Mercury Insurance office assembles care packages

Members of the military, Mercury Insurance employees and agents scheduled gatherings last week at seven Mercury offices, including the one in Camarillo, to assemble care packages for U.S. troops stationed around the world.

Boxes were filled with toiletries, wool socks, snacks, games, playing cards, holiday decorations and comfort foods to provide U.S. troops with a little touch of home.

The packing parties began nine years ago when Melyssa Jones and Monica Nungaray of Mercury’s Camarillo office organized the project while Nungaray’s son was stationed in Afghanistan. The annual event has spread to Mercury’s Los Angeles, Rancho Cucamonga, Brea-Berry, Brea-Puente, Brea-Greenbrier and Folsom offices. Mercury employees and agents have assembled and sent more than 3,000 care packages to servicemen and women serving overseas.

“A single piece of mail can brighten a soldier’s day, especially true for those who aren’t expecting and never receive anything from home,” Jones said. “These soldiers risk their lives and endure harsh conditions every day, and this is a small way that we can say ‘thank you.’”