Blue Star Mothers preparing ‘Stockings 4 Our Troops’

By Keith Rogers Las Vegas Review-Journal

8 years ago

Volunteers Jeanne Schneider, left, and Beau Fairless fold socks for the Blue Star Mothers of Henderson and Boulder City at the 7th annual "Stockings 4 Our Troops," Monday, Dec. 30, 2015, at the Henderson Convention Center. Jeff Scheid/ Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @jlscheid

Henderson Police officers Sean Jones, left, and Keith Hemenway carry a box of donated items during the Blue Star Mothers of Henderson and Boulder City 7th annual "Stockings 4 Our Troops," Monday Dec. 30, 2015, at the Henderson Convention Center. Jeff Scheid/ Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @jlscheid

Women sort merchandise during the Blue Star Mothers of Henderson and Boulder City 7th annual "Stockings 4 Our Troops," Monday, Dec. 30, 2015, at the Henderson Convention Center. Jeff Scheid/ Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @jlscheid

Marina Vance carries a container during the Blue Star Mothers of Henderson and Boulder City 7th annual "Stockings 4 our Troops," Monday Dec. 30, 2015, at the Henderson Convention Center. The group will ship 1,300 Christmas stockings full of food and personal hygiene items to troops overseas. Jeff Scheid/ Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @jlscheid

Denise Blanchard stacks cans of sausages during the Blue Star Mothers of Henderson and Boulder City 7th annual "Stockings 4 Our Troops," Monday Dec. 30, 2015, at the Henderson Convention Center. Jeff Scheid/ Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @jlscheid

Carolyn Jones takes a group photo of Blue Star Mothers of Henderson and Boulder City after a local bank gave a monetary gift at the 7th annual "Stockings 4 Our Troops," Monday, Dec. 30, 2015, at the Henderson Convention Center. Jeff Scheid/ Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @jlscheid

Kathy Farris holds homemade Christmas stockings during the Blue Star Mothers of Henderson and Boulder City 7th annual "Stockings 4 Our Troops," Monday, Dec. 30, 2015, at the Henderson Convention Center. Jeff Scheid/ Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @jlscheid

Deborah Kultala sorts product while wearing a photo of her active-duty son, James Hunt, during the Blue Star Mothers of Henderson and Boulder City 7th annual "Stockings 4 Our Troops," Monday, Dec. 30, 2015, at the Henderson Convention Center. Jeff Scheid/ Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @jlscheid

Andy Dias sorts merchandise during the Blue Star Mothers of Henderson and Boulder City 7th annual "Stockings 4 Our Troops," Monday. Dec. 30, 2015, at the Henderson Convention Center. Jeff Scheid/ Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @jlscheid

Marina Vance and the Blue Star Mothers of Henderson and Boulder City hustled to get stocking stuffers ready Monday to send to troops who will be overseas for the holidays.

While there are still 25 days until Christmas, they need to get more than 1,300 packages of candy, beef jerky, Granola bars, lip balm, foot powder, toothpaste, shampoo and other hygiene items in the mail this week so they’ll arrive on time at locations in Afghanistan and elsewhere around the world.

They need volunteers to help, addresses to send to service members and donations “no matter how small” to cover the $15.90 to ship a box with two stockings, according to the group’s announcement.

Vance is a Gold Star mother, meaning her son, Army Spc. Ignacio “Nacho” Ramirez, of Henderson, died serving his country. He was killed when a bomb exploded Aug. 9, 2006, in Ramadi, Iraq.

Like in past years since she lost her son, she is helping the nonprofit group of Blue Star Mothers — those whose sons and daughters who are serving now or have served — prepare for the seventh annual “Stockings 4 Our Troops.”

“It means a lot to me. It’s like sending a little piece of my son, a little piece of my heart,” Vance said, adding that troops who go overseas are part of a brotherhood.

“I love them and I want them to come home safe,” she said.

Chere’ Pedersen, vice president of Blue Star’s “Chapter NV4,” said the chapter so far has raised $12,000 in donations to cover postage for the holiday packages but needs addresses from Nevada military families to send to their loved ones in the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard and Reserve components.

The event, which runs today through Thursday, is at Henderson Convention Center, 200 S. Water St.

“Anyone that has a family member or friend who is currently deployed, please come down and pack the box yourself. We have the items. We have the money to ship it. We’d love to see you here. We need your help,” Pedersen said.

Contact Keith Rogers at krogers@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0308. Find him on Twitter: @KeithRogers2