Murrysville church's 'A Soldier's Christmas' program prepares care packages for troops

Kiski Area graduate Evan Stover was stationed in South Korea last year when he was told he received packages in the mail.

“I went there to pick them up, and it was like 13 boxes, stacked up to my shoulder,” he said.

Stover, 20, was just one recipient of the Murrysville Alliance Church's “A Soldier's Christmas” program sending care packages to local soldiers stationed overseas.

“There was just countless notebooks, pens, pencils, snacks,” Stover said. “There was no way I could use all of it, so I gave some to both the U.S. and Korean soldiers. Everyone was just happy that we got presents for Christmas, stuff to write letters back home and snacks to eat during the Christmas break.”

Tony Martin of Delmont is a Murrysville Alliance parishioner and has helped for the past decade in organizing the program, which began with former Associate Pastor Myron Wattenphul.

“Myron was a Navy veteran, and Pastor Dan (Lawrence) and Myron got together and decided that we needed to do something to support our troops,” Martin said. “Our church does that not just through the ‘Soldiers' Christmas' program, but also through other things during the year.”

Martin and Lawrence hand out collection boxes at the church, along with a list of suggested items. They are returned by Nov. 20, and over the following weekend local organizations, along with veterans who attend the church, pack up the supplies and make sure they reach the post office before Thanksgiving.

“We try to get local troops,” Martin said. “We don't limit it to Murrysville folks, but we do try to keep it in the region.”

Stover's mother, Connie, said the program has been wonderful.

“As a parent, it's phenomenal,” she said. “When Evan got the packages, he called and said, ‘Mom, we're just all in shock.'”

Stover said it helps to know that family and friends are thinking about him.

“It's hard to be away from home for anybody, but to know that there's loved ones back home who care about us and support the military and young soldiers like me, it feels amazing,” he said.

“It lets me know that they want me to keep going and strive for my dream of becoming an Army officer.”

For more on the program, to provide a name of a local soldier, or to sign up and receive a box, call the church office at 724-327-7206.

Patrick Varine is a staff writer for the Tribune-Review.