Newtown Lions Club Collecting Donations For Troops In Iraq

The Newtown Lions Club is continuing to collection donations to “care packages” to members of the 411th Civil Affairs Battalion of Danbury who are on active duty in Iraq.

The Danbury unit plans to mail approximately 100 packages to Iraq during the week of February 15. Donations are needed by February 10 to allow sufficient time for transport and packaging.

The drop-off point for articles donated to this project is the food pantry located in the social services department in Town Hall South in Newtown, which is open weekdays from 8 am to 4:30 pm. Ann Piccini, director of social services, has agreed to allow temporary storage of donations from individuals who wish to participate in this project.

Members of the Lions Club will periodically gather the donated items and transport them to the Army Reserve Center in Danbury.

All questions concerning the drop off of items should be directed to Fred Stakel at 426-2336.

The Lions Club also will accept cash that will be used to purchase a variety of the items requested by the soldiers and to pay postage expenses. This use of cash will help ensure equal quantities of all items in each care package as well as reducing the postage expense burden for the families of the soldiers.

The food pantry will not accept cash donations. Cash donations should be sent to the Newtown Lions Club, c/o Frank Gardner, 6 Surrey Trail, Sandy Hook CT 06482.