Chris Manfredi, a senior at Newtown High School, is seeking donations to support Aaron’s Gifts from Home, an organization dedicated to the memory of Marine Navy Hospital Corpsman Aaron Ullom of Michigan. Ullom was killed in action, while saving another’s life, in 2011. His family founded Aaron’s Gifts From Home to provide necessities and comforts of home to troops serving in the military.

Because he is planning to join the Marine Reserves, Chris has been attending workouts for enlisted and prospective Marines at the Brookfield recruiting station every Tuesday and Thursday. It was through Sgt Gill, at that recruiting station, said Chris, that he heard about Aaron’s Gifts From Home.

“I wanted to do some volunteer work, and I was thinking about what I could do for the military,” said Chris. “Sgt Gill suggested this organization,” he said.

He approached the local VFW, and was pleased when they agreed to serve as a collection point for donations.

“I started collecting in mid-July, and I’ve had a good response,” said Chris. There are still many items that can be donated, though, he added, with beef jerky being the number one requested items by troops.

Items most needed include beef jerky, candy, bagged chips, cookies, sport drinks, drink mixes, baby wipes, disposable razors, toothbrushes and paste, deodorant, hand warmers, cotton socks and underwear, movies, video games, music, electronics, and reading material. Monetary donations are also accepted.

Through Monday, September 7, Labor Day, donations can be dropped off at the VFW Post 308 on Tinkerfield Road (off of Wasserman Way), in Newtown, any day between the hours of 11 am and 9 pm. Chris will also be at the VFW to accept donations on Saturday, August 22, from 6 to 10 pm, during the Midnight Rodeo concert at the VFW, which is open to the public.

With the assistance of Cynthia Todd, president of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, Chris will gather all of the donations together after Labor Day, and ship the items to Aaron’s Gifts From Home in Michigan. From there, the organization will see that the donations are shipped overseas to Marines.

Any monetary donations will be used to purchase needed items, said Chris, and to offset shipping costs.