It’s year number nine for “Treasures for Troops” collecting items on behalf of Blue Star Mothers Chapter #188 of Ionia, Montcalm, and Kent Counties, and WION (Ionia) is proud of the results!

WION conducted live broadcasts November 14-18 from the Village Market of Muir, Young Chevrolet-Buick-GMC of Ionia, and the Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce. In a release, the station said the results were amazing.  "Even after the past two years of Covid, and this year’s unimpressive economic conditions, The Blue Star Mothers and volunteers met on Sunday, November 20...then sorted, boxed and prepared 233 boxes to go to deployed Servicemen and Women in all branches of our country’s military!"

Boxes are packed with donations collected in this yearly event, and include letters, cards, and notes from Saranac, Ionia, Lowell students, Ionia area residents, and others.

The Ionia Moose lodge once again hosted the storage, sorting and boxing of donations, which were then prepared for mailing from the Saranac Post Office. Young Chevrolet, Buick, GMC was once again the sponsor, as they have been each year of the drive.

233 boxes are going out to active military members deployed far from home. The boxes will be a surprise to most recipients, however some addresses were provided to the Blue Star Mothers by families and friends of the deployed.

Major donations for postage were received from Reurink Roofing & Siding Sales of Ionia, and Herbruck’s of Ionia, with many individual monetary donations from WION listeners, advertisers, and the public in Ionia and Kent Counties. Once again Lowell High School Radio WRWW-92.3FM and Lowell Schools contributed to the drive! WION has special thanks to the Lakewood United Methodist Church Youth Group of Lake Odessa who held their yearly special drive for the project and donated what was for them a RECORD amount of items during the boxing on Sunday, November 20.

Brenda King-Gibson of Ionia, Kent & Montcalm Counties Blue Star Mothers chapter 188 reemphasized the importance of small town participation: “We could not have done this pack for one year without our local communities, let alone nine amazing years. Each and every year, so many hands and hearts touch each and every box we send. As always this is a true testament to our small towns and local communities. We are incredibly blessed by the outpouring of generosity.”

Jim Carlyle, WION’s owner and mid-morning co-host commented: “Now in our 9th year of hosting this drive and organizing some of its efforts, we’re proud of our listeners, our local organizations, schools, and businesses for the results! It’s amazing given the way people now have to watch their expenses this year how much all of our surrounding area came together for this cause. It’s an effort that year after year, brings communities together as one. We’re very proud at what LOCALLY owned radio and COMMUNITY can do, working together.”