It’s the simple donations that impact military personnel serving on active duty during holidays, said members of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC).

Thanks for Giving is an annual drive that AFROTC organizes to collect supplies and send them to those on active duty overseas, said Dylan McCoy, a junior electrical engineering major and AFROTC cadet.

McCoy said cadets will stand outside of Pullman retailers, including Dissmore’s IGA, Walmart and Safeway, to hand shoppers a list of items that active-duty military personnel might need or enjoy.

“It’s kind of amazing the simple things that can make a huge difference,” AFROTC Captain Brittany Starkey said. “Even though it’s small, it’s special.”

Sophomore mechanical engineering major and AFROTC cadet Amber Arbanas said the cadets enjoy holding the drive because they empathize with those serving on active duty.

“There’s a personal connection,” she said. “We plan on going into the military, so we can relate.”

AFROTC cadets hold the drive as part of their involvement in the Arnold Air Society (AAS), a group that encourages service to support the community and beyond.

The drive has grown since the program began in 2010 and occurs over multiple weekends leading up to Thanksgiving, McCoy said.

Arbanas said the last drive in October gathered 510 pounds of supplies and raised about $300 in donations. She said the cadets hope to hold another drive before the end of November.

McCoy said donations go to any active-duty military personnel, not necessarily those in the Air Force. After purchasing, shoppers can drop off items with the cadets using the lists provided, he said.

“You can drop anything off, but it’s nice to have the list,” McCoy said. “While they’re shopping, people can just grab the items.”

Cash donations help to pay for shipping the supplies overseas, he said.

With the growing success of Thanks for Giving, AFROTC plans to hold another drive that will take place in the CUB. This one will allow students to write letters to those on active duty, McCoy said.

The letters will add personal touches to care packages, he said.

“It’s been really successful, so we’re going to keep doing it for as long as we can,” Starkey said.

After the Thanks for Giving drive, AFROTC cadets plan to work toward establishing a Silver Wings civilian chapter.

Silver Wings is the sister organization or the AAS and consists of civilians who wish to foster the ideals of the AAS and the U.S. Air Force, Starkey said.

WSU previously hosted a Silver Wings organization on campus, but Starkey said over time it faded away.