Veterans Committee closes annual Operation Afghan Iraq Pac mission

Last November the Oakland County Bar Association's Veterans Committee, led by Chairman Charles E. Brown, issued its annual challenge to OCBA committees and all members to out-fundraise them in their collection of items for military men and women serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. Last year's rivalry between the Veterans Committee and the Family Court Committee resulted in a record-setting $25,000 worth of items and cash donated, enabling the OCBA to pack more than 90 care packages that were sent overseas on March 17, 2011. Like last year, the collection effort was formally launched at the Association's sell-out Annual Holiday Gala. On Dec. 7 the event raised more than $4,000 in cash donations. Thereafter, three collection dates were held at the Oakland County Courthouse on Jan. 25, Feb. 15, and Feb. 29 where items and cash donations were accepted totaling close to $4,000. New to this year's effort, Veterans Committee member Eric Wilson, who also is the chairman of the Oakland County Road Commission, enlisted the support of staff at the OCRC who were personally moved to action since one of their colleagues has been deployed three times. Their office in Beverly Hills collected 25 boxes of items including books, personal care items, and food stuffs. The Oakland County Road Commission also supported the effort by making a truck and manpower available to pick up $8,000 in purchased items from the Selfridge Air National Guard Base commissary and base exchange. Again this year, Farmington Hills-based Corrigan Moving Systems supported the effort by delivering and making a storage unit available to hold the donated items and then move them to Livonia for unloading and distribution. To date, more than $52,000 in cash donations and donated items has been collected for the effort. This year's effort culminates on Thursday, March 15, when all of the donated items will be unloaded and then assembled into care packages for the troops. This effort will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ford National Parts Distribution Center in Livonia, on the corner of Middlebelt and Plymouth Roads, and will support 16 units including eight that are Michigan based representing the U.S. Marine Corps, Army National Guard, and the U.S. Navy. The U.S. Troop storage/packing offices are located inside the garage at the South East side of the building. All are welcome to join the packing effort. Individuals may enter from the front of the Ford NPDC building at the Plymouth Road entrance, turn right into the fenced parking lot and park at the Southeast end of the parking lot, along the fence by the single turn stile/ gate across from the garage door with a Number 9 above the door. Donations will be accepted on site that day as well. For those who plan to drop troop donations at Ford NPDC enter from the Plymouth Road entrance and pull up to the lift gate. All donors will need to see security and share that they are helping with the "Americans Thank Our Troops" or "Operation Afghan Iraq Pack" effort. Those with questions may contact Barb Grasso, coordinator of Americans Thank Our Troops, at (734) 552-2778 or godblessusmarines@gmail.com to ask questions or coordinate troop donation drop off. Operation Afghan Iraq Pac Subcommittee Chairman Michael Schloff stated, "The 3,000 lawyers of the OCBA care very deeply about our men and women on deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many of our members have served in combat in Korea, Vietnam, Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan and deeply identify with what these modern American heroes are experiencing overseas. For all of us, this is a labor of love." Learn more about the Oakland County Bar Association's Veterans Committee and Operation Afghan Iraq Pac by contacting Lisa Stadig Elliot at (248) 334-3400 or by contacting Michael D. Schloff at (248) 645-5205. Published: Wed, Mar 14, 2012