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Veterans fraternity helps Wesley Chapel's Support Our Troops

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By LAURA KINSLER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 11, 2009

Updated: 11/11/2009 05:48 pm

WESLEY CHAPEL - The members of Omega Delta Sigma work together like a well-oiled machine.

The fraternity, which is comprised of military veterans and ROTC cadets, could have had the afternoon off from Saint Leo University. But members spent their time at Bob Williams' Wesley Chapel warehouse making care packages for troops stationed overseas.

In less than an hour, they had broken down and repacked two pallets of donated chocolate chip cookies, sealed and labeled dozens of 40 pound boxes for shipment, and helped unload a tractor-trailer of goods.

Robert Tester knows what it feels like to get a package like the ones he helped pack. Now a full-time student, Tester served tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. "The cookies were great," he said. "I've had every flavor of Girl Scout cookies."

Williams founded Support Our Troops Inc. "because I want our boys and girls to come home heroes."

This time of year, his nonprofit spends about $35,000 a month in postage to send packages to the far ends of the earth. He's always looking for volunteers, and for donations to offset the cost of the postage.

He relies on the students, whose lightning fast assembly-line technique saves him precious time. "The stuff they do, like putting those cookies in boxes, is really time consuming," he said.

On Wednesday, it was cookies. On other days they fill boxes with toiletries, or coffee, or popcorn seasoning, or humidors packed with cigars. Williams tries to honor every special request, whether it's for a refrigerator, or a slow cooker, or a microwave.
Every weekend, the fraternity members from Saint Leo volunteer part of their Saturday morning to help. "It doesn't feel like we're doing our community service project," chapter President Martin Mune said. "It truly feels like we're doing a service for the soldiers."

But volunteering on Veterans Day was even more meaningful, especially for the veterans.

"Since I came back from Iraq, Veterans Day has a different meaning for me," Mune said. "There's no way to explain. It feels great to know that I did something to protect my country."

TO DONATE
MAIL TO:
Support Our Troops
Bob Williams
PO Box 7560
Wesley Chapel, FL 33544
TO DONATE IN PERSON
29807 State Road 54
Wesley Chapel, FL 33543
CALL: 1-800-367-3591

Reporter Laura Kinsler can be reached at (813) 259-8109.

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