Yorktown Students Collect Items for Troops Deployed in Afghanistan

Yorktown students might be learning in class about World War II and the sacrifices people made for those who were at war, but they also got a hands-on experience.

They got to sacrifice something themselves for the greater good. 

Mildred E. Strang Middle School history teacher Chris Dipasquale told his students he is having a "WWII goods drive" and asked his students to bring in items for soldiers who are now deployed in Afghanistan.

"The response for bigger than I ever could have imagined," Dipasquale said. "I have almost 20 boxes of goods to be sent over."

The teacher is working with the Yorktown American Legion to send some of the items to the troops, while the rest of the items will be shipped by Give2TheTroops.org.

"The whole front of my classroom has been 'invaded' by goods for soldiers," Dipasquale said. "I think the students should be commended on their and their  families’ generosity. I'm really proud of how well they did."

The drive, Dipasquale said, took on a life of its own. There was one student who brought in one item every day to class, another student brought in chapstick and wrote on the back "Thank you for your service."

"Even kids, who I know don't have the means, brought in stuff," Dipasquale said. 

Among the items the middle-schoolers brought in were water, chips, candy, sanitary items and canned food. 

"They saw how valuable small things could be," Dipasquale said.  

Dipasquale said he told he students they would receive a voucher for a free homework if they donated an item, but some students did not want the voucher – they just wanted to bring in goods for the soldiers.

"I [thought] I could help out a lot," eight-grader Melissa Gross said. "I would probably not have a chance otherwise and I'm helping people who are fighting the war for us."

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