Businesses Join Effort To Send ‘Care Packages’ To Troops In Iraq

The Newtown Lions Club’s project to send “care packages” to the troops of the 411th Civil Affairs Battalion who are on active duty in Iraq will be officially ending on February 15 to allow time for transport and shipping.

“During the past weeks, several individuals, merchants, and companies have given generous donations in support of this project,” said Lions Club member Wayland Johnson. “We hope to remind all potential donors that now is the time to make a donation.”

 Donations will be transported from Newtown to the Reserve Center in Danbury, where the 411th Civil Affairs Battalion is based, for packaging and shipping. The items will be put into the boxes during the week of February 21 and mailed by February 28.  The time requirements for packing, addressing, and mailing 100 packages is substantial, Mr Johnson said.

Donations can be dropped off at the Salvation Army Food Pantry in Town Hall South. Mr Johnson asked donors to call 270-4330 before a drop-off to ensure that the office is open.  All cash donations should be sent to:  Newtown Lions Club, c/o Frank Gardner, 6 Surrey Trail, Sandy Hook CT 06482.

Two important considerations for the care packages are size and weight. Due to their mission, members of the 411th are stationed throughout Iraq, not in one city. This situation requires a large number of individual care packages, which makes postage expenses a real consideration, Mr Johnson said.

Three local businesses last week joined in the collection effort. Matt DeAngelis of United Snack Group donated boxes of individually packaged snack packs; Chris Hoffman of C&C Roofing made a cash donation, and Lion Cliff Smith presented a corporation donation from BIC Corporation.

Among the items that have been requested are Q-Tips, toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, sunblock, Chap Stick, pipe cleaners; soap and washcloths (Johnson & Johnson makes soaps wrapped in washcloths; these are available in stores); wash towels, toothpicks, bandages (2 by 2 or 4 by 4 inches); antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin; baby powder; A&D ointment; black writing pens with clips; small notebooks, sunflower seeds, bed sheets and pillowcases; batteries (AAA to D); DVDs, games (Yatzee, cards, and other inventive things to occupy their time); nonperishable foods and anything that can be prepared with water such as instant coffee and powdered creamer; powdered Gatorade and Tang; crackers, Cheese Nips, cookies, beef jerky, plastic silverware; big and small zippered plastic food bags; individual boxes of laundry detergent, socks.

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