For American soldiers serving overseas in Iraq and other countries this holiday season, it won’t take much to make their Christmas. For many it is as simple as a pair of black cotton socks.
Socks are one of the many items on the soldier “wish list” promoted by the “Adopt-a-Platoon” program, being coordinated locally by Terri Williams, family services coordinator for the Modetz Funeral Home on Silvebell Road.
Williams’ father was a veteran and she has been involved in organizing the Memorial Day Parade in Rochester, where the Modetz family also operates the Potere-Modetz Funeral Home.
“I have a really big passion for the veterans,” she said. “I’m always on the Internet looking for things veteran-related.”
During one of her searches, Williams came across the Adopt-a-Platoon program.
“You apply to it and have to be approved,” she explained. “They code the boxes we send so they know they are coming from me and that they are safe…I’m the only one who knows the addresses.”
Williams began collecting items such as beef jerky, candy, peanuts, toiletries and seasonal items like sun block, chapstick and even chocolate, about a year ago at the Rochester location. She said the response from the community was tremendous.
“Whenever I get enough items collected to send, I put together a box,” she said. “Last month I sent out four good-size boxes, and over the past year I’ve sent out 80.
“A lot of them go to chaplains over there because they don’t move around as much. Area schools also send us cards and letters to send, and I’ve gotten a lot of letters back from the soldiers.”
Williams collects items such as the toiletries and snack foods year-round, but collects black cotton socks only at Christmas time.
“Kmart has helped me, they linked me into their hosiery company and they donated 700 pairs of socks,” she said. Williams’ goal is to collect 1,200 pairs of socks by the end of November.
“(The soldiers) are just very grateful that we’re thinking of them,” she added. “Our military has to buy this stuff over there. I think that’s awful.”
Mary Modetz and her husband John, owners of Modetz Funeral Home, are anxious to get involved in the Lake Orion community. The funeral home will be involved with the Marines’ Toys for Tots program for the first time this year.
“We’re part of a community, and that’s what a funeral home is supposed to be,” she said.
“I have a family who every year instead of giving each other presents (for Christmas), they pick a charity and this year they picked us. We also collect pop tops for the Ronald McDonald house all year long.”
Anyone wishing to drop off items for the wish list can do so at any of the Modetz locations, including Riverside Chapel Simpson-Modetz Funeral Home in Waterford and the Modetz Funeral Home, Silverbell Chapel, at 100 East Silver Bell Road. The phone number for the Lake Orion location is 371-3777, and items can be dropped off when the funeral home is open, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., seven days a week.