UTICA. N.Y. (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) – On Tuesday, November 22^nd, Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon helped the Utica Center for Development Veteran’s Outreach Center package snacks provided by local Veterans, the Utica Comets, and NYS employees to send to our National Guard service men & women currently deployed in Africa.

“I sincerely appreciate all our guard members do to keep us all safe and hope this small token of appreciation by our local community members provides some cheerfulness during the holidays,” said Buttenschon “Thank you again to the Utica Comets and The Veterans Outreach Center for always partnering for a great cause!”

Alpha and Charlie companies of the 2^nd Battalion 108th Infantry Regiment and the 1^st Battalion 69^th Infantry Regiment of the U.S. National Guard were deployed in the summer of 2022 and are currently serving in Africa. 

“The hardest part of a deployment is always being so far away from home and your loved ones, being away during the holidays makes the experience so much worst but, nothing brings a smile to a soldier’s face more than packages from home! I am sure grateful that we were able to do this for Service members” – Vincent Scalise Founder/Executive Director, The Utica Center for Development INC.