Published: July 03, 2009 03:32 pm      

Marine care package benefit called a success

Texas Star Embroidery was a busy place Thursday as customers stopped by the Lindsay Street business to leave cash donations or plastic bags full of comfort items for wounded Marines.

The event — designed to collect personal care items for Marines recovering at Tripler Army Medical Center Hospital in Kaneohe, Hawaii — was sponsored by several local healthcare agencies including Gainesville Health and Rehabilitation Center, Angels Care Home Health and Hometown Pharmacy.

The ongoing fund raising effort is the work of Jackie Zimmerer whose son, Lance Corporal Ryan Zimmerer was injured during a training mission in the South China Sea.

Zimmerer, who owns Texas Star Embroidery with her business partner Monica Lamb, said she got the idea to send backpacks full of supplies to the wounded soldiers after learning that the men and women who are sent to Tripler often arrive without basic necessities.

Thursday’s event was a success, Zimmerer said.

“We’ve collected $900 in cash and lots of supplies,” she said.

Some supporters brought armfuls of bags brimming with items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant and shampoo.

Some boxes are already on the way to the Marines, she noted.

“We’ve sent six of the flat rate boxes full of toiletry items,” Zimmerer said.

Each of the boxes contains black backpacks embroidered with the Marine Corps emblem and the name of the soldier’s unit. The packs contain a towel, a razor, shaving cream, soap, shampoo, toothbrushes and other hygiene items.

The wounded soldiers time at Tripler varies.

“As the Marines come through this unit, a lot may only stay two days or they could end up (staying) longterm like Ryan,” Zimmerer said.

Ryan’s injuries were serious and included two broken legs and a broken tail bone.

During a visit to Hawaii to spend time with Ryan, Zimmerer and her husband Albert, found out many soldiers don’t have personal items to make their lives more comfortable as they transition through the Wounded Warriors unit.

Although they get the medical care they require, soldiers recovering in Hawaii are often on their own for almost everything else.

It was during that emotional visit to the Kaneohe base that Zimmerer said she formed her plan to supply backpacks of toiletry supplies to the wounded soldiers.

She began by going through the chain of command, securing permission to go forward.

“We have all the approvals. We actually went through the Marine Corps for official approval (for the backpack gift project),” she said.

Marine officials are avid supporters of the plan, she added.

“It’s just so little to do for those guys who are doing so much,” said Julia Whitcraft.

Zimmerer said she hopes the effort catches on.

Some businesses have agreed to become drop off points for the backpack supplies.

“First State Bank has picked this up and is going to put in drop boxes. Hometown Pharmacy in Whitesboro will also have a drop off box,” Zimmerer noted.

In addition to toiletry items, she said soldiers often ask for phone cards.

“A lot of times their phone gets turned off, and they have to get someone to turn it back on for them. Or if they leave it in their seabag, it could be lost for a long time,” she said.

Phones are important because they are often the Marines’ sole connection to home and to loved ones.

Other useful items include Subway or McDonalds gift cards.

Both restaurants are within walking district of the Wounded Warriors unit.

Ryan is not the only Zimmerer serving in the military.

The couple’s son Joshua who is stationed in Japan is also a Marine.

The young men have a lot of friends and relatives supporting them including grandparents Joann and Yuton Harris and Albert and Imogene Zimmerer.

Also helping out with the fund raiser were Shelly Hundt, Zach Hundt, Julia Whitcraft, Travis Whitcraft, Jessica Dement and Shari Kuykendall.

To find out how to donate to the Marine backpack project call 668-2300.