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Want to know how to help the troops? Visit support station at Town & Country
Blue Star Mothers hope donors pitch in personal items for holiday packages.
Friday, October 26, 2007
KETTERING — The local Blue Star Mothers of America chapter will be opening a storefront location on Saturday to make it easier for the public to donate to the troops, thanks to an anonymous donor's gift.
The donor has paid the rent for a spot in the Town & Country Shopping Center for one year.
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The chapter will accept donated items for the troops from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday at its new Troop Support Center, Town & Country Shopping Center, 300 E. Stroop Road, said Beverly Peyton, president of Miami Valley Chapter 3.
Saturday's grand opening is tied to Kettering Cares Day, which is a local spin on the national Make A Difference Day.
"I think a lot of people want to help our troops but don't know how to help," said Bonnie Pittl, Kettering's manager of volunteer resources. "We thought, why not work with the Blue Star Mothers and make it easy for them?"
Bins and jars to collect donations for the troops have been distributed to businesses, churches and all of the schools in Kettering, Pittl said, noting that Delphi workers alone are hoping to fill 24 bins.
"The donations will be used to put into our holiday care packages," Peyton said, "and the money collected will be used to ship those packages."
On Saturday, blue stars dangling from the shopping center's ceiling will direct visitors to the Troop Support Center, where refreshments will be served. Boxes will be primarily sent to troops who don't get many care packages from home and those who are in very remote locations, Peyton said.
After Saturday's grand opening, the Troop Support Center will be open on Saturdays from 1 to 8 p.m.
»For more information www.bluestarmothersdayton.com
Related: Margo Rutledge Kissell blogs about military life
b>Recommended donations for care packages
What the troops need
Baby wipes, shampoo, soap, lotion, foot care products, sun block (SPF-15 or higher), Visine, Q-tips, baby powder, Chapstick, hand sanitizer, deodorants, dental products, stationery and envelopes, toilet paper and sanitary products for women.
Most requested items
Beef jerky, Slim Jims, power bars, peanuts, tuna fish (seal packed), small packages of cheese crackers, hard candy, small packages of cookies, life savers, gum, suckers, Crystal Light drink mixes, Kool-Aid drink mixes in pre-sweetened packages, powdered Gatorade in small packages, TicTacs and small cans of food with pop-tops on them.
