Yellow Ribbon care package effort still going strong

American flags in hand and hearts swelling with patriotic pride, residents filled the streets of Palatine last weekend for the Fourth of July Parade.

Given the setting, the Yellow Ribbon Support Group had no problem unloading 150 boxes filled with treats and toiletries for troops overseas. Parade patrons were eager to transport the care packages to the post office and pay for the $10.35 postage.

The parade bumped the total up to 13,942 boxes sent since Pat and Mac McCoy founded the not-for-profit organization in 2003.

They show no signs of slowing. Yellow Ribbon volunteers met Wednesday at village hall to start packaging 700 more boxes that will be distributed at the Schaumburg Septemberfest over Labor Day weekend. So be on the lookout for Yellow Ribbon representatives armed with these care packages.

For details on how to make a donation or add to the list of soldiers receiving care packages, go to yellowribbonsg.org.