Last week General Casualty employees packed care packages of sunscreen, eye drops, shampoo bottles, disposable cameras, snacks and more for the troops in Iraq in order to support employees with friends and family overseas.
The company's Sun Prairie Employee Representative Committee spearheaded the drive and named it "Operation Orange," referencing General Casualty's corporate color. The committee collected enough goods to assemble 110 care packages, and employee donations of $1,188 paid for postage and additional supplies.
While some organizations have suspended care package programs, General Casualty worked with Vicki Edgren, family readiness coordinator for Wisconsin Air National Guard 115 Fighter Wing. Vicki inspected the packages, which will be shipped directly to 18 service members who are friends and family members of General Casualty employees. Additional packages were distributed to 115FW service members currently serving overseas.
"This is a godsend," Edgren said of the donations and employees who volunteered to pack them up. Prior to the collection, she gave the committee a list of needed supplies based on information from her military contacts. "These items will make life just a little bit more comfortable for the troops," Edgren said.
Carl Firme is a General Casualty claims analyst whose son is stationed in Iraq and will receive Operation Orange packages. Firme is proud of the company's support and "astonished" by the quantity and quality of donated items. "I believe these packages will bring joy and happiness to any soldier lucky enough to receive them," Firme said.
Employees in General Casualty's Eastern Region also organized a drive, and Sun Prairie's Operation Orange prompted employees in Lincoln, Neb., and Springfield, Ill., to collect items as well.
This project also drew the attention of National Public Radio, which interviewed several employees and aired a segment about Operation Orange on April 9.
For more information please contact Anne M. Smith.