Donations In Dodgingtown—

From Pennies To Packages, It’s All For The Troops

By Nancy K. Crevier

“Thanks so much for the care package. I didn’t have that out for too long before my guys had eaten all the beef jerkey [sic]” — Lt Brandon Kennedy.

 “I apologize that this letter is long overdue. I did receive your care packages and I want to thank you for your generosity. It has been a very long and difficult deployment for us and it’s always important to have support from the home front … I distributed the items you sent and the soldiers were very appreciative.” —Capt Robert S. Anders, Infantry, US Army.

It is words of gratitude like these, just a few of several responses he has received, that make George Hamilakis, owner of Dodgingtown Market in Newtown, know that what he and his many customers do for soldiers overseas is appreciated. He posts the growing number of cards, photographs, letters, and news clips on the bulletin door by the front door, where customers pause to read them.

The year 2007 was still fresh and new when a customer, former Marine Dan Gato, stopped by the Route 302 convenience store to ask for help.

“He had a friend overseas in the armed forces and asked me to donate something. I said, ‘Sure,’ and put together a care package and sent it,” Mr Hamilakis recalled. Then he thought maybe his customers would like to help out, so he put a washed out bleach container on the counter of the store for loose change.

Fifteen months and $3,800 later, Mr Hamilakis has been able to put together and send 13 care packages to soldiers in Iraq.

“All the credit goes to my customers. I’m just the middle guy,” he said. “People that come in every day just toss their change in. They don’t even want it back.”

Along with the overwhelming generosity of his customers, Mr Hamilakis credits Paul Gargulo of Montana Candy Company in Milford and Shawn McLaughlin of Monocrete Concrete with helping make the care packages a reality.

“Paul gives me all of the product at or below cost. That’s Slim Jims, beef jerky, protein and granola bars, baby powder, foot powder, candy bars, baby wipes, and insect repellent wipes,” he said. Sometimes he throws in magazines, as well.

After Mr Hamilakis and his wife, Argero, collect the items, wrap, and pack the 20 to 25 pounds worth of care into each box, Mr McLaughlin, he said, another customer of Dodgingtown Market, mails the packages, free of charge. Commander Junie Ingram of VFW Post 308 has also sent out a round of care packages, said Mr Hamilakis.

“It makes a big difference in a soldier’s life,” Mr Hamilakis said. “I have friends in a fish and game club I belong to who were former soldiers, and they tell me how much it means to a soldier to receive a package from back home.”

The mother of US Navy Hospital Corpsman Brenden R. Colla of Bridgewater stopped by Dodgingtown Market this winter to thank Mr Hamilakis and his customers.

“She started to cry and my eyes got all watery. You know you are doing something good,” he said.

Mr Hamilakis welcomes any friend or relative of a soldier serving in Iraq to provide him with the APO address of that soldier, and with the continued support of his customers, he will gladly send a care package. He and staff members John Bergquist and Joey Pajon have seen the generous spirit of the people who pass through the market. “It doesn’t take long to fill up the donation container. We’ll keep it going until we see our guys out of there, out of the war,” Mr Hamilakis said.

Dodgingtown Market is at 57 Dodgingtown Road (Route 302). Spare change welcome.