Forgotten Soldiers Outreach

The Forgotten Soldiers Outreach was founded in October 2003, when Lynelle Chauncey Zelnar was contacted by a co-worker who had a son deployed to Iraq. The soldier and his squad members were growing tired and frustrated, and missed home. To raise their spirits and provide encouragement, Lynelle created the first-ever Forgotten Soldiers care package.

Twenty-two years later, the non-profit has continued to deliver care packages containing much-needed letters of encouragement and beloved items from home to over 400,000 deployed military members around the world, across all branches of the military.

For the past 14 years, Florida Peninsula Insurance Company has helped advance its mission to “Support America’s deployed military service members, to ensure they are not forgotten.” Each year, we assemble 100 “We Care” Packages, a type of military care package, filled with essential items and reminders to soldiers that their service and sacrifice have not been forgotten.

This May, we hosted an internal supply drive to collect much-needed items to include in the care packages. A dedicated group of 10 employees and family members traveled to the Forgotten Soldiers Outreach headquarters in Lake Worth, Florida, where they packed the donated items into the “parcels of love.”

Each military care package was filled with an assortment of items, including letters from school children, Girl Scout cookies, personal hygiene products, a variety of non-perishable foods, and more. These small comforts offer a powerful reminder of home for soldiers who are deployed far away from their loved ones.

Each military care package not only provides soldiers with essential supplies but also serves as a morale booster by letting our heroes know that we remember them, value their sacrifice, and support their service.

Cathie, who has worked with Florida Peninsula for over 11 years, has supported Forgotten Soldiers since 2019. She is passionate about giving back to the brave men and women who risk their lives to protect our freedom and safety. Cathie’s connection to the cause runs deep – her father, uncle, and cousins all served in the military – and volunteering with Forgotten Soldiers provides her with a meaningful way to honor her loved ones.

Cathie recalled that a few weeks after participating in a care package event, the team received a postcard from a service member. In the postcard, the soldier wrote a heartfelt thank you to the team for their thoughtfulness and for sending him a piece of home. “That message really touched me,” Cathie shared. “To this day, I still think about that person and wish them well and thank them for their service.”

Florida Peninsula is honored to play a small role in the Forgotten Soldiers Outreach’s mission. We remain committed to giving back to our community, especially those who give up so much for our country. Click here to learn more about Forgotten Soldiers and explore how you can support our troops.