When Francine Thompson’s son, Shane Johnson, was deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq, she threw herself into volunteer work to keep busy. At the time, Ms. Thompson did not know it would lead her to make impact on soldiers across the world.

“I was working for a nonprofit in Florida in 2005 and they had to do a community service project,” said Ms. Thompson. “I ran across Forgotten Soldiers Outreach while looking for a project for them.”

The organization receives the boxes for free from the Post Office and the items are donated, offering virtually no cost to anyone who wants to get a box for a soldier, although, Ms. Thompson said, they do have to raise money to pay for the shipping. However, they do offer a way online to sponsor a box for $20 or for businesses and organizations to become sponsors as well.

“They are a nonprofit organization that sends care packages to all soldiers who are deployed,” said Ms. Thompson. “They or someone they know can sign them up online and each month they will receive a care package with items and a letter of encouragement.”

The nonprofit raised $2,800 for FSO as their community project and raised her interest in the organization. When she moved to Georgia to be closer to her family Ms. Thompson found another opportunity with FSO by becoming the state’s program manager.

Hitting the ground running after moving to Georgia, she said there are several sites in Paulding where residents can donate and the list is available on their Web site.

Their first packing event in Georgia took place the last weekend in January and she said the organization would be reaching over 1,000 soldiers, 352 individuals, 15 squads, one hospital and two Chaplains.

“We only sent out about half of the 352,” Ms. Thompson said but it was the first packing event and we are still in need of volunteers to help in everything, from picking up donations to administrative duties.

Even working with limited volunteers, she said won’t waver and will continue to work hard to support all the deployed soldiers.

For more information about Forgotten Soldiers Outreach visit www.forgottensoldiers.org or contact Ms. Thompson at (404) 783-4328 or soldiersnotforgotten@gmail.com.