For Immediate Release

Friday, Nov. 18, 2016

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Melrose Middle School Donates 150 Pounds of Halloween Candy to Troops Overseas

MELROSE — Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School Principal Brent Conway is pleased to announce that students, faculty and staff donated approximately 150 pounds of candy to troops overseas.

The sweet treats benefit Operation Gratitude, a nonprofit organization that sends more than 200,000 care packages — filled with things like food, entertainment, hygiene items, handmade crafts and personal letters — a year to deployed men and women and their families waiting at home, veterans, first responders, new recruits and wounded heroes and their caregivers.

Operation Gratitude’s annual Halloween Candy Donations Program partners with individuals, schools and organizations to send leftover goodies from Oct. 31 to servicemen and women overseas.

The initiative at the middle school was started by eighth grade student Hooper Ward, who has worked with Operation Gratitude for the past four years. This season, he collaborated with MVMMS administrators to set up a drive where families and staff could contribute.

In just a few weeks, around 150 pounds were collected, and shipped courtesy of the MVMMS PTO to Operation Gratitude’s headquarters in California on Nov. 15.

“I’m extremely proud of Hooper for taking the lead in bringing this creative initiative to the middle school,” Principal Conway said. “It was something that all students, faculty and staff could be a part of, and we’re pleased to be able to send something fun to our soldiers overseas.”

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