Camden Central School District -

The McConnellsville Student Council’s Halloween Candy Takeback program is truly a gift that keeps on giving. On Thursday, December 19th, the council sent out its latest package of donated items to its adopted platoon from the United States Army to give the troops a taste of home for the holidays.

The items were sent to the Army’s 1-10th Attack Batallion from the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, which operates under the supervision of the 10th Mountain Division. The 10th Mountain Division has its home base at Fort Drum in Watertown, but the recipients are currently on deployment.

As with their previous packages, the box included some of the reclaimed halloween candy from the Candy Takeback Drive held in early November. In addition, many students made cards during recess time in the library.

For School Patrol Officer Paul Russo, this shipment was an opportunity to pay it forward. Russo is a service veteran who has been deployed in the past. As someone who understands what the soldiers are looking for, he generously donated a supply of lip balm, wipes, toothpaste, and other hygiene items that can make a huge difference in the field.

All of these items combined to make a package that was quite heavy, and international shipping is not exactly inexpensive. Mr. Cole Vergalito, the owner of Cycle Shack and a McConnellsville kindergarten parent, agreed to donate the funds to ship the package to its destination.

Thank you to all who stepped up to donate and make this shipment a reality. Just as importantly, we extend our appreciation to all members of our armed forces for their service throughout the year, with a special emphasis on those away on deployment during this special time of year.