Sorority has Hope for Heroes

"I saw the booth and I saw Julia (Aker) here, so I knew it had to be for something good," the Seymour resident said after donating money to the local Delta Delta Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha sorority Saturday afternoon.

Set up outside both entrances of Wal-Mart Supercenter in Seymour, sorority members, including Aker, collected items to make holiday care packages for U.S. troops serving overseas and monetary donations to cover shipping costs.

"Our goal was to collect $150 to ship the packages," Brenda Grillo, philanthropy chair, said. "We have gone above and beyond that thanks to the support of the community."

Grillo co-chaired the event with member Crissy Duncan.

Many people also were bringing out items to put in the care packages, including snacks, toiletries, books and magazines, phone cards and decks of playing cards.

"So many people want to help our troops," Grillo said.

One item Grillo said soldiers request but that people don't think to send is Christmas decorations.

"They can't get them over there, so it's nice if we can send them some to decorate with," Grillo said.

The project, called Hope for Heroes, is being done by ESA chapters all over the world.

"It's an international project we are doing the week of Veterans Day to help our soldiers," Grillo said. Veterans Day is Wednesday.

"This is the third year we've done it, but the first time we've gone out into the community to ask for their support," she added.

Many people stopping by said they had friends and family serving in the military and they wanted to do something for them.

Tritle said she had a brother-in-law serving overseas.

"I appreciate what they do and anything I can do to show my support is small compared to what they do for us," she said.

Carey Frisque of North Vernon said her son, Darryl Tungate, had served in Fallujah, Iraq, before coming home.

"The guys need it," she said of why she supported Hope for Heroes. "They are away from their families for so long and it's hard, especially around the holidays. Any little thing we can do helps."

As part of Hope for Heroes, the sorority also asked people to sign Christmas cards they will send with the packages.

"We're collecting names and addresses too of local soldiers so we can send them a care package," Grillo said.

Packages will be mailed so troops receive them by Christmas, she added.

Delta Delta ESA supports many other national and local charities, including St. Jude's Children Hospital, Camp Riley, Easter Seals, United Way, Reins for Recovery, Relay for Life and Race for the Cure.

How to help

-- Those wanting to help Hope for Heroes may take donations to Jackson County Public Library in Seymour and ask for Julia Aker.

-- Names and addresses of local troops serving overseas may be submitted to Brenda Grillo at or by telephone at (812) 342-6953.

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