North and South Seniors Unite to Support the U.S. Marine Corps

Christy Tech and Marissa Stinson attend different high schools in Grosse Pointe but both have a common bond - both have brothers serving in the United State Marine Corps.

The seniors may wear different school colors, but for the days leading up to Veterans Day they are united for the red, white and blue by organizing care packages for their brothers' units who are deploying, or will be deployed.

The two girls met in the summer of 2012, when Marissa Stinson’s family moved to Grosse Pointe after her father, USMC Col. Ben Stinson, was transferred to Michigan, according to a release.

The Tech and Stinson families became fast friends as each watched two of their sons enlist in the United States Marine Corps over the past year and half, family members stated.

LCPL Chad Tech, a combat engineer, is presently deployed to Afghanistan and LCPL Josh Stinson, a logistician, is preparing for deployment to Afghanistan this spring. PFC Jake Stinson, who is an infantryman, will deploy next year and PFC Drew Tech is currently finishing his military school as a public affairs writer. 

Marissa and Christy approached their National Honor Society Clubs at North and South, and the Young Americans for Freedom Club at North, for volunteers and help with the care package drive.

“We want to let our brothers and the other Marines know that all of us in Grosse Pointe are thinking of them, especially since they won’t be able to come home for the holidays this year,” Marissa Stinson said in release.

The teens have also partnered with the Grosse Pointe War Memorial through the Soldier’s Support Fund, a program that collects money, personal articles, and greeting cards to send to deployed troops. 

“Our committee's mission is to honor those who died for our country, by serving those who live and serve now,” Ed Lazar, Grosse Pointe War Memorial Veterans Committee Chair said in a release. 

The “Supporting Our Own” care package drive starts Monday, Nov. 4, and will run through Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11. Items can be dropped off at Grosse Pointe North and Grosse Pointe South main offices and at the front desk of the Grosse Pointe War Memorial. 

“Cash donations are tax deductible and can be delivered to the War Memorial in care of the Soldier Support Fund. The entire donation will be used for the care packages for our Grosse Pointe service members, “Lazar said. 

The items being requested are: hard candy, beefy jerky, chewing gum, Sport Drink mixes (powdered), playing cards, lip balm, black cotton athletic socks, deodorant, shaving razors, paperback books, car or motorcycle magazines, ant traps, fly tape, baby wipes, foot powder, video games (Xbox or Wii) and gaming systems, footballs, Frisbees and baseball equipment. 

“The Marines wait in long lines to use only a few computers to message their loved ones, so we’re hoping that we can send them some additional laptops so that they will be able to communicate with their families over the holidays and for the rest of their deployment,” Tech said in a release. 

“Items will be boxed individually for each Marine in the deployed units and a unit box with video games, sporting equipment and computer laptops will be sent as well,” Stinson added. 

The “Supporting Our Own” Drive culminates on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 8 a.m. at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial where the teens and their volunteers will gather to box and ship the care packages to Afghanistan. 

For more information about the “Supporting Our Own” Drive, please contact Ed Lazar at 313-515-0700 or Toni Stinson at 804-994-4638. “