Students collect for soldiers
Photo courtesy of Erika Pehringer Juniors Preslee Fitzwater, from left, Callie Christensen, and Brooklyn Benshoof are among the students who have written letters to support deployed Wyoming National Guard service members.
The Newcastle community can help contribute to a collection drive students in the Newcastle High School Honor Society and the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America are running to support deployed Wyoming National Guard members.
Erika Pehringer, who teaches freshman and junior English language arts, said in an email that Halle Pillen, a fellow Newcastle High School alumnus, approached her a couple of weeks ago, wanting to support the unit and soldiers that she had deployed with during her time in the guard.
“She knows that the project would be successful in a school like ours because of how deeply so many people care and support our troops,” Pehringer said. “When Halle approached me with the idea, I was thrilled because one of our units currently deployed is my husband’s. While he is home safe, we know our friends are making great sacrifices.”
Pillen, who was a sergeant in the Wyoming National Guard from 2017 to 2023, said in a Facebook message that the packages will be sent to the 2-300th Field Artillery Brigade and the 920th Field Support Company, which are currently deployed. Many of the soldiers are people she deployed with in 2019, family, friends, and people she worked with at the Wyoming National Guard Joint Forces Readiness Center.
“It is important to me that the soldiers deployed see how much support they have from their communities,” Pillen said. “All of them have put their lives on the line to maintain the freedom and opportunities we have today.”
Students in Pehringer’s classes are writing letters to include in the packages.
“I’m really excited for my students to finish their letters, and I’ve been really proud of the effort that they’ve put into them so far,” Pehringer said. “As we’ve shared info about our drive on Facebook and other social media pages, I have had some of our deployed friends express their gratitude for what we’re doing here at the high school.”
Maggie Unterseher, the adviser of the National Honor Society, said in an email that Principal Bryce Hoffman emailed activity advisers seeking a group to take charge of the collection.
“My members are always looking for community service so they jumped at the chance, especially for this cause,” she said.
Anyone can bring donations to the high school library, said Unterseher, who is also the school’s librarian. According to a post on the school district’s Facebook page, the groups are also collecting cash donations to offset the cost of postage for the boxes. Items and cash donations must be brought to the library, which is at 111 Casper Ave., before Nov. 26.
“If people would like to be recognized, they are more than welcome to leave their name or organization for the donations,” Unterseher said. “The cash will be given straight to Halle to help pay for postage or any other supplies for sending she might need.”
Considering that there may be special requirements for packing items to send to the military, cash is sometimes the best way to help, according to Unterseher.