Dante Marinelli doesn’t picture strangers when he thinks about America’s soldiers oversees — he sees sons and daughters and fathers and mothers.

Event organizers are partnering with Operation Gratitude, a nonprofit that sends care packages to soldiers, as a part of Patriot Days — the 10-day celebration of patriotism in Lake Havasu City scheduled from Sept. 15 to Sept. 26 that organizers are expecting will bring 40,000 people to the city. The challenge out to neighborhood restaurants: Raise enough money to send 20,000 boxes (60,000 total packages) in time for the winter holidays. Marinelli, owner of Red Robin and one of the organizers for Patriot Days, said he is taking that challenge to heart.

“There are a lot of kids over there that are fighting this war for us who never hear from us in the states,” Marinelli. “I think what we’ve tied in at our restaurant ... is the average age of soldiers fighting in these wars is 18 to 23 years old. With our workforce at the restaurant being in that age group we’re letting them know that we’re not just sending it to our sons and daughters but these are your friends.”

Greg Tryon, Lake Havasu Hospitality Association executive director and Patriot Days organizer, said if residents could see the look on the soldiers’ faces when they receive the packages and letters, no one would hesitate to help the cause.

“It’s astounding how it affects the soldier,” he said. “They come home with two or three things from overseas and one of the main things they come back with is that letter out of that box. Even if it’s not someone they know, it just means everything to them and it really is exciting and wonderful to just be a part of that.”

Red Robin and more than 10 other restaurants in Lake Havasu City are all asking for donations to ship the boxes. To ship one box costs $11, none of which goes to any area restaurants or Patriot Days organizers.

“We’re not going to get any money out of this,” Marinelli said. “It’s all going to Operation Gratitude and the soldiers.”

Marinelli said he understands if it is not the best time for people to donate money.

“A lot of restaurants have been scared lately and are discounting like crazy,” he said. “And now we’re asking someone to donate $11 for a box. That’s asking more from them than what we charged for the meal. But we’re willing to take that risk because it’s the right thing to do.”

Mayor Mark Nexsen recently said it’s one of the most exciting things involved in Patriot Days.

“I really think that’s a big piece of what this is all about is making sure we can get those packages over to our troops,” Nexsen said in August. “The events are going to be fun but I think doing something like that for our troops is really what it’s about.”

You can contact the reporter at nbruttell@havasunews.com