A Gift From Home

Blue Star Mothers of Spanish Springs NV5

Lisa Callen sits at her kitchen table in Spanish Springs, Nevada, writing names on a list. The names are of sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, who are far away. She knows each name well. They are the faces of the men and women who wear the uniform of the country but carry the weight of their loved one’s hearts across the world.

The Blue Star Mothers of Spanish Springs NV5, the group she leads, works quietly. Their mission is simple, but the work is never easy. They gather to create care packages, lovingly packing boxes with snacks, essential hygiene items, and thoughtful little comforts.

Each box becomes a treasure trove of warmth and generosity, designed to uplift and support those in need–things to remind those far from home that someone remembers. But there is always more to do. The need has grown, and now, they are preparing more than 200 packages to send to Nevada’s deployed servicemen and women.

Each box carries a piece of home, a gesture to let them know that someone remembers. Callen knows the value of those small comforts. For a soldier, a snack or a simple treat means the difference between the cold distance of war and a brief moment of warmth, a moment of connection.

The task before her and the others is daunting. The estimated cost for shipping alone—somewhere between $3,500 and $4,500—is high. And there’s the challenge of gathering the supplies to fill each box. They have a plan. The community will help. The people of Spanish Springs will lend a hand. A list of needed items is available on Amazon, and the community can send whatever they can spare. A donation drive where people can drop off supplies is happening March 8 at the Nevada Veterans Memorial Plaza.

Lisa Callen watches the sun sink lower, casting long shadows over the dry earth. She thinks about the soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen, the names on the list, and the moment a package is opened. Lisa Callen thinks about their faces when they see that someone remembers. And she knows they will all be a little less lonely, if only for a moment.