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Saratoga County Announces 7th Annual Yellow Ribbon Day Donation Drive Underway

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

BALLSTON SPA ­— For U.S. troops serving overseas, getting a care package can be a bright spot amid difficult conditions. To help the local Blue Star Mothers of America fill and ship boxes to deployed military members who call the Capital Region home, Saratoga County Clerk Craig A. Hayner announced the seventh annual Yellow Ribbon Day Donation Drive.

The collection of individual-size personal care items and snack foods will run through April 7 and will be donated to the Blue Star Mothers of America NY-2 to put together and send “Freedom Boxes” to local troops serving abroad. 

The donation drive is held in conjunction with the annual celebration of New York State’s Yellow Ribbon Day, which takes place April 9 and is designated as a day to honor active-duty troops and their families.

Donations can include non-perishable items like cookie and cracker snack packages, microwavable soup cups, fruit snacks, granola bars, and beef jerky, as well as personal care items such as insect repellent wipes, body wash (small), lip balm, puzzle books, and more.

Donated goods can be dropped off at the following locations during regular business hours:

• DMV offices in Saratoga County (located in Ballston Spa, Clifton Park and Wilton)

• Saratoga County Clerk’s Office, 40 McMaster St., Ballston Spa

• Veterans Service Agency, 2144 Doubleday Ave., Suite 15, Ballston Spa

• Saratoga County Hannaford stores

• Various town and village offices in Saratoga County (Call to see if your local municipality has a collection box.)

Monetary donations are also accepted. As a reference, it costs $18 postage to send each “Freedom Box.” The cost to fill one box is about $45, so a $63 donation covers the cost of filling and sending one box. Checks can be made payable to Blue Star Mothers of America-NY 2 and sent to PO Box 243, Delmar, NY 12054. Write “In honor of Yellow Ribbon Day” in the memo section. To donate through PayPal, go to www.paypal.com/fundraiser/hub and search “Blue Star Mothers of America-NY2.”

All items collected during the drive will be presented to the Blue Star Mothers during a Yellow Ribbon Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 9, at the Veterans Memorial, 162 Route 236, Halfmoon. 

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