Sorority Appreciates Troops

Members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority showed their appreciation for U.S. troops fighting overseas Saturday.

About 16 members of the historically black organization met with Daniel Sargent - a Karnack resident, who heads a local effort aimed at sending care packages to American troops deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The meeting was held in a conference room in the South Building at Texas State Technical College-Marshall.

Loretta J. Thompson Martin, Marshall Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority vice president, said each member of the organization brought an item to be donated to Sargent's cause.

A large table - which stretched across a spacious room - was replete with food, goodies and various other items. Sorority members and Sargent later indulged in a tasty meal.

"I was just floored," said Sargent, when asked about his thoughts on the sorority's donation. "I couldn't believe how much stuff that they donated. I was just glad to get it."

Ms. Martin said the organization decided to donate Sargent the gifts after reading a previous story about Sargent's efforts in the Marshall News Messenger.

"It's just heartwarming," said the Alpha Kappa vice president of the SOS initiative. "I'm just touched that we have made such a generous contribution."

Sargent established the SOS initiative locally about three years ago.

Since then, he's sent thousands of packages overseas, worked with several locals sympathetic to the cause and been asked by several organizations - some as far as Little Rock, Ark., and Georgia - if they can contribute.

He's currently working with Laura Enderle, an organizer in Shreveport, La. The two hope to stage a series of fund-raisers at businesses and stores across the Ark-La-Tex in the near future. Sargent says several local organizations have also joined the cause.

A disability assistance club in Longview has pledged to donate $100 a month for the cost of postage and other items. St. Joseph Catholic Church and Spring House, an adult day care center in Longview, have also contributed.

Following the popularity of SOS, Sargent has also been asked to make appearances on behalf of the initiative, including at a number of churches and organizations. Sargent says he hopes to launch his Web site (SOS-supportoursoldiers.org) soon.

The site will enable visitors to donate, see pictures, read e-mails and interact with soldiers overseas.
For now, interested donors may visit http://sos-supportoursoldiers.blogspot.com/.

Sargent said such items as canned meats, snack items, socks, underwear, T-shirts and cosmetic products have been sent.
"There are soldiers over there and they're not forgotten," said Sargent. "We still care about them."
For more information on the initiative or to make a donation, contact Daniel Sargent at 903-578-1533, e-mail desargent@sbec.com or go to http://sos-supportoursoldiers.blogspot.com/

Posted: Sunday, June 6, 2010 1:13 am

Updated: 1:16 am, Sun Jun 6, 2010.
http://www.marshallnewsmessenger.com/news/article_fef34eb2-7132-11df-8bdd-001cc4c002e0.html