Pittsburgh insurance company seeks donations, volunteers for soldiers' 'care' packages

For troops deployed oversees – especially those in Iraq and Afghanistan – getting a bottle of body wash isn’t as easy as making a quick trip to the Post Exchange. The base PX isn’t always accessible in isolated and hostile areas.

Operation Reach Out by Pittsburgh-based GBU Financial Life, which sells life insurance and annuity products, is putting together care packages for the troops at 9 a.m. on Nov. 2 at 1200 Lebanon Road, #510, West Mifflin.

With an ambitious goal of sending 5,000 care packages to U.S. troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, which more than doubles last year’s shipment, Operation Reach Out is asking for the public’s help.

The organization needs handmade, colored cards; box sponsors and volunteers to pack boxes.

“This year we are asking Pittsburgh to get involved,” GBU CEO William Hunt said in a statement. “We are inviting anyone who wants to thank a deployed military member for their service to sponsor a care package and add a personal note.”

Now in its 13th year, the organization is teaming up with Operation Troop Appreciation in Pittsburgh, which has shipped wish-list items to military personnel for 15 years.

GBU Financial has sent out more than 18,000 care packages to deployed troops since 2006.

Each care package includes personal hygiene items such as lip balm, deodorant and body wash as well as pre-packaged snacks like protein bars, candy and beef jerky. The boxes also have playing cards, notebooks, pens and other items.

Operation Reach Out will provide lunch for volunteers and a day of activities that include carnival games and raffle prizes, said Jennifer Stockdale, a GBU Financial Life spokeswoman.

Click here to help or for more information about the event.