Nearly 2,000 boxes were packed and shipped off to military members as part of Boxes to Boots event, Operation Cares 2025.
“It’s nice to receive something from them,” said veteran Oscar Rivera. “It means a lot in a world, when you’re thousands of miles away.”
The boxes are full of staples you’d find in an American home, such as hot sauce, instant noodles and crunchy peanut butter. Each item was individually wrapped up and placed into a box, which was then loaded onto a truck to be shipped out overseas.
“We forget what other servicemen are doing for us overseas, when we’re in our home opening up our gifts,” said Eilene Kanpp. “It’s so nice that we know that we did something for them. That they can open a gift just like we are at home.”
For Lilia Ricci, whose husband is deployed in the Middle East, it was a chance for her to teach her 5-year-old why it’s important that her father is in the military. It also showed her appreciation from the community they just moved into.
“It’s out first time experiencing a deployment with my husband and my kids are very small,” said Ricci. “It’s just me and the two kids and it’s like our forever home. Even though we’re really happy we got it, it still feels incomplete until he’s here.”
The boxes were topped off with a letter to the service members thanking them for their commitment and wishing them safety.
“I want them to know that we are kind people, and we help them,” said 7-years-old Aryia Glowicki.
NBC and Telemundo Connecticut are proud partners of Boxes to Boots.
