Jillian Battles stands among the 800 bags for active duty troops after filling them at Westover Barnes Air National Guard base on Nov. 8.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
WESTFIELD — Over the weekend of Nov. 9, Westfield High School senior Jillian Battles completed her mission of filling 800 “Bags for Bravery” for active troops and veterans with everything from personal care items and throw blankets, to notebooks, pens, pencils and playing cards to a wide range of snacks.
This is the fourth year in a row that Jillian, with the help of her mother Jen Battles, area businesses and community volunteers filled the 800 bags.
According to her mother, Jillian first had the idea to do a collection for the troops following her experience in eighth grade collecting children’s clothing as an ambassador for Project 351, a statewide organization that brings together eighth graders in each of Massachusetts’ 351 cities and towns in community service projects.
“When she did it for Project 351, she learned a lot about the needs of our troops and veterans and wanted to do something on a much larger scale that would help our area veterans as well,” Jen said.
As a freshman at Westfield High School, Jillian went out on her own to fill the 800 bags for the troops, with a lot of help from her mother, and she hasn’t stopped.
This year, the bags are filled with close to 40 different items. “We added a lot — I was honestly nervous. Each year we want to make them better,” she said.
This year’s collection began with a pickleball tournament on Sept. 7 at the Municipal Playground. After that, it was sheer persistence.
“Several businesses did not call me back the first time. I kept calling and emailing until I finally got a response. I was probably one of the most annoying people they ever dealt with,” Jillian said.
She said she believed they appreciated her persistence. “Thirty-five businesses donated. Even last minute donations, we received enough to get the rest of our hats and gloves. We ended up with the most community involvement out of any of the years. People I didn’t know and had never met called me to ask about donating money or donating items. Seeing people rally together was incredible.”
Over the weekend, 40 volunteers came together at Barnes Air National Guard to fill the 800 bags — 200 of which will remain at the base to be shipped to troops overseas. “That’s incredibly exciting — it’s amazing,” Jillian said.
The other bags will go to Westover Air Base for their active duty troops; to the Northampton VA, Soldier On, One Call Away in Agawam, for veterans luncheons and homeless veterans.
Aside from being a member of the National Honor Society and taking AP chemistry and AP government this year, Jillian Battles is the president of the Key Club at Westfield High School. She said the members of the Key Club often come out and help her with the drive.
“Key Clubs are a great help. A lot of those kids really want to do something in the community and help out,” she said.
Next year, Jillian committed to the Western New England University health studies program, pursuing her long standing goal of becoming a family physician specializing in pediatrics. She said the university offered her direct admission and early acceptance.
Asked whether she plans to stop her collection once she’s in college, Battles said she will not. She said WNEU fully supports the drive, and told her she could start a club if she gets other students involved, any get some funding from the university.
“I plan to do it through school. Once I get to med school, it may be more difficult. I know my mom will always be there to help me out. I have no plans of stopping in the future,” Jillian said.
