The Gryphon Gazette

By Alex M. ’27

“Treats for Troops” 2023 officially kicked off Monday, November 6th. In this all-school community engagement project, students wrote letters and donated supplies to troops deployed overseas in support of American soldiers in the Russo-Ukrainian war. The letters and donations were assembled into care packages. This initiative aimed to make soldiers feel appreciated for their hard work and bravery while they were so far from home, and this project has been a success since its first iteration at Crystal in 2018. 

On Friday, November 10th, Rohan Dalal, the Vice President of Community Engagement, and I introduced “Treats for Troops” at the Upper School Community Time Assembly. During this presentation, several faculty members spoke about their service in the United States. The speakers included Mr. Adams, Mr. Bell, and Mr. Wolf. Mr. Adams served in the U.S. Navy from 1989-2004. Mr. Bell was in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1988-1992. Mr. Wolf spent time in the Peace Corps from 1990-1993. Learning about their experiences filled the student body and PAC with gratitude and deeper appreciation for their service. When asked how he thinks the soldiers feel when they receive these letters and care packages, Mr. Bell said, “The soldier feel valued for their sacrifice. It’s especially hard to be far from home over the holidays, so these troops appreciate being thought of.” He continued, “[Treats for Troops] is useful for the students to reflect on the sacrifice that the troops are making for us.” By writing letters, people recognize the sacrifices these soldiers are making; something as simple as a short letter can help a soldier get through hard times, and they value their sacrifices being appreciated. 

“Treats for Troops” officially ended on November 29th with many students assisting in the assembly of the care packages. Over two hundred letters were written and more than 50 care packages were assembled – a Crystal record! Thank you to everyone in the Crystal community who donated or wrote a letter. Each person has truly made a difference and helped these soldiers facing tough times feel a little bit closer to home.