COME HOME SAFE—For The Troops founders Paula Cornell, at right, and Janie Josephson watch as their first care package recipient, Sgt. Phillip Schmidt, writes a message on the box containing the organization’s 50,000th care package, shipped Jan. 28 JOE WOODS/Acorn Newspapers In August 2005, Army Sgt. Phillip Schmidt was working with the 158th Aviation Regiment on a base in Balad, Iraq.

The Southern California native was about six months into his tour of duty when he received a large, unexpected package, postmarked from Simi Valley.

For him, opening that box felt like Christmas.

“When you’re over there and you open a care package from back home, whether it’s from someone you know or (not) . . . when you open that up, it’s like a kid on Christmas,” Schmidt said. “You’re opening up a box that’s not just filled with stuff, it’s filled with love from home, and it really does feel amazing.”

That package was the first sent by For The Troops (FTT) cofounder and Simi resident Paula Cornell, before the nonprofit existed.

Now, more than six years since that box was mailed, the organization has reached a milestone: On Saturday, FTT shipped off its 50,000th package.

To mark the occasion, Schmidt traveled from his home in Orange County to FTT headquarters on Cochran Street to pack that very important package.

“Today isn’t about me, it’s about all the troops that are actually deployed, the recipients of these care packages,” said the 31-year-old, who’s been a reservist his entire 11-year career with the Army.

Standing in a room filled with enthusiastic volunteers, donors and local leaders, Schmidt told the Acorn that he was “flabbergasted” by the generosity of the community.

“Fifty thousand. You can’t get over what a big number that is. Just in shipping alone, that’s like a half-million (dollars),” he said. Looking around, he marveled at the turnout.

“The people care,” he said. “This shows people care.”

The founders of For The Troops were similarly astounded that the day had come to send their 50,000 package.

“To be honest, it’s something we never thought was ever going to happen,” co-founder Janie Josephson said. “You start sending off one care package and then five and then 10 and then 25 and we thought when we sent our shipments of 100 it was really, really exciting. To get to this point is beyond our wildest expectations and we know we’re only going to go up from here.”

Cornell was also overwhelmed. She still remembers when they packed boxes in her garage.

“I never dreamt that we’d be here today to celebrate this milestone,” she said.

The two agree the day never would have come without the community’s help.

“We couldn’t do it without the support of our volunteers, our tirelessly working volunteers,” Josephson said.

While FTT officially formed as a nonprofit in 2006, the work of sending “ We Care” packages to deployed military serving overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan actually began the year before.

Cornell was inspired to do something for the troops after hearing about her husband’s hardships in Vietnam, but she didn’t know how to help. When a coworker asked if she wanted to contribute to a care package, Cornell saw it as the perfect opportunity.

Since its official launch, and particularly since securing its headquarters—space that is donated by Sycamore Village Shopping Center—hundreds of volunteers have come on board. In addition to packing boxes, they dedicate countless hours to collecting items and raising funds, especially since shipping just went up to $11.35 per package.

Simi resident Laura Hurd has been volunteering with FTT for four years. She comes every Saturday to sew neck gaiters for warmth and, in the cooler months, neck coolers.

Just as it is for many of the volunteers, Hurd’s cause is personal. Her 20-year-old son, Matthew, is in the Army and served a tour in Afghanistan, from which he returned in August 2011. He will be going again for eight months next year.

“I was packing boxes for my son and my son would send me emails about other people in his unit that didn’t get any boxes,” she said. Hurd began shipping the other boys packages and then found out about FTT.

“This way I’m touching every gaiter, every neck cooler, and as a mom, sister or a daughter, I’m loving on each person over there,” she said.

While 50,000 packages is a staggering number to ship, FTT actually made quick work of it.

The nonprofit mailed out its 10,000th package in April 2009 and its 25,000th in October 2010. Now, just fifteen months later, the team has sent an additional 25,000.

When asked how that kind of output is even possible, Cornell again commended the community for its giving spirit.

“Even in these very challenging and trying times people have opened their hearts, their pocketbooks, and just supported us and we’re so grateful for their support,” she said.

What’s more, in addition to the 50,000th box placed on the postal truck Jan. 28, FTT sent 1,155 more, each addressed to a “Brave Freedom Fighter.”

“It’s brought a lot of honor to our community and, more importantly, you’ve really come through for our men and women who keep us safe in our country so we can have the liberties and freedoms that we got,” Mayor Bob Huber said during Saturday’s ceremony. “We’re very proud of you.”

By coincidence, Councilmember Mike Judge’s brother, Army Lt. Col. Anthony Judge, received a package from FTT when he was deployed to Iraq in 2006. Judge said his brother’s battalion loved receiving goodies from home.

“All the things the people in this town do for the community, for our soldiers, is just amazing,” said the council member, also an Army veteran. “I think (For The Troops) is just going to keep on growing until we get our troops home.”

Until then, Schmidt said, FTT’s work does not go unappreciated.

“That’s the difference between past wars and this war—America’s support for us is what makes it worth it,” he said. “Whether it’s right or wrong, the reasons we’re over there politically have nothing to do with it. We are glad we’re there because we’re fighting for people who love us.”