudly serve our Marines in honor of Nicholas Larson and all who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Thank you for your continued support.
God Bless and Semper Fi,
Tracy Della Vecchia
Founder and Executive Director, MarineParents.com, Inc.
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