SOURCE:NEWSDAY.COM

CPAs Collect Items For U.S. Troops Overseas

August 21, 2009 by GARY DYMSKI / gary.dymski@newsday.com

Brian Michels got the idea after hearing one of his colleagues at Sheehan & Co., a Brightwaters accounting firm, talk about a relative in the military stationed overseas.

A nephew of partner Cynthia Barry told her in a recent e-mail, Michels said, how difficult it was getting snack food and some toiletries. “I just thought it would be a good thing to maybe send some care packages over to the troops,” Michels said.

So Michels, a senior accountant at Sheehan, pitched his idea – Treats for Troops – as a philanthropic project for the Suffolk chapter of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants. The chapter approved the project and began collecting items, including store packaged crackers, cookies, snack cakes, candy that resists melting, and toiletries, about two weeks ago. The group hopes to start mailing care packages to troops the week of Sept. 14.

Michels said group e-mails requesting donations went out to other accounting firms and businesses earlier this month. Packages can be dropped off at Sheehan & Co, offices in Brightwaters on or before Sept. 11, he said.

“We’re not sure if we’re going to send one big package or individual ones,” Michels said. “We are waiting to see exactly what we get.”
Michels said the effort has received one financial donation – a $50 check. “Any money we get, we’ll make a trip to a warehouse and purchase more items,” he said.

For information, e-mail Michels at bmichels@sheehancpa.com.