It started the way good ideas often do—around the kitchen table.
Abby Turner, a 16-year-old from Alma Bryant High School, was brainstorming ways to make a difference. Her mom had a suggestion: “What about care packages for the troops?”
That simple question launched BRIGHT Boxes, a project with a name that says it all: Bringing Relief, Inspiration, and Giving Hope Today.
Abby didn’t just like the idea—she ran with it. And the result? A homegrown mission that’s already sent nearly 100 care packages to U.S. troops stationed far from home.
Home Assembly Line With Heart
BRIGHT Boxes isn’t some slick, corporate operation with warehouses and assembly lines. It’s a family affair, built from the ground up—literally.
At Abby’s house, every box is packed by hand. Supplies cover the kitchen counter, logos get designed at the dining room table, and every item is chosen with care.
Each BRIGHT Box holds a mix of comfort and usefulness:
- A small wire puzzle for a quick mental break
- Black socks (because you can never have enough)
- Nail clippers
- Sunscreen and lotion for long days in the sun
- Chapstick sporting the BRIGHT logo
- Three compressed towels, because practical is always appreciated
Tucked inside every package is a card with the mission statement. It’s more than just words on paper—it’s a little reminder that someone back home is thinking of them.
96 Boxes Down, 70 More on Deck
So far, Abby and her family have shipped 96 BRIGHT Boxes to deployed troops, working with Operation Support Our Troops-America to get them where they need to go.
But Abby’s not slowing down. In fact, she’s speeding up. The next goal? Another 70 boxes for troops—and that’s just part of it.
She’s also expanding her reach closer to home. Up next: care packages for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House and kids supported by Cops for Kids. Those boxes will look a little different but carry the same goal—to deliver kindness right when it’s needed.
A Growing Mission With No Finish Line
Abby’s not keeping this project small. Her sights are set on making BRIGHT Boxes bigger, broader, and better.
“I want to make this as big as I can and help as many people as possible,” she says. And she means it. The orders for supplies keep coming. The packing parties continue. And the list of people touched by this effort keeps growing.
When you build something from your own home, when the tape and tissue paper are handled by people you love, it feels different. It feels personal. That’s part of what makes BRIGHT Boxes stand out.
How to Pitch In and Keep It Going
BRIGHT Boxes runs on community energy. Donations help fill the boxes. Volunteers help pack them. And Abby keeps leading the charge, box by box.
Anyone who wants to get involved can check out the BRIGHT Boxes Facebook page or shop from their Amazon Wishlist. It’s a small way to make a big ripple.
In the meantime, Abby’s message is simple: keep going, keep caring, and keep sending good into the world—one BRIGHT Box at a time.
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