Briarcliff High School Red Cross Club Sends Holiday Spirit to Afghanistan

Led by English teacher Karen McCarthy, members of the Briarcliff High School American Red Cross Club found their own way to get in the holiday spirit.

Students recently collected more than 110 lbs. of goods including food, snacks, cards, games, magazines, socks, toiletries, coffee, crossword puzzles, and more to send over seas to American troops. 

Students used these various necessities to put together care packages to send to Afghanistan for Infantry 2-87 TF Catamounts, who are without many of the items that were collected. To give thanks to these selfless men and women who put their lives on the line to protect and defend America, McCarthy’s sophomore English classes also wrote letters expressing gratitude to the soldiers.

McCarthy wrote the following letter to Lieutenant John Bassette:

Dear Lt. John Bassette,

I hope this letter finds you and your infantry well. As our nation gathers to be with family and friends this Thanksgiving and upcoming holidays, I felt it only right to let you know how this is truly not possible without the selflessness of our military. So as a small gesture that pales in comparison to the dedication that you have shown, enclosed you will find care packages from a collection that our American Red Cross Club conducted and letters written by the club and members of my 10th grade English class. We hope that it brings a little bit of sunshine your way. We are thinking, praying and hoping for your safety and that you may return home soon.

With deepest gratitude,

Karen McCarthy