Iowa Troop Pantry Reaches Out to Soldiers

By Mark Geary, Reporter

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By Tracey McCullough

Story Created: Jul 29, 2010 at 7:51 PM CST

Story Updated: Jul 30, 2010 at 10:45 AM CST

About 3,000 Iowa soldiers will be in Afghanistan by Thanksgiving. It’s the largest deployment from our state since World War II.

Soldiers serving in Afghanistan won’t be able to simply stop at the grocery store while they’re overseas and pick up what they need.

They also won’t be able to get hugs or handshakes from friends and loved ones. Now, a new organization aims to reach out to help provide a little comfort.

“They deserve to be honored. It’s not fun to be out there. It’s not fun to be away from their families. It’s a sacrifice,” Maria Tyson said.

Maria Tyson’s friend, Judson Kremer, who’s serving overseas in the military right now, inspired her to create the Iowa Troop Pantry. The goal of the group is to send care packages to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Anything that can just make daily life better,” Tyson said.

Veterans say these kinds of items are priceless to soldiers.

“The Army never gives you everything you really want and need,” veteran George Dane said.

Handwritten messages and colorful pictures from children will travel to the Middle East along with those packages.

“You’ll see ‘em posted up around tents. You’ll see ‘em in vehicles,” Sergeant First Class Carlos Ayala-Pagan said.

The military says this kind of support means more than people realize.

“It makes a big difference when people come up to you, shake your hand and say, ‘I appreciate what you do,’ and you don’t even know who the person is,” Ayala-Pagan said.

Thursday evening, community leaders also gathered at the Johnson County fair to pledge even more support for the military.

By signing this document, they’re promising to stand behind the soldiers throughout their deployment.

The Iowa Troop Pantry is located at 201 E. Benton Street in Iowa City. The phone number is: 319-930-8333.

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