Attleboro Mom Ensures all Soldiers are remembered: Soldiers' Angels makes care packages to send overseas

By Caroline McBride for The Sun Chronicle

Published Tuesday, March 6, 2012, The Sun Chronicle of Attleboro

Mary Elizabeth Clark is not your typical soccer mom.

A member of Soldiers' Angels, Clark is holding a donation drive through the Attleboro Youth Soccer League to create care packages for soldiers overseas.

Soldiers' Angels, is a volunteer-based, nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting deployed soldiers. The organization, whose slogan is "May No Soldier Go Unloved," allows members to organize fundraisers in any way they please.

"I'm combining my family's two passions - supporting the military and playing soccer - for this donation drive," Clark said.

The Attleboro Youth Soccer League has both in-town recreational teams and travel teams through the Boston Area Youth Soccer League. At the BAYS opening day pep rally on March 31 Clark will set up a donation booth through Attleboro Youth Soccer.

"I'll have examples of what the care packages will look like, along with more information about Soldiers' Angels," Clark said. "This will make people aware of the donation drive and let them know how they can help over the course of the season."

Throughout the season, a collection plate will be passed at soccer games to collect monetary donations. For those who wish to donate supplies, a list of preferred items will be posted on the Attleboro Youth Soccer website once the season kicks off.

"The money we collect will go toward the actual supplies for the care packages, along with the cost of shipping," Clark said. "Depending on the weight of the package, this can be pretty expensive."

Janice Cizskowski, a fellow Attleboro Youth Soccer mother, will help Clark purchase supplies at discounted rates.

An Avon representative, Cizskowski has been able to help get good deals on supplies such as lip balms, sunscreens and powders.

"Soldiers' Angels provides lists of supplies that soldiers may need, and many of them are Avon products," Clark said. "Janice has been fantastic in helping us save money on these items."

Clark said that by buying supplies at discounted rates and receiving donations at soccer games, she will be able to send a great number of care packages overseas.

Players on Attleboro Youth Soccer teams will be given the chance to show their appreciation for U.S. soldiers by creating cards and letters to put in the care packages. Each care package will represent a different youth soccer team, such as the Revolution, and will include a team shirt and team photo, along with the supplies.

For more information on the fundraiser and care packages visit AttleboroSoccer.com.

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