It started with some moms sending care packages to their children in college.
Today, the "Airborne Angel Cadets of Texas" is a small shipping empire that regularly helps more than 2,000 U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"It's grown immensely with friends, co-workers, neighbors and word of mouth," said Nancy Carter, one of the group's founders.
Carter, a flight attendant, said she used to run into soldiers on flights who talked about how much they appreciated packages from home. At the same time, Carter's children complained the care packages she sent them were not helping them avoid the dreaded "freshman 15" pounds in college.
So in 2005, Carter and her friends decided to divert their efforts to soldiers overseas.
The group sends snacks and socks, magazines and shampoo.
Last year, they shipped more than 16,000 boxes of Girl Scout cookies to 450 military platoons.
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The "angels" now include Julie Watkins, the wife of one soldier who's been receiving the packages in Iraq.
Watkins helped pack boxes on Saturday and explained why the packages mean so much to the troops. Sending things such as "Skittles or a magazine gives them a break for just a moment from the reality of where they are," she said.
As the packages go out, the letters continue to pour in from military units thankful for the work the group is doing.
Some former soldiers even help pack boxes when they return from overseas. Retired military pilot Rick Duplechin said the boxes are a "little reminder of a better place" and a reminder that "you'll get home eventually."
