CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - Members of the Sacramento Blue Star Moms are teaming up with the Texas Roadhouse restaurant at 6309 Sunrise Boulevard in Citrus Heights to host a “drive- thru” dinner fundraiser on Tuesday, March 16 from 5 to 7 p.m. with half of the money raised to help provide care packages to service members deployed worldwide.

Dinner includes BBQ ribs and BBQ chicken, coleslaw, corn, fresh baked bread, bottled water and a cookie for $20. Reservations are required and pre-payment through the Sacramento Blue Star Moms website at www.sacramentobluestarmoms.org/ with Venmo or Paypal is recommended, said the group’s fundraising chair Dana Caldwell.

“The public may also pick up their meals on the day of the event with cash, check or Venmo,” she said. Caldwell said when she was interviewed some 60 people had already reserved a meal for pickup. A flyer promoting the event was distributed to the Citrus Heights American Legion post and other civic groups in the city, she said. Members of the post were also supportive in donating a $250 check for the drive-thru dinner event.

Debbie Konvalin, president of the Sacramento Blue Star Moms, said, proceeds from the fundraiser will help to offset the cost of postage needed to send support packages to deployed military personnel.

“We’ll ship medium-sized boxes in April. Our total postage for sending 200 packages is close to $3,000. We budget over $20,000 for shipping CARE packages per year,” she said.

In addition to monetary donations, Konvalin said donations of individual personal-sized items are still being accepted. “We are accepting items such as socks, puzzle books and small games, magazines, batteries and other non-perishable items,” she said. Contact [email protected] for more specific information on what items are needed and where to drop them off.

The Sacramento Blue Star Moms mail CARE Packages to deployed US Service Members approximately three times a year. CARE packages are filled with individual-sized items typically carried in a service member’s backpack.

“In April, we hope to send 200 CARE packages,” Kovalin said. “Our annual goal has been to send between 1,200 to 1,500 boxes per year. Since 2020, our fund-raising efforts have been severely diminished, so we’re currently sending as many CARE packages as is feasible.”

“Unfortunately, due to COVID restrictions, the Sacramento Blue Star Moms are not having the public pack these CARE packages in April,” Konvalin said.

“Once we are open and can pack safely, we will post our public packing events again on our website and invite volunteers to help.”

The Sacramento Blue Star Moms members are mothers, stepmothers, foster mothers, and female legal guardians living in South Placer County and Sacramento County who have children serving on active duty, Guard or reserves, or children who are veterans.

If you know of a military service member deployed through June 2021 who may want to receive a CARE package, visit the group’s website and fill out a package request form.

Visit the Sacramento Blue Mom’s Facebook page, email at [email protected] or call fundraising chairperson Dana Caldwell at 916-812-2488 for more information regarding the upcoming drive-thru fundraiser.