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Volunteers open cases of items to be stuffed in care packages to be sent to deployed troops during the stuffing party held at Abrams Physical Fitness Center Tuesday. Dawn Pandoliano, Sentinel Staff

Soldiers, spouses and community volunteers stuff care packages to be sent to deployed troops during the stuffing party held at Abrams Physical Fitness Center Tuesday. Dawn Pandoliano, Sentinel Staff

Mary Richmond folds bandanas to include in the care packages. Dawn Pandoliano, Sentinel Staff

Kevin Long prepares boxes that will be filled with care packages Tuesday at Abrams Physical Fitness Center during the Jack Daniels/USO Toast to the Troops stuffing party. Dawn Pandoliano, Sentinel Staff

Soldiers, spouses and members of the community participated in the Jack Daniels/USO Toast to the Troops care package stuffing event held at Abrams Physical Fitness Center Tuesday. Dawn Pandoliano, Sentinel Staff

Kimberly Sukley brought her son Dagan to participate in the stuffing party held at Abrams Physical Fitness Center Tuesday. Volunteers came out in support of the 18th annual Jack Daniels/USO Toast to the Troops stuffing party event at Fort Hood. Dawn Pandoliano, Sentinel Staff

Country music artist and Army veteran, Craig Morgan joins volunteers in preparing care packages to be sent to deployed troops during the stuffing party held at Abrams Physical Fitness Center Tuesday. Dawn Pandoliano, Sentinel Staff

Soldiers, spouses and community volunteers joined together Tuesday at Abrams Physical Fitness Center to participate in the Jack Daniels/USO Toast to the Troops stuffing party, putting together 10,000 care packages to be sent to deployed Soldiers. Dawn Pandoliano, Sentinel Staff

Abrams Physical Fitness Center was host to the 18th annual Jack Daniels/USO Toast to the Troops stuffing event 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday.

The gym was packed with Soldiers, spouses and members of the community who volunteered to participate in the stuffing party, putting together 10,000 care packages to send to deployed Soldiers.

Isabel Hubbard, the program manager for USO Fort Hood, said events like this do wonders for the morale of the community as well as Soldiers.

“It makes the community feel like part of the mission,” Hubbard said, “by helping to provide the comforts home to Soldiers while they are away from home.”

Soldiers from 3rd Cavalry Regiment volunteered to help with the stuffing party during the morning shift.

“It raises the morale down range,” Pfc. Travis Concon, 3rd Cav. Regt. said. “Anything we can do to help make their deployment a little better is a good thing.”

The care packages included prepaid calling cards, toiletries, sunscreen, and other items requested by deployed troops.

Barbara Konetchy, a volunteer, said helping to pack and send care packages to Soldiers overseas shows them that the folks back home are thinking of them.

Walter Boyd, an architect working on the new hospital on Fort Hood, came out to help with some co-workers. He prepared boxes to be stuffed with packages.

“I do what I can to support the military,” Walter said. “It’s the least I can do.”

Volunteers got a treat around 1:30 p.m. when country music star, and Army veteran, Craig Morgan showed up to lend a hand during the stuffing event. Morgan has been a part of all 18 Toast to the Troops events.

He said that, as a Soldier serving overseas, he knows what it means to get a care package.

“It’s nice to get a little piece of home,” Morgan said.

Morgan also performed a free concert at 7 p.m. at Abrams gym for Soldiers and their Families.