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Sherry Sutton: Recipient of the Armed Forces Emergency Services Volunteer Award
Sharon J. Alfred
Thursday, January 29, 2004 — Every day people do extraordinary things. But few can say they were pivotal in getting 7,000 care packages to our troops overseas. Sherry Sutton can say that. She was the project chairman for Operation TroopCare, a one-time local community effort in Buffalo, New York. In 2003, Sutton received the Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services (AFES) Volunteer Award for her tremendous efforts and dedication on the project. Sutton said that receiving the AFES award was a "big surprise" to her, but she was truly proud that she received it because it meant national recognition for her chapter—The Greater Buffalo Chapter of the American Red Cross—and the chapter’s employees and volunteers.
Operation TroopCare involved the collection and
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| Sherill Sutton accepts the Armed Forces Emergency Services Volunteer Award. Pictured from left to right are American Red Cross Chairman David McLaughlin, Sherill M. Sutton, Board of Governors member Nancylee Siebenmann, and American Red Cross President and CEO Marty Evans. |
assembling of goods to put into care packages; these care packages were sent to U.S. military men and women serving overseas. Individual care packages included things such as lip balm, moist towelettes, playing cards, toothbrushes, and toothpaste. These items were zippered in plastic bags to protect them from sand and/or other elements. Also sent were bulk items like paperback books (Sutton estimates that about 10,000 books were sent) and note cards. A local armory served as the drop-off and assembly site. Volunteers sorted thousands of donated items, put them in care packages, and sent them out. Sutton remarked, "It was truly a community team effort."
The concept of sending comfort items was the brainchild of Neil Melbrod, Assistant Executive Director of the Buffalo Chapter. Melbrod shared his idea with Sutton who listened to him, and immediately began the planning, communication, marketing and logistics support for the project. Sutton identified her most satisfying accomplishment as taking the "seed of an idea" and turning it into a full-fledged workable project—Operation TroopCare. But, she quickly pointed out that the "monumental effort" of Operation TroopCare would not have come together without the help of other Red Cross staff members, committee chairs, co-chairs and members, and the volunteer coordinator. Sutton commented that this project gave people the opportunity to help the "deserving men and women who are risking their lives to make the world a better place for us all."
Due to DOD security concerns, and restrictions on mailing packages overseas, the American Red Cross has discontinued accepting locally collected items for distribution to deployed troops. For other ways to support the troops and their families please contact your local Red Cross chapter or station. Local Red Cross units provide many community-based volunteer opportunities. To volunteer, and for more information about American Red Cross services to military members and their families in your community, contact your local Red Cross.
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