Support “The Drop”

This just in from my good friend, Bryan in Massachusetts…

Each of the last four years, the Shirley Republican Town Committee organizes Operation Cookie Drop and this year will be no exception. On November 14th 2009 a large group of volunteers will gather at the Devens Conference Center from 9a.m until the job is finished and go about the process of packing boxes for a forward deployed military unit, serving in harms way in Afghanistan or Iraq. The timing of this event will insure that members of the receiving unit will have something to open during the Christmas Holiday period.

You see where we’re going with this.

The care packages will include all sorts of personal care items, snacks and the hallmark of this event, at least one dozen homemade cookies, as well as Holiday cards made by local grade schools.Newly elected Committee Chair, and prior service member, Frank Devan stated “We intend to continue to carry on this tradition, started by my predecessor Kendra Dumont, as our way of giving a little something to those who are out there protecting our freedoms. To receive something like this when you are stationed far away from home and during the Holidays means so much, it lets the service member know that we still care.”

For those interested in becoming part of this worthwhile project, here is a brief listing of the items that are being sought; Devan stated “We need small individually wrapped items, larger packaged items (Like family packs) will not stay fresh and are harder and more costly to ship. A rule of thumb would be if it can be put in a pocket and won’t spoil or melt.

Socks are also in very high demand as the forward deployed units have no laundry capacity.

Pork and pork by-products are not permitted to be shipped to Middle East locations, nor is fruit or yeast.

The best items to send are non-perishable food items. Based on surveys of the troops, these are some of the examples of the items in demand”

FOOD ITEMS, (individual servings)
Coffee, Hot Coca mixes, Coffee mixes, Tea, Beef Jerky/Slim Jims, Dried Fruits, Crackers, Velveeta/Cheese spreads, Cheese n Cracker packets, Individual servings of powdered drink mixes, Pop-Tarts Cereal and Granola Bars, Power Bars, Protein Bars, Nutritional Bars, Pringles, small Bags of Snack Items like nuts, sunflower seeds, trail mix, Canned Cheese Dips, Easy Mac and Cheese, Hard Candies, Mints, Chewing Gum, Life Savers, Cup of Soups, Ravioli, or Raman Soup packets

PERSONAL CARE ITEMS
Aloe Vera Lotion, Antacid Tablets, Aspirin, Tylenol, or Motrin, OTC Pain Relievers, Baby or Foot Powders, Boot Insoles, Vaseline, Throat Lozenges, Blistex, Chap Stick, Lip Balm, Jock Itch Medication, Sun Block, Lotrimin AF or Athletes Foot Ointment, Eye Drops, Saline Spray, Nail Clippers/Files, Dental Floss, Toothbrushes, and Toothpaste, Vitamins, Q-Tips, Disposable Razors, Neosporin, Pocket Combs, Kleenex, Toilet Paper, Baby Wipes (used to bath in remote locations), shampoo and soap

Last year’s shipping costs exceeded $1,200.00, this year the costs are expected to escalate based on an increase in postal costs, therefore anyone interested in making a financial donation to offset the largest of the cost involved in this undertaking can make a check payable directly to the United States Post Office.

There will be a box placed in the Shirley Senior Drop in Center, for your generous contributions, for those interested in baking cookies we need to have a name, phone number and cookie type with the cookies, all the home baked cookies will be shrink wrapped at the staging location so they will survive the shipping. Additionally any item that is donated and cannot be shipped will be given to our local food pantry, Loaves and Fishes, to help the less fortunate during the Holidays.

For those who cannot make it to the packing location and need to have their generous donations picked up, or for further information contact Bryan Dumont at bgd123@comcast.net

A VERY worthy cause.