Volunteers to honor Foultz, continue holiday drive for soldiers serving overseas

(Sept. 14, 2020) Former Star Charities volunteers and other local groups are working to continue the annual holiday charity drive started by the late Anna Foultz.  

Foultz, a longtime Ocean Pines resident, passed away last year. One of her most visible and successful volunteer efforts was the Star Charities collection she dubbed, “Holiday Gifts for Our Soldiers,” which focused on sending donated items to U.S. Military men and women deployed oversees.  

Former Star Charities volunteer and Foultz friend Barb Peletier said that’s a tradition that hopefully continues. 

“Every year, Anna Foultz couldn’t wait to start collecting gifts for our military. This year, AARP and Kiwanis have stepped up to carry on her tradition. We are asking our generous neighbors to help make this drive as successful as last year’s,” Peletier said. 

"It's usually such a successful thing and it's a good program, and it was Anna's favorite. So, we thought this year that we would do it in memory of her,” she added. 

In previous years, the collection would include large bins that were decorated and placed throughout the Ocean Pines, Berlin and Ocean City area. This year, because of restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, volunteers will instead collect donations on four Wednesdays in October.  

"Because of the COVID, we didn't want stuff laying around and most of the places are closed. Kiwanis did this as a food collection for Diakonia and it was very successful, so we're hoping that the community will rally again with this,” Peletier said.  

From 9 a.m. to noon, on Oct. 7, 14, 21 and 28, volunteers will take donations in the parking lot of the Ocean Pines Community Center, on 235 Ocean Parkway.   

“To donate just drive up, stay in your car, pop the trunk, and we will pick up your donations. Volunteers will be wearing masks and gloves, for your safety and theirs,” Peletier said. 

Items needed include:   
 

• Baby wipes, 
• Bodywash and shampoo (men’s and women’s) 
• Dental hygiene products 
• Razors 
• Deodorant (non-aerosol) 
• Gum 
• Granola bars 
• Small bags of peanuts 
• Packs of hot chocolate 
• Instant oatmeal 
• 5-ounce Chef Boyardee pasta  
• Powdered drinks 
• Trail mix 
• Beef jerky  
• Ramen noodles bricks 
• Sunflower seeds 
• Lip balm 
• Kleenex 
• Pens 
• Cards 
• Puzzle books 

Donations will be picked up in November by Operation We Care in Salisbury. The nonprofit will then package and mail the items to soldiers serving overseas. Peletier said any financial contributions would help cover postage, and checks may be made out to Operation We Care.  

For more information or questions, call Peletier at 443-896-4914 or email [email protected].  

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PHOTO: Volunteers, last year, continued the holiday donation drive for U.S. military men and women serving overseas.