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Marine Sgt. Luis Mercado Jr. is the most popular man in his platoon when a package arrives in Iraq from his mom in Orange County. Surrounded by many soldiers, he distributes supplies of socks, drinks and food. Two large boxes of potato chips "disappear in 10 seconds, as if [the soldiers] have never eaten chips before," says Mercado.

Luz Mercado sends out the care packages daily to boost the soldiers' morale. Sponsoring her son's platoon has become her mission since their deployment to Iraq. "We have a mini Sam's Club in our garage," Luis Mercado Sr. says. "All you need is a shopping cart to go down the aisles...Things we take for granted, they appreciate a great deal. At 7:30 a.m., it is already 137 degrees there, so drinks are very important."

Luz operated as a one-person charity for months; now she is affiliated with the non-profit organization Support Our Heroes. "it was getting costly, about $30 to $40, to send the packages," says Luis Sr. The couple have been overwhelmed by the public's response to recent publicity, which sparked donations from families and organizations. "One child sent a letter with a check for $5. He said it was all he could do now, but when he gets older he wants to be a Marine," says Luis Sr..

Luz says the soldiers are doing more for her than she can for them. "Whether we believe in the war or not, they're giving us their lives."

By DEBORAH MEDENBACH
Times Herald-Record
Posted: December 21, 2009 - 2:00 AM

NEW WINDSOR - Lucy Mercado is not about to break promises to God. When her son, Marine Sgt. Luis Mercado Jr., was deployed to Iraq in 2004, Lucy pledged that if he was returned to her healthy and strong, she would continue to send supply boxes to the troops in his platoon until all of the soldiers could come home.

Her son did return home safely and is now continuing his military service in Japan. Lucy kept her promise, but it's pricey. She formed a charitable foundation, Support our Heroes, in 2004 to be able to accept donations of supplies and funds for postage. She can't even begin to count the weekly supply boxes she's sent out since she began. She adopted two platoons and was recently asked by three others if she could help them out.

"How do you say no when they've asked for help?" Lucy asks. "The PX doesn't keep up with what the soldiers need."

The military provides meals and water, but troops were often short on toiletries and snacks.

The first year of sending supply boxes in 2004 cost her about $1,000. Last year, she spent $3,000 in postage alone to get boxes out to two platoons. This Christmas, with five platoons and more than 400 soldiers to buy for, the cost for postage alone will be astronomical.

She's had help getting the supplies the soldiers will need. Chris Eachus, a teacher at Newburgh Free Academy, brought 30 boxes of donated goods to her at Thanksgiving time. The only remaining items needed are antibacterial wipes, batteries, energy drinks, energy bars and snacks.

The U.S. Postal Service has priority boxes specifically designed for troop mail and offers discounts for packages sent to service members. To help Lucy Mercado's foundation send packages to her five platoons, visit www.supportourheroes.net.

dmedenbach@th-record.com