Care Package Items List

Ashley Kostka, a senior from Quincy, Mass., playing her final regular season home match Tuesday night, plans to be in the U.S. Air Force one year from now.

When approached by the Student Veterans Organization about giving a hand with its efforts during Veterans Week, she didn't think twice.

“I'm joining the Air Force after graduation, so this kind of hits home for me,” Kostka said.

Kostka and the UMass Lowell volleyball team will assist in several initiatives with the SVO, including its Care Package Drive which began on Nov. 3 and extends to Nov. 17.

The volleyball team is sponsoring a drop-off station in the Costello Athletic Center where donations of food and snacks, toiletries, cards/letters and many other items are needed. There are also several drop-off areas on all three campuses.

Additionally, the River Hawks will don the colors of the five U.S. military branches during the warm-up of its match with Stonehill College Tuesday night – part of the SVO's 'Proud in the Crowd' initiative which recognizes the 1,200 military veterans on campus.

Admission to the match is free. It is also one of three 'Military Appreciation Games' this week, along with Friday's home hockey game with the University of Maine (7:05, Tsongas Center) and Sunday's men's club hockey team game against Norwich (3 p.m., Tsongas Center).

The volleyball team ends the regular season Friday at the College of Saint Rose.