NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — A Pittsburgh teenager is collecting donations to create care packages for sailors deployed on USS George H.W. Bush.

The Bush left for its scheduled deployment in March. As this news reached Pennsylvania, one Pittsburgh teen knew just what to do.

Collin Arthrell, 16, started the nonprofit ‘Collins Elves’ in 2018 when he was around 8 years old. He said he was inspired by both of his siblings being in the military.

Arthrell explained he started sending care packages and stockings to his brother, who is a sailor, who would then show the things in his packages to his fellow shipmates.

“They really enjoyed looking at it and seeing what was inside of it, and my brother got back to us and [asked] if we could do more,” Arthrell said.

The nonprofit has sent out more than 15,000 stockings to more than six aircraft carriers since then.

And after hearing news about USS Gerald R. Fords historic deployment, they wanted to support the Bush too. So, they began a drive, working with the ship to collect food items that are protein-focused and anything else that’s been requested by the crew.

“We don’t know how long the Bush will be out, so we’re thinking of just supplying them, giving them their grab-and-goes, their protein, and all that,” Arthrell said. “It’s a morale booster for them, but more for me, it brings me joy, because seeing others happy in my perspective makes me happy just as much as it does for them.”

This isn’t the first interaction Arthrell has had with the Bush.

Not only was his brother on the carrier at one point, but his nonprofit delivered 3,000 stockings to the crew around Christmas time last year.

He explained that they come to Norfolk to do these stocking deliveries every year around the holidays, and they plan to come back this year and do the same on the Ford.

The nonprofit is collecting items for the care package for the Bush until June 1. They have an Amazon Wishlist and fundraiser, and they do unboxings on their social media of the items they get two times a week.

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