This year, Operation Handwarmer collected fewer items than it did in previous years, but Burt Sappenfield is still pleased with the community support the cause received.
Sappenfield, the owner of Majestic Floor Care, LLC in Evans, said the charity collected about 6,000 items, which will be sent to U.S. troops stationed overseas.
“I delivered the items to Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, and the chaplains will be distributing those items to the troops overseas,” Sappenfield said.
He said he expected to receive fewer items this year and blames much of the decline in donations on the struggling economy and the fact that the U.S. isn’t currently at war.
“You don’t have the daily media information about battles going on,” he said. “People don’t have the urgency.”
The charity held a collection day at the Evans Walmart on Friday, Dec. 9, and a packing party on Wednesday at the American Legion in Evans. Sappenfield thanked Larry Miller with Century 21 Larry Miller Realty and Bert Dean with Clarion Creative for their support this year.
For more information about Operation Handwarmer, visit operationhandwarmerus.com/.
