The state of the economy is taking a toll on a local organization that works to support U.S. service personnel.
The Blue Star Mothers send military men and women the supplies they need while they are serving during the war. At the organization's headquarters in Midtown Tulsa, hundreds of boxes are packed full of supplies that are ready to be shipped. But the Blue Star Mothers don't have the money to mail them to the troops.
Since the war began, Barbara Porter has worked alongside other military moms to send care packages called "freedom boxes" to military personal serving on the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan.
While the demand for the help grows, donations are drying up. Porter tells 2NEWS, "It's real disheartening, knowing and getting the email that we do, saying we really need some stuff. Send us whatever you can get. They're always so gracious for whatever they can get. It just really breaks your heart."
Before the recession, The Blue Star Mothers were shipping hundreds of "freedom boxes" out each week. Now they may go three to four weeks without being able to put any in the mail.
Porter says, "It costs $10.95 a box to ship over. And that adds up pretty quick if you are sending 100, 150 boxes a week over."
Barbara and the other volunteers are constantly fundraising. But with so many people struggling to just get by, donations are at an all-time low. "There's just very little money to go around. And all the charities are hurting."
Porter urges everyone who can help to do so. "They really need this stuff. But they also need the moral boost."
The Blue Star Mothers are holding a garage sale this weekend in the Brookside area, in hopes of getting all the boxes in the mail. The sale will take place Saturday at 1508 East 36th Place from 8am to 1pm.
Donations can be mailed to: Blue Star Mothers Oklahoma Chapter 1 BSM, P.O. Box 2306, Tulsa, OK, 74101.
