A group of military wives, mothers and friends have taken matters into their own hands to ensure Delaware’s troops are taken care of overseas. Delaware Boots on the Ground, founded by Middletown residents Kathy Greenwell and Shirley Brooks, has been raising money for troops and their families since last April. The organization started as a small, grassroots operation and has grown by leaps and bounds, reaching the steps of the capitol in June when Gov. Ruth Ann Minner declared July 4 “Delaware Boots on the Ground Day.” Fundraiser locations Donate online The declaration celebrates the organization’s biggest fundraising campaign ever – a weeklong push to raise $75,000 from June 29 to July 4. Greenwell, 49, never envisioned Boots on the Ground would become so popular when she and Brooks founded the organization over breakfast one morning. Greenwell learned a lot about the military from her husband, a 35-year veteran of the Army National Guard, and wanted to start Boots on the Ground because she saw how the federal government could not provide all the support troops need. Boots, helmets and ammunition come from federal supplies, but civilians must step in to outfit the troops with granola bars, extra socks and toothbrushes, she said. Many people donate personal items for soldiers, but it is difficult to ship those items and even more difficult for the troops to carry extra toiletries around, she said. Instead, Boots on the Ground co ...
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A group of military wives, mothers and friends have taken matters into their own hands to ensure Delaware’s troops are taken care of overseas. Delaware Boots on the Ground, founded by Middletown residents Kathy Greenwell and Shirley Brooks, has been raising money for troops and their families since last April. The organization started as a small, grassroots operation and has grown by leaps and bounds, reaching the steps of the capitol in June when Gov. Ruth Ann Minner declared July 4 “Delaware Boots on the Ground Day.” Fundraiser locations Donate online The declaration celebrates the organization’s biggest fundraising campaign ever – a weeklong push to raise $75,000 from June 29 to July 4. Greenwell, 49, never envisioned Boots on the Ground would become so popular when she and Brooks founded the organization over breakfast one morning. Greenwell learned a lot about the military from her husband, a 35-year veteran of the Army National Guard, and wanted to start Boots on the Ground because she saw how the federal government could not provide all the support troops need. Boots, helmets and ammunition come from federal supplies, but civilians must step in to outfit the troops with granola bars, extra socks and toothbrushes, she said. Many people donate personal items for soldiers, but it is difficult to ship those items and even more difficult for the troops to carry extra toiletries around, she said. Instead, Boots on the Ground co ...