Operation Sandbox

The Mothers Support Program at Newtown Youth Services is organizing a collection of letters and pictures from children and small items that could make life easier for American soldiers fighting in Iraq and Kuwait, on behalf of Operation Sandbox. The NYS effort to collect items for the troops has become a communitywide effort.

The coverage of the war and current events can be a stressful time for children. By making donations and writing letters to soldiers, children can have an outlet to help and in the process feel more in control and comforted. Operation Sandbox recommends such items as: toilet paper, eye drops, nonmelting candy, snacks, small toiletries for men and women, sunscreen, and more. To see a complete list of items needed go to eastoftheriver.com/operationsandbox.

Rand and Whitney of Newtown donated 100 cardboard boxes for shipment overseas. Superintendent of Schools Evan Pitkoff gave permission for collection boxes to be placed in the lobbies of the schools. Operation Sandbox is also looking for monetary donations for postage costs, which can be sent to Operation Sandbox, PO Box 472, Ellington, CT, 06029. Donation boxes are located at Newtown Youth Services and the schools until April 25.

If anyone would like NYS to send a package directly a service person they know, call Newtown Youth Services at 270-4335 with the service person’s address and NYS will send it to them directly.