A team of volunteers worked together seamlessly inside the Bristol County Elks Lodge, working together with assembly-line-like precision. Organized piles of food, toiletries and games spanned the length of the tables; letters written by students sat stacked at the end. Label upon shipping label was being meticulously written, ready to slap onto the packaged boxes upon completion.

By the end of the day, members of the committee had boxed more than 55 care packages to be sent to military members across the globe.

“It’s been a huge, Bristol-wide event,” said Clare Chisholm, who spearheaded the effort.

It began weeks ago, when members hosted a Bingo Night fundraiser there at the Lodge. Ninety people attended the event, held on May 16, raising more than $4,000 to be put largely toward covering the cost of international shipping fees and additional products.

Meanwhile, donations were being collected at drop-off points at Seabra Foods and 136 Printing, and elementary school students from all four Bristol Warren Regional schools were writing letters thanking military men and women for their service.

By the end of the month, members were able to stuff boxes with a wide variety of much-needed products, from sustenance and snack items to towels and activity books.

“The generosity has just been overwhelming,” Ms. Chisholm said.

Packages were set to be shipped out starting this past Thursday, May 30, to troops stationed all over the world. One of the recipients will be Ms. Chisholm’s own son, Preston, who was deployed in February to serve with the U.S. Army in Africa.

“He can’t wait to be Santa Claus,” Ms. Chisholm said.

She encouraged others with loved ones serving overseas to contact her and the Lodge, so they can put together a care package for them, too. Other members have also discussed the possibility of organizing another effort around the holidays as well. For the time being, though, they are simply happy to help in whatever capacity they can — and to do it together.

“This is the best community ever, I think,” said committee member Ivone Aubin. “It’s a family.”