The family-owned Packaging and Crating Technologies, LLC, also known as PACT® is finishing up its 3rd annual Military Heroes Charity Program to benefit both the Tunnel to Towers Foundation and the American Legion of Thomaston Post 22.
It was held throughout the month of May and through July 4, with 1 percent of sales proceeds from its entire line of moving containers and shipping products donated to the causes.
Tunnel to Towers Foundation is a non-profit organization that helps military families secure mortgage-free homes.
A $1,000 contribution will go to the American Legion of Thomaston Post 22, which ensures proper health and other essential benefits for current service members and veterans.
Pact, based in Watertown, has in the prior two years raised about $10,000 for America’s servicemen and women, a spokeswoman for the company said.
“Memorial Day is always met with eager anticipation of warmer weather and fun summer vacations, however, for thousands of military families, May is a time of sadness and solemnity as they remember their fallen loved ones,” said Rodger Mort, chief operating officer at PACT.
“The United States military is a key customer that uses our packaging containers as all branches of service personnel are moved to different posts, and we are always grateful to help such humble heroes in any way possible,” he said.
According to a PACT spokeswoman, The Tunnels to Towers Foundation was founded to recognize the life of New York City firefighter Stephen Gerard Siller. Siller was assigned to Brooklyn’s Squad 1 and had just finished his shift when he got word over his scanner of a plane hitting the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
Siller drove his truck to the entrance of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, but it had already been closed for security purposes. Determined to carry out his duty, he strapped 60 pounds of gear to his back and raced on foot through the tunnel to the Twin Towers, where he gave up his life while saving others.
To date, the foundation has provided over 600 mortgage-free homes for families, including specially-adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders, the spokesperson said.
The American Legion is the largest U.S. veterans’ organization with more than 1.6 million members who work with a goal to strengthen the country through programs, services and advocacy for those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, youth and communities.
Today, the organization is committed to destigmatizing mental health support by offering peer-to-peer resources in the fight to end veteran suicide, Mort said.
“This is the perfect time of year to show gratitude to our troops and first responders and we encourage all Connecticut residents to help us reach our goal through a direct donation to these two wonderful charities,” Mort said.
PACT manufactures sustainable packaging products for industrial and moving and storage businesses, noting it use a “patented process of cross-core lamination of triple-wall, double-wall and fiber board,” that produces “light weight recyclable crates that are as strong as wood.”