A group of Indiana University Kokomo freshmen recently shipped 71 Christmas boxes to two military units serving in Afghanistan.
Carol Garber, the group’s instructor, said “Operation Stocking Stuffer” was organized by students as part of their freshman seminar.
They worked in small groups to research and present a service project, and the 20 students then voted for one to pursue.
“They had to come up with a topic they felt very passionate about,” Garber said, adding the students who came up with the project have participated in the military.
The packages were sent to a unit that includes Ezra Hunsuckler, an Indiana University Kokomo student who is currently deployed, Garber said. She added that the students felt a connection to him.
Garber said there are 22 men in Hunsuckler’s unit, and each received an individual box and letter. They also sent boxes to another unit in Afghanistan.
Students organized donation drop-off sites and wrote a grant to the IU Kokomo American Democracy Project to fund shipping, she said.
The goal was to send 72 boxes, she said, and they sent 71, which contained about 684 pounds of treats and supplies.
Garber said students learned more than just community service from completing the project.
“They definitely learned problem-solving, they learned commitment, they learned sharing, they learned responsibility. They all reported they felt they were much closer as a class,” she said. “It was an awesome experience.”
• Danielle Rush is the Kokomo Tribune education reporter. She can be reached at 765-454-8585 or danielle.rush@kokomotribune.com.
Local News
IUK freshmen ship gifts to soldiers
Operation Stocking Stuffer nets 71 boxes
- Local News
-
-
UPDATE: Police look for witnesses of face-chewing attack
Authorities in Miami are looking for more witnesses after a police officer fatally shot a naked man who refused to stop chewing on the face of another naked man - even after being shot once by the officer - on a busy downtown highway ramp.
-
Witness: naked attacker was chewing on man's face
Miami police have released few details. Police detective says neither man's identity had been determined. Hospital spokesman said Monday the facility would not release information on the victim.
-
Wind farm company seeks tax abatement
Howard County officials are being asked to consider a 10-year tax abatement for the proposed wind farm in the eastern portions of the county.
-
Local ceremonies honor those who fell in combat
Everyone who had gathered Monday afternoon at Darrough Chapel Park was there to remember the hundreds of names below their feet. Each brick in the Howard County Veterans Memorial’s Walk of Honor had the name of a soldier who died in battle.
-
Carver Center selects new director
Former Kokomo city councilman Dennis Morgan is expected to take the reins at the Carver Community Center, just ahead of the annual Ribfest fundraiser.
-
Colts ‘bring blue’ to Kokomo with team’s Fan Fest
The Indianapolis Colts will host a Fan Fest from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. June 22 at Foster Park, 721 W. Superior St., Kokomo. A free community concert by Poco will begin at 6:30 p.m.
-
$50,000 pantry fundraiser at $4,390
A fundraiser for Howard County food pantries was less than one-tenth of the way to the goal at the campaign’s half-way mark, according to one of the organizers.
-
Fans remember Dan Wheldon at Indy 500
Fans of the Indianapolis 500 took time on race day to remember Dan Wheldon, the popular driver who died in a crash last year at Las Vegas Speedway.
-
Sixth-grader read dictionary twice to prepare for spelling bee
Sixth-grader Pranav Haran spent six weeks reading through the entire dictionary twice.
That’s more than 472,000 word entries.
-
Library building costs may rise to finish project
The Kokomo-Howard County Public Library’s Outreach Building is looking good from the outside, but library officials indicated this week they’ll need additional funds to complete the project.
- More Local News Headlines
-
UPDATE: Police look for witnesses of face-chewing attack
Patz Suspect's Sister: I Went to Police in 1980s
Diplomatic Expulsions Follow Fresh Syria Report
15 Dead in Northern Italy's 5.8-magnitude Quake
Angry Birds Spreading Their Wings
Witness Describes Fla. Face-chewing Attack
Man Falls Off Crane, Dies After Police Standoff
Russia Condemns Ally Syria Over Massacre of 108
Dairy Farm Uses Chiropractor to Help Cows
Unexpected Smog in Pristine National Parks
Air Canada Plane Makes Emergency Landing
New Ticks Spread Across Southeast, Diseases Rise
Bring Your Own Tech Programs Charge Up Students
Pope's Butler Vows to Help Vatican Investigation
Mother of Allegedly Abused Girl Denies Claims
Raw Video: 19 Dead in Qatar Shopping Mall Fire
Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD
Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony
Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice
