Operation Sunscreen - Care Packages for the Troops Foundation

Our 2018 goal is to send a care package to 2000 deployed National Guard Soldiers/Airmen. The majority of the Soldiers deploying in 2018 will be leaving their full-time civilian life and career in order to serve our country. They are our co-workers, children's soccer coaches, Girl Scout and Boy Scout leaders who step away from their normal lives to serve our country and our communities.

The feedback that we have received from our deployed troops has been that the Soldiers expect to receive care packages from home, but it makes a huge impact when someone they don't know makes the effort to send support and gratitude. Soldiers have shared that they keep a scrap book/binder containing every card and letter they received during deployment.

Operation Sunscreen created an event called "Dress Down Day for the Troops" during Veterans Day week. Local school children are invited to write letters to the Soldiers and bring in a snack that will be included in the care packages. Each year, we have 25-35 schools participate in this event to support our troops. We would love to include more schools this year!

Care Packages for the Troops Foundation, known as Operation Sunscreen, was founded by Karen Irwin, wife of BG (retired) David Irwin. In 2007, Karen was attending multiple deployment ceremonies with her husband. She wanted to find a way to let our brave Missouri Soldiers know that they were remembered and appreciated during their deployment. After much thought, Karen made a commitment that every Missouri National Guard Soldier/Airmen would receive at least one care package during their deployment, until we had all our Soldiers home.

To date, Operation Sunscreen has sent over 12,000 care packages to National Guard troops in Qatar, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Guantanamo Bay and Kuwait. During 2014 and 2015, Missouri was blessed to have the majority of our troops at home which allowed us to send care packages to National Guard Units deployed from 24 States. Our first priority is to send care packages to our deployed Missouri Soldiers and Airmen. Once funds are raised for these care packages, we will continue to work to send care packages to all deployed US National Guard troops.