UPDATE: This notice was updated to reflect a date change from January 29 to January 30 due to an anticipated snow storm Saturday.

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The focus of the next Families United in Newtown (FUN) event will be January birthday honorees and getting valentines and other donated necessities to troops.

The group is inviting Newtown families, especially those whose child or children may be on the autism spectrum or have other disabilities, to attend the Drive-By Birthday Bash Bonfire/Valentines for our Military Troops on Sunday, January 30, from 3 to 5 pm.

All are invited to embellish and decorate valentine cards for military troops while in line within the parking lot of Newtown United Methodist Church, 92 Church Hill Road.

Volunteers will be collecting the cards and donations to be sent to troops, as vehicles work through the line.

For those who would like to donate items to be forwarded to troops overseas, requested items include stationery and/or blank note cards and pens, stamps, gum, toothbrushes, floss, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, new paperbacks, toilet paper, tampons and/or panty liners, full-size body soaps, full-size shampoo and/or conditioner, hard candies, microwave-safe bowls, candlesticks, sunblock, lotion, lip balm, Emergen-C, razors, moisturizer, face cleanser, foot powder, and socks.

The donations will be forwarded through FUN and other local organizations, according to FUN Cofounder Linda Jones.

Prepacked birthday smores and hot cocoa will be handed out by the vounteers.

A pair of fire pits will be operating, for ambiance and to keep the volunteers warm, also according to Jones.

Registration is requested to help with food planning, and can be done at bit.ly/Drive-By_Bash. Contact Linda Jones, 203-512-6284, for additional information or registration by phone.