Hermosa Students Send Candy to Troops

In an effort to show sweet appreciation to our U.S. troops, and students have donated their Halloween candy to Operation Gratitude, an organization that annually sends care packages to servicemen and women overseas.

PTO member Cammie Herbert on Monday dropped off about 780 pounds of candy and more than 500 letters from local children—and there’s still more.

Herbert told Hermosa Beach Patch that she plans to take another big box of donated candy to the USO at LAX on Wednesday.

"What started out as a ‘collection’ so as to not be wasteful by passing on the candy really became a wonderful project when I read the letters from the kids... they were so genuine they made me cry," Herbert said.

Local Girl Scout troops 8175 and 3325 joined the effort, making their own care packages and writing letters.

Marsha Roberts, whose daughter is in the third grade at Hermosa Valley, is an air force veteran and said that her Troop 3325 often sends care packages to soldiers overseas, and seeing their dedication to each troop project is moving.

"We underestimate the kids often," she said. "They write these things that just amazes you... they get it."

Herbert said that at Hermosa Valley School on Friday morning two students will present care packages, about 20, to the Los Angeles Air Force Base in El Segundo, as well as letters to the airmen from the South Bay who are overseas.