In late March, 90 single Soldiers from the 54th Military Police Brigade on Joint Base Lewis-McChord returning home from a deployment were pleasantly surprised with what awaited them in the barracks.

"Every single Soldier received a laundry basket filled to the brim with things like soap, toothpaste, laundry detergent and more snacks than you can imagine," said Denise Dhane, Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) DuPont subchapter vice president. "Basically it was anything and everything they need to help them get through the first few days when they get back."

As part of AUSA's Single Soldier Project, Garage Plus Storage in Spanaway had held a drive that yielded not only tons of goods for these Soldiers, but also $1,700 in cash that could go into the project's standing fund.

"I can't tell you how much it bothered me personally that these guys who are going out and doing so much for everyone else aren't getting everything they deserve in return," said Michelle Simon, co-owner of Garage Plus. "Garage Plus did a truly phenomenal job," noted Dhane.

This latest effort was just a small part of the huge community endeavor to let the tens of thousands of single JBLM Soldiers know that people care when they return home. In fact, according to Dhane, the Single Soldier Project will also be reaching out to local middle and high school students who are looking for community service projects.  "That way you are really involving the entire community and helping the Soldiers," Dhane said. "The kids really do a great job with this and it's good for everyone involved."

Since the town of Steilacoom is the community connector for the 54th MPs, it also got involved by donating the vans used to transport the goods on base.

"The MPs were so overwhelmed with all that was dropped off," Dhane said. "It just makes you happy to see them so happy."