Brentwood Auto Parts Partners With Operation Creekside To Support Troops

Brentwood Auto Parts has partnered with Operation Creekside this holiday season to help assemble and ship holiday care packages to troops deployed across the world.

Volunteers are needed to help pack boxes on Tuesday beginning at 4:30 at 7881 Brentwood Blvd, in Brentwood. You can contact (925) 634-3952 for more information. Cash donations to help ship boxes are also needed—each box costs $14.85 to ship.

According to Linda Wilson, Brentwood Auto Parts, the store got involved with Operation Creekside after Ed McClelland attended their charity car show for the Brentwood Community Chest in August.

“A few weeks ago the Bristow Middle school was doing a pack and Ed came and asked if we could help cover the cost of freight. These kids were amazing. They put out 60 packs. The next week my daughter and I were invited to Foundation Construction to see how a pack was put together. Again this was amazing. This was all done by the employees of Foundation Construction. After watching, we knew that we didn’t have enough employees to do a pack on our own so we decided to try and make it a whole community event. Get as many people and small business involved as possible,” explained Wilson.

Wilson was excited as she explained that they also involved the Marsh Creek Elementary School where the students are creating boards with messages and art to put in the bottom of the boxes.

“It is cold in Afghanistan and our service members need our continued support,” says Ed McClelland. “Operation Creekside is a year round ministry for sure, but this is a good time to encourage others to support our troops deployed.”

Currently, there are 200 troops that are on a waiting list for a pack—some of the troops are local.

Every package that is sent cost $14.85 in freight alone. Every box is about 12 x 12 and about 7 inches tall. And then they need to be filled. The more donations of cash or product to fill the boxes the more names on the list we can get a pack to. This will be the last pack to Afghanistan this year.

“These men and women risk their lives every day so that we can do things here at home like worship and enjoy the Holiday season with our friends and families,” says Wilson. “I just hope there are some others out there that are willing to make the holiday a little nicer for the troops that are away from their families. And know that there are people back home that care.”

Suggested Items for donation include:

• Nuts- peanuts, almonds, pistachios, etc.
• Granola Bars / Fruit Bars / Energy Bars
• Powdered Drink Mixes – Gatorade, Propel, etc. (Bottled water size)
• Pop Tarts – They love these!
• Fruit Snacks
• Beef Jerky / Slim Jims
• Gum
• Sunflower Seeds
• Thank you letters
• Pencils / Sharpeners / Pens

For more information on Operation Creekside, visit their website

For more information on Brentwood Auto Parts, visit their website

Photo provided by Linda Wilson.