Group created to honor fallen soldier holds T-shirt contest

ELKHART, Ind. (AP) - Debbie Passerallo always made sure her son was well-fed and in high spirits when he was deployed in Afghanistan.

She was a regular at the post office during that time, even lugging a Christmas tree to mail overseas so her son, a U.S. Army staff sergeant, could celebrate the holidays with his unit. Muffins from Martin's Super Market were Jesse Williams' favorite treat, which he often shared with his senior commanders.

"I always sent him more than he could use," Passerallo said. "Especially after he told me, 'Mom, you wouldn't believe how many people over here get nothing.'"

Although Williams was killed in a helicopter crash in December 2013, Passerallo still is a regular at the post office. Through a charity she started to honor her son's memory, called Jesse's Warriors Inc., she now collects items for and ships care packages to soldiers still deployed.

Jesse's Warriors first started as a group of Williams' friends and families who traversed Elkhart County in sub-zero temperatures in the days following his death, asking for businesses and other organizations to lower their flags to half-mast even though an order from the governor had not yet been issued. The group's mission then evolved to collecting money and items to benefit active-duty soldiers and veterans.

The group once was located in a high-profile building at the intersection of Second and Lexington streets in Elkhart but recently moved to 2417 Oakland Ave. The new space features sturdy, large work tables and shelves, a delivery door and much more space.

Passerallo and other volunteers pack boxes full of instant breakfasts, toiletries, cookies, hot chocolate and tea to send abroad.

"It's not like they can go to Walmart and buy a toothbrush," she said. "Several of the soldiers write to us to thank us for the items we sent, but they're very appreciative that they're remembered at home. That's a big thing that helps."

An annual Mission Ride in June is the nonprofit's biggest fundraiser, and Passerallo already is planning this year's event - starting with the T-shirt. Jesse's Warriors is sponsoring a T-shirt design contest to find artwork to feature on this year's Mission Ride shirt, which is given to each event participant.

T-shirt design entries will be accepted through March 12. Volunteers with Jesse's Warriors are hoping for submissions from elementary school students to professional artists. After the submission period ends, the top designs will be posted on the Jesse's Warriors Facebook page, and the design receiving the most likes will win a gift basket valued at more than $350.

"There are a lot of budding artists here, a lot of talented people," said Debbie Mayberry, a longtime friend of Passerallo's who works closely with Jesse's Warriors. "I think somebody can come up with something pretty darn good."

Although the Mission Ride is Jesse's Warriors' biggest fundraiser, the organization always accepts donations. And Jesse's Warriors volunteers do a lot more than send care packages to deployed soldiers - they also provide help to veterans back home.

Passerallo recalled one of the first veterans she helped through Jesse's Warriors. His family was moving to a new rental house but had nowhere to stay for two nights while the house was being readied by the landlord. Passerallo paid for two nights in a hotel for the family.

The group also helps veterans with utility bills or finding equipment to make their cars or homes more accessible. Right now, volunteers are searching for a refrigerator to give to a veteran.

"There are other resources out there and other protocols the veterans know to follow, but the utility company does not wait for the veteran's benefits to come through before shutting the electricity off," Passerallo said. "We're a hand up, not a hand out."

Mayberry said Jesse's Warriors helps those who knew Williams and are still battling through grief. Helping other veterans makes dealing with the loss a bit easier, she said.

"When we think of a veteran who served our country, people don't always think they will come to a part in their life when they need help," Mayberry said. "That's just not the way it is. So many times, the help they need is not always right there. A lot of them don't speak out that they need help until the day they're gone."

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Source: The Elkhart Truth, http://bit.ly/1QUgpDv

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Information from: The Elkhart Truth, http://www.elkharttruth.com