(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — If you’re stuck with a bunch of Halloween candy left over from the weekend, St. Charles resident Zoeie Kreiner will gladly take it off your hands.
The mother of seven — including a son who is on active duty — is accepting donated candy and putting it in care packages to send to deployed troops.
“My whole house smells like the candy store,” Kreiner said. “We'll take every piece we can get.”
The care packages are part of the services provided by the nonprofit, Support Over Stigma, which Kreiner founded last year. It aims to help active-duty military, veterans and first-responders who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Kreiner tells WBBM Newsradio the need became very apparent two years ago.
Her son, who was deployed at the time, called from 8,000 miles away to say there had been three suicides in four days among people he knew.
“We lost my son’s very, very dear friend to PTSD. He was a 22-year-old Marine from St. Charles,” the mother said.
It may not seem like much, but a care package with a bit of candy can make all the difference, she said.
“We actually had one local Marine who sent us a thank you note, who said, 'The best part was that as I was handing out and sharing everything that you sent. I heard three different people say, "You mean, there are people at home that still care?"' And it broke my heart.”
Support Over Stigma has partnered with four west suburban businesses that will be accepting candy donations through Friday: Gun Barrel Coffee in Batavia; Coldwell Banker Office in Geneva; Fredericks Chiropractic Center in Carol Stream; and Western DuPage Chamber of Commerce.
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