‘Operation Germ Drop’: Local military mom helping troops stay safe from coronavirus

SALEM, Mass. — COVID-19, also known as coronavirus, is having a devastating impact across the country in places like Italy, South Korea and Japan.

The deadly virus has been putting our servicemen and women stationed overseas in a dangerous spot. With that in mind, one local military mom has decided to step up and make sure our troops stay germ-free.

“I just could not sit by and not do something," said Hope Carpenter, of Salem.

Inspired by her own son who is stationed at an AirForce base in South Korea, Carpenter created an online fundraiser being shared around Facebook called “Operation Germ Drop."

Coronavirus has spread so quickly throughout Asia and Carpenter says basic supplies can be hard to find. Operation Germ Drop aims to raise enough money to send hand sanitizer, Clorox wipes, and N95 face masks to her son’s base, where thousands of Americans live.

“When they run out of supplies, what are they supposed to do? They can’t get off base to get things,” said Carpenter. “The idea with Operation Germ Drop is just to get them the basics so they can just keep themselves a little safer.”

The numbers out of South Korea are not good. Carpenter has been using a Korea-based map to stay updated on the situation. Currently, it says over than 17-hundred people are confirmed to have Coronavirus. 13 people have already died.

“These are new cases that have just broken out right by the AirForce base," said Carpenter.

Ultimately, her goal is to raise 10,000 for supplies. In less than a day, Carpenter has already raised $500.

“We’re going to have to go around, Wal-Mart, wherever, buy wholesale as much as we can, wholesale clubs, whatever and ship it over," said Carpenter.

There are currently about 28,000 American troops stationed in South Korea and Carpenter would like to, eventually, be able to send care packages to all military bases in that part of the world.

If you’d like to help, click here to learn more about Operation Germ Drop.

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