Help provide sleeping bags for needy kids

The Grand Strand Detachment of the Marine Corps League is beginning the annual sleeping bag collection drive in partnership with Help4Kids.

Why is the collection drive relevant at this time of year? We are now approaching that welcome time of year where we have a change of pace in our weather patterns in which we experience crisp mornings, comfortable days wearing a light jacket or sweater and almost frigid nights.

The frigid nights will require extra warm bedding for a comfortable sleep. Unfortunately, there is an unpleasant and probably unhealthy situation facing young disadvantaged children residing in the Grand Strand. Their family circumstances require that they sleep on the floor of their homes at night without what most children take for granted, warm blankets and pillows.

Sadly, the circumstances could be worse in that some of these children must sleep in the family automobile because the family is homeless. These disadvantaged children are not tucked in at night in a warm bed, with a soft pillow and with a warm blanket or comforter. They sleep on a hard floor or the back seat of the family automobile wearing the clothes they wore that day.

The veteran Marines of the Grand Strand Detachment have volunteered to work closely with Help4Kids to aid disadvantaged children in the Grand Strand who need warm bedding.

Remember, the United States Marine Corps does two things that no other organization in the World does: They make Marines and win battles. Some of the battles Marines fight are right here at home, in our own communities.

Marines are truly “twice the citizen,” serving country and community in time of war and peace.

This story was originally published October 4, 2015 at 11:19 AM with the headline "Help provide sleeping bags for needy kids."