AST Treats-4-Troops Brightens the Day for Military Overseas

Members of the Alpha Sigma Tau (AST) sorority at Lebanon Valley College are making Halloween season a little bit sweeter for our military troops overseas. Through the annual Treats-4-Troops event, AST assembled more than 1,700 treat bags to be sent to members of the United States Military deployed across the world.

AST members began planning the event in early September, reaching out to alumni, family, and friends for donations.

“One of our former advisors, Tracy Ciabattoni, sets up a wish list on Amazon to show all of the items that we need. After the wish list is made, Tracy shares the link with the LVC chapter, and we do a huge social media push to receive donations,” said Emily Kissinger ’18, president of the College’s AST chapter and a participant in the event since it came to LVC in 2014.

The Treats-4-Troops assembly was held Sept. 28 in the Allan W. Mund College Center. LVC’s AST members were joined by national members, alumni, and local Girl Scouts to create the treat bags.

“We start categorizing the treats and set them up so that each table has a little bit of everything, and one bag can be made by going down the line. The bags all vary because we get a wide variety of donations!” said Kissinger. 

Surpassing their goal of 1,500 bags, the group created 1,732 bags.

“Each year this event gets bigger and more successful, but this year was definitely our most successful yet! We had more bags than places to send them, so we ended up taking a few boxes to nearby Fort Indiantown Gap as well,” she said.

The success of the event allowed LVC’s AST chapter to earn recognition from their national organization.

“We were able to have two of our national vice presidents attend the event, as well as one of the National Panhellenic Conference delegates, whose husband was on the receiving end of this event in the past!” said Kissinger. 

The AST sisters take great pride in the Treats-4-Troops event and brightening the day of individuals who are risking their lives for the country. 

“As an organization, we love knowing that the work we put in makes someone’s life a little brighter,” said Kissinger. 

The group has received multiple notes of thanks from military members who received their packages, including this one from Commander Mitch Albin, USN.

“On behalf of my Americans (and Afghans) who greatly enjoyed their efforts, please accept our gratitude for sending a little bit of home over here to help the time pass a little faster. It may be one of the best facets of Greek life, which a university can offer to young Americans: organized volunteerism enriching others. Just a quick note of gratitude and to let you know that AST is doing it right, and we’re all better for it.”

 

 

-- Adam Filbert, Marketing and Communications Intern