A local effort to provide special bags for wounded soldiers is in need of the public’s help. All it takes is few seconds online to support the Dump Bag Project, which is seeking a $5,000 grant
from the Pepsi company to purchase materials for 800 bags that will be sewn by volunteers and sent to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
To vote, visit www.refresheverything.com/DumpBagProject and click on the icon to “Vote for this Project.”
Users will need to log in with either their Facebook account or create a separate free user account at the RefreshEverything website.
The bags are designed as a catchall to keep a soldier’s iPod, cellphone, other personal items and reading material. It can be moved from a bed to a wheelchair or a walker as necessary.
To win the funding the Dump Bag Project must finish in the top 10 in voting. Though it was in the top 10 at one point, it was down to 12th place Thursday afternoon.
The first Dump Bag was made for injured Peachtree City soldier Lt. Dan Berschinski by neighbor Mary Dewerff. He was so pleased with the gift that he called her personally and asked her to make more for other wounded soldiers.
Dewerff said she has been trying to get the word out electronically, using strangers’ email addresses from forwarded joke emails to encourage their support for the campaign.
If the funding comes through, Dewerff will be able to provide Dump Bag creation kits at the August convention of the American Sewing Guild, which happens to be in Atlanta this year.
“Hosting this convention is a unique opportunity for us to put instructions and supplies into the hands of volunteers who will sew,” Dewerff said. “When the attendees return to their homes, they can help spread the project around the country.”
