Hertrich dealerships seek help to snack pack the truck for USO Delaware

The Hertrich Family of Automobile Dealerships needs help to snack pack the truck for the USO during September. Community members may visit any Hertrich location to donate requested snack items. To make a monetary donation online, go to www.hertrichs.com. All donations will go directly to USO Delaware to support military heroes in the community.

"We are excited to have Hertrich on board for a drive to support the USO Delaware mission. The items from this drive will be extremely useful to support our very busy military and their families in Delaware," said Bruce Kmeic, USO Delaware director. "The supplies collected will be put to use in the Air Force Mortuary where all service members killed in action will arrive here on Dover AFB. In addition, the goodness will support the families of the fallen as they stay on base awaiting the arrival of their fallen loved one."

Items will also be placed at passenger airports. This is a high travel time for military members and their families, which has created a great need for these snack items. Both Philadelphia and BWI airports have USO lounges which are highly frequented by military members and their families.

"Our USO facility in the passenger terminal is very, very busy with service members from all over the world moving through Dover on the way to the desert or returning home," said Kmeic. "The goodness that Hertrich will collect is going to make their stay here in Delaware memorable thanks to your help with these greatly needed items."

Requested items include cases of water, canned Coca-Cola products, cases of PowerAde 20 oz. or smaller, boxes of Slim Jims, single-serve bags of peanuts, individual bags of fruit snacks, single-serve bags of cookies, single-serve bags of teddy grahams, ground coffee, single-serve cracker packs, single-serve animal crackers, plastic cups, 10 oz. Styrofoam cups, 12 oz. packages of forks, knives and spoons, large paper plates and napkins.

Snack pack the truck is a new initiative for the Hertrich Family of Automobile Dealerships, but being committed to service men and women is something the organization has prided itself on for years. It is currently in the second year of the Hertrich Hires Heroes program, a mission to hire 500 members of the U.S. armed forces veterans, those currently serving and those who have served, including the National Guard and Reserve, and their spouses, in five years.

"That doesn't just happen by accident," says Fred Hertrich IV of the Hertrich Family. "We have an employment department that has been unbelievably dedicated to this mission."

One of these is Teena Stout, one of the recruiting coordinators for the Hertrich Family who just last year was recognized by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve with the Seven Seals Award, an award to honor those who are dedicated to service members.

"The Hertrich Family is proud to say as of this date, we have employed 150 veterans through this initiative and constantly look to network wherever possible to get out job opportunities to them," said Stout. "Our dedication to them will continue."