Since November 2019, Lincoln Elementary has shipped out eight care packages to two soldiers overseas with two extra boxes for them to share during Christmas.
These soldiers are deployed until the end of February and receiving those care packages brings them joy each month because they know they are not forgotten, according to a news release from Warsaw Community Schools.
Recently, Lincoln first-grade teacher Catherine Cavanaugh received word of two units that were being deployed to the Middle East. Since Lincoln’s two adopted soldiers will be coming home at the end of February, Lincoln’s teachers welcomed the opportunity to support these two units. With donations from teachers, students and the community, Lincoln Elementary will be able to serve around 20 more soldiers from this unit.
Cavanaugh looks forward to receiving letters and pictures back from their adopted troops to share with students, staff and the community.
Deployed soldiers and building care packages have a special place in Cavanaugh’s heart, according to the release. She is married to Brandon Cavanaugh, Middle School Alternative Program teacher at Gateway Education Center, who served in the military from 2011-19.
During his service, he has traveled to Germany, Afghanistan, Texas, New Jersey and many other states. Catherine Cavanaugh began building care packages during his deployment to Afghanistan; he was gone for 10 months. She made sure to add all of her husband’s favorites and other goodies to share with his platoon. For Brandon and his unit, knowing that there was support from home and the community, made what they were doing more manageable, the release states.
Since starting at Lincoln Elementary School, Catherine knew that this was something she wanted to achieve with her community and students. The staff and students came together to collect items such as snacks, drink mixes and puzzles to send to soldiers overseas. She will be sending out her final shipment of 12 boxes this week.
Contact Lincoln Elementary School if your organization would like to partner with this project.
