'Adopt a Chaplain' organizer ready for troops to come home

"Grannie Annie" Trail of McCook, Nebraska, forward left, Nita Skinner, right, and a crew of volunteers pack 50 "we care" packages Thursday morning to be mailed to a chaplain and the crew aboard the U.S.S. San Diego based out of Camp Pendleton, California. Each box contained food, snacks, toys, games and hygiene items as well as personal messages from the packers and Christmas cards. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette)

McCOOK, Neb. -- "Grannie Annie" Trail is tired of packing boxes to send to U.S. military chaplains serving their country abroad.

It's not because she doesn't want to participate in the "Adopt a Chaplain" program anymore after nine years. Annie's tired of packing the "we care" boxes simply because it means the chaplains and their fellow soldiers, sailors and Marines are not where she wishes they were -- home.

"They've gotta come home soon ... ," Annie sighed.

Brant Scherbarth, the husband of Monique Monzon Scherbarth of McCook, is among the U.S. Marines stationed on the San Diego. The couple is shown in a clock/photograph in the kitchen of Monique's grandparents, Annie and Dick Trail. Monique helped pack Thursday morning. (Courtesy photo)

This fall, Ann and her corps of volunteer have packed about 150 boxes to send to three chaplains serving in Jordan and Afghanistan and aboard the U.S.S. San Diego.

Each box is packed with cross-stitched crosses and American flags, foods, snacks, candies, toys, games, books, CDs and movies, hand warmers, jerky, gloves, personal hygiene items.

Packers tuck personal messages inside each box, as well as Christmas cards created and signed by fourth, fifth and sixth graders, junior high students and church groups.

All the items, and the postage to mail them, have been donated locally for Ann's "we care" packages. "This community is so totally awesome," Ann says. "I am so blessed."

"Every penny of every donation goes to postage and to buy items," Ann said during the final packing party Thursday morning. Each box costs $15.96 to mail.

Ann said she has had about 30 friends and family members helping pack in three packing parties this fall. "We can pack 50 boxes in about an hour and a half," Annie said, adding with a giggle, "Either I'm more organized than I used to be, or they're cold in the garage and they hurry up."

Ann very often receives messages of thanks from her chaplains. The latest chaplain thanked her and her team for their support of the troops and for their prayers. A chaplain texted her, "Your boxes go a long way to bolster troop morale."

In return, Annie said a prayer, a prayer of thanks and safe-keeping. "Bless the socks off of all of them," she asked God.