Douglas County residents are making sure some of our troops overseas get a chance to celebrate Halloween. Â On Tuesday, the kids at the Boys & Girls Club of Western Nevada helped with the project.
Gold Star Mom Sally Wiley lost her son in 2009. Staff Sergeant Sean Diamond, an Army engineer, was killed in Iraq during his third tour of duty.  She's been sending care packages overseas ever since.
"I've been doing this for nine years as a way to honor my son and his memory, make him happy," she said. Â "He loved his men and he loved his care packages so instead of falling apart, I just decided to do something where I felt close to him; something he would be happy I was doing."
More than 80 kids from the Boys & Girls Club of Western Nevada helped pack boxes filled with cards and Halloween treats.
"We made packages for the troops because they don't get the stuff that we get because they are away from their homes," said 5th grader Narissa Dobbs. Â "So we made boxes with cookies and candy and jerky - some protein stuff and some sugar stuff."
The goodies and the postage are all paid for by a caring community. Â A dozen different local organizations make cookies and donate supplies.
"This is why I've been able to do this for nine years," Wiley said. "It's a very veteran-friendly community here; they understand everybody wants to do something and it's a win-win because the soldiers love getting the packages."
Wiley sends care packages six times a year and tries to get local youth involved as much as possible.
"It makes me feel happy and proud that we made them because they deserve them," Dobbs said.
The message is always the same.
"Love, and take care of our troops," Wiley said.
For more information, contact Sally Wiley at sallywiley1@gmail.com.
