LOMBARD – State Rep. Terra Costa Howard, D-Glen Ellyn, collected more than 1,000 gift items for VFW Lilac Post 5815’s Boxes for Troops effort, putting together the largest single donation to the organization’s annual drive to send holiday packages to military men and women serving overseas.
“I have been overwhelmed by our community’s generous support of Boxes for Troops,” said Costa Howard. “These donations demonstrate our neighbors’ support for the men and women who are making sacrifices to serve our country overseas. I am so grateful to all of the patriotic people who stepped up and pitched in, with special thanks to Discover DuPage and the 11 hotels in DuPage County that made such generous donations to this great holiday project.”
Costa Howard’s district office in Lombard served as a collection site for more than 1,000 donated gift items, including travel-sized toiletries, nonperishable foods, and puzzle books such as crosswords and word searches to be sent to servicemembers serving overseas.
“This drive was a successful collective effort by local residents and businesses and our veteran community,” Costa Howard added. “All of us should be grateful to the men and women of the VFW Lilac Post for their work year-round on behalf of our veterans and active-duty servicemembers.”