COBB COUNTY, Ga. - What started as one soldier in need of some coffee turned into a community coming together to help out strangers overseas.
"This deployment is very different," said Kelly Green, wife of Dustin Green. "My husband works longer hours, sometimes 12-16 hour shifts."
Dustin Green grew up in Cobb County and graduated from McEachern High School.
His unit has been spread out throughout Iraq. Green is considered to be located in a "hot zone," meaning he is located in a dangerous region right now.
Green and his unit will be stationed in Iraq for at least another 6 months. "We talk through Facebook daily and he recently let me know that he is out of coffee. They need their caffeine fix," said Kelly.
After talking to her aunt, who works for the Cobb County DA's office, Kelly learned her about the plan that her aunt and co-workers had to gather some items for these care packages. The plan of the surprise care packages spread like a wild fire throughout the county.
"Everyone was coming in and donating items from chips and cookies to flip-flops to nerf footballs. Within a week, Green and his team received about 40 packages from Cobb County." According to Kelly, the care packages that the team received has truly lifted the morale of the soldiers and helped remind them all exactly what they are fighting to preserve.
"The outpouring of support for these soldiers is amazing, and they are beyond grateful for everything. When they asked who they had to thank for it all, I told them it was the people of Cobb County, Georgia."
"My girls want their daddy back and they are good about it, the resilience of these kids and how they cope is tremendous, but they want their daddy back. My daughter mentioned to me that the family is 'not as good' without him."