WNEU student meets goal of 800 care bags for veterans

A local college student is making sure those who serve our country know they have not been forgotten. 22News reporter Sarah Bien-Aimé shows us how this year's effort reached a new milestone. What started as a small personal project six years ago has grown into an annual tradition for Western New England University student Jillian Battles. Coming from a military family myself, knowing that our troops and veterans aren't taken care of as much as they should be. And at Western Mass, we have two very important bases and lots of veterans and homeless veterans. I knew that I needed to do something to take care of our own. And this year, her goal was to fill 800 care packages for veterans and those currently serving our country. Based on the needs of veterans and those actively serving, Jillian tells me they add on to the care packages each and every year. This year and last year, we made mini bags where we stuffed some of the small packet items that could get easily forgotten. We also bundled hats, socks, and gloves together with a hair tie. So we try to update things to make everything easier for packing as well. And Jillian isn't doing it alone. From her mom helping behind the scenes. It was great when she was in, you know, middle school and high school and stuff. And then as she's gone on to Western New England University, it's become a little bit more difficult, but we make it work. To now volunteers, spending one Saturday morning out of the year packing bags. It has become a community-wide effort, one bag at a time. I figure it's the least I could do. They signed up to put their life on the line for us, so the least I could do is help volunteer and try and make life easier for them. This year, the volunteers didn't just meet their goal. They finished earlier than ever before. The group was done before 11, making this their quickest and most efficient packing event yet. And for the first time, Jillian says, every bag had everything it was supposed to include. This is honestly incredible. I have some people that show up that I've never even met. They're out here, they are doing everything they can, and they are just an amazing group of human beings, and I could not do without them and their support. Jillian is already looking forward to doing it all again next year. Working for you, Sarah Bien-Aimé, 22 News.