The employees of Southern Waste Systems have answered Forgotten Soldiers Outreach’s recent plea for help in shipping packages sitting at the outreach operations center.
“It is the best feeling in the world to have a call from someone in our community saying, ‘We want to cover the full $7,000 donation requested’ to help FSO mail care packages that are ready to be shipped,” said Lynelle Zelnar, executive director and founder of Forgotten Soldiers Outreach. “Patti Hamilton, vice president of Southern Waste Systems, made my day with that call, in addition to many other donors who have been making donations since the story aired.”
On Aug. 12, SWS employees presented a check for $7,000 to cover the cost of shipping after hearing of the organization’s plight during a WPTV-News Channel 5 report the previous Saturday morning.
“Giving back to the community is an important part of our core values,” Hamilton said. “We have many family members currently serving in the military along with a number of veterans who are a part of our team. This is the kind of program that is personal and important to us, and we look forward to volunteering in addition to making the donation.”
The money from SWS will ensure that FSO is able to ship out “We Care” packages now ready for shipment and enable new, first-time recipients registered in August to receive their first welcome packages.
Postage is an ongoing need for FSO. The nonprofit’s goal is to send a package monthly to everyone registered in the FSO database. FSO depends heavily on community support and conducts more than 200 fundraisers throughout the year.
“The summer months are the most difficult time to raise funds, and we rely heavily on community partners such as Southern Waste Systems,” Zelnar said. “What a great example they have set along with other community members who have stepped up to contribute.”
Southern Waste Systems LLC is a full-service waste and recycling company based in South Florida with three separate business units — Southern Waste Systems, Sun Recycling and All Star Toilets. The company has more 50 years of experience in the solid waste collection, disposal and recycling industry. It does business in Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties. For more information, visit www.southernwastesystems.com.
Forgotten Soldiers Outreach has been sending monthly “We Care” packages to U.S. troops overseas since 2003. For more information, visit www.forgottensoldiers.org.
ABOVE: Southern Waste Systems representatives with Forgotten Soldiers Outreach Director Lynelle Zelnar (front).
