Curves sending supplies to soldiers

When Donna Burden, who works at Curves in Cutchogue, heard stories from her customers about their relatives serving in the armed forces in Afghanistan, she was motivated to act.
That’s how she came to launch her Shoeboxes for Soldiers program, which ensures that a unit will receive personal supplies and a message that they are in our thoughts, she said.
Through a contact on Facebook, Ms. Burden got information about Operation Shoebox, which pairs troop units with groups that wish to donate.
Through the generosity of her customers, Ms. Burden is collecting items for the soldiers — travel-size soaps, disposable razors, toothpaste, peanuts, granola bars, Tic Tacs, Altoids, Q-Tips, cans of tuna, cookies and crackers, and snacks.
“I’ve been wanting to do something like this for a long time,” Ms. Burden said. “You hear a lot just by working here” from families of the troops and she wants them to know they are in the hearts of the folks back home.
“They should never be forgotten,” she said.
It’s not the first time Curves staff and customers have gotten involved in helping the community. For the past three years, they have raised money for the North Fork Breast Health Coalition. They have also collected for food pantries and for Thanksgiving dinners for those in need.
Ms. Burden is hoping to have all the boxes packed by the end of the week and expects to ship them out early next week. They won’t reach the troops in time for Thanksgiving, she said. But they will be there before Christmas.
To contribute, call Ms. Burden at 734-7066. To launch your own effort to provide personal supplies to troops, visit the website operationshoebox.com.
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