1,200 care packages sent to troops.

Blue Star Mothers, a volunteer organization established during the first World War to help support the war effort, sent out over 1,200 care packages to armed servicemen and women all over the world for the holidays.

In the East Mountains, volunteers have worked together for the last two months getting packages together so those serving overseas can have a Christmas of their own.

Blue Stars is also involved in the Wounded Warrior and Walking Tall projects. For the Wounded Warrior project, volunteers send quilts, white t-shirts, underwear, socks and toiletries to soldiers who have been injured while serving in the military. The packages are sent to military hospitals in the U.S., Iraq and Germany. Over 249 quilts were sent this year, with more on the way.

For the Walking Tall project volunteers knit and crochet scarves and other items to give to orphan children in Afghanistan. Hiltrud Ridenour, a Blue Star volunteer, said the gifts help to break the ice in tribal areas of Afghanistan where elders are skeptical of foreign soldiers.

“They are given a kinder reception,” Ridenour said of the Americans who pass out the knitted items.

Ridenour said the packages sent to deployed soldiers were filled with goodies like hot chocolate, microwave popcorn, candy, and of course, green chile. The soldiers are also sent crossword puzzles, toothbrushes, disposable razors, wet wipes and other toiletry items.

“Everything is in small traveling sizes,” Ridenour said, “so they can carry it with them on a mission.”

This year volunteers made snowmen out of socks and wash cloths to give the troops a taste of the holidays. Ridenour said most of the boxes were sent to Iraq and Afghanistan but some were sent to South America, Africa and other parts of the world including Korea, where Ridenour’s son is currently stationed.

Ridenour said the soldiers have been grateful for the packages and have written many thank you letters including one which came from a chaplain who said without the packages the Marines he is serving with would not have had a Christmas this year.

Blue Star Mothers will be mailing more packages out for Valentine’s Day. Volunteers will meet toward the end of January to start packing boxes. For more information call Ridenour at 865-4240 or visit bluestarmoms.org.

Food and toiletry items can be delivered in person at 2919 2^nd Street in Albuquerque. Monetary donations are always in need to help pay for shipping costs.