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One of the soldiers poses with his care package sent from the WIU School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration.
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The bags are packed and ready to be shipped out.
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The 480 packages also included hand-made holiday cards from local grade schools.
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The School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration Gives Back with Care Packages Sent Abroad

March 5, 2020

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MACOMB, IL - - The Western Illinois University School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration faculty, staff and students embraced the spirit of giving back during the holiday season by collecting donations for the 178th Infantry National Guard unit, which is currently based overseas.

LEJA faculty, staff and graduate students spent weeks gathering health bars, snacks, pens, paper, personal hygiene products, candy and other goodies to send to the National Guard Unit, which includes several WIU students and alumni. Most items were donated or funded through monetary donations with the assistance of the Macomb Hy-Vee store. The 480 packages also included hand-made holiday cards from local grade schools, including Bushnell, Cuba, Hamilton, Macomb, Monmouth-Roseville, Rushville-Industry, Warsaw and West Prairie.

"I think the holiday cards are probably what made the biggest impact. The children were very creative and wrote thoughtful and touching commentary, including messages addressed as 'dear hero' or 'don't be lonely or sad, just Facetime your family,'" said LEJA Director Jill Myers.

The group was deployed in July and will be abroad in several locations in Afghanistan for nine months.

"I spoke with my son, who is part of the unit, [and a WIU alumnus] and he told me how excited everyone was to receive the packages. They don't get very much mail, so it was a good day. They ended up sharing some of their bags with a Marine unit, as well," said LEJA Assistant Professor Patricia Walton.

Walton and Myers organized the giving event, and both hope to make it an annual experience.

For more information on the School of LEJA, visit wiu.edu/leja.

Posted By: Alisha Looney (AA-Looney@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing