Help fill Comfort Boxes for U.S. troops overseas

Posted April 12, 2015 11:00 pm

Submitted by Greg Padovani

Each year, the family of James Bray Stack, U.S. Marine Corps, KIA Nov. 10, 2010, honors and remembers their son with a major collection and shipment of comfort items for U.S. troops overseas.

This is the fourth year for this wonderful effort that has brought much comfort and happiness to troops serving in harm's way.

Once again, everyone's help is needed in collecting the items requested by our troops and then helping fill the Comfort Boxes at the Big Packing Party from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, May 3, at American Legion Post 208, 121 N. Douglas Ave., in Arlington Heights.

Items requested include:

• Pocket size food and snacks: Beef jerky, tuna, sunflower seeds, peanuts, trail mix, protein bars, gum, candy,(hard candy or heat tolerant candy like Swedish fish, Skittles, individually wrapped licorice, Airheads, Tootsie Rolls) and G.S. Cookies.

• Pocket size powdered drinks: Propel, protein drinks, 5-Hour Energy drinks, water, sugar-free Red Bull, hot chocolate, instant coffee, lemonade, Emergen-C, Ramen Noodles, instant soup mixes and coffee grounds.

• Travel size toiletries: Unscented baby wipes, foot powder, Chapstick, eye wash, ibuprofen, Mucinex, Icy Hot/cold patches and dental floss.

• Miscellaneous: Quart and gallon sized Ziplock bags, pens, stationary/envelopes, AA and AAA batteries, CD's/DVD's, magazines, iTunes gift cards, playing cards, dice, Hacky Sacks, travel-sized games and socks.

• Letters of gratitude written to; "Dear Service Member."

Drop them at any one of the following locations:

• American Legion Merle Guild Post 208, 121 N. Douglas Ave., Arlington Heights

• Beverly Lanes, 8 S. Beverly Lane, Arlington Heights

• California Pizza Kitchen Arlington Town Square, 3 S. Evergreen, Arlington Heights

• California Pizza Kitchen Deer Park Town Center, 20502 N. Rand Road, Deer Park

• California Pizza Kitchen Woodfield Village Green, 1550 E. Golf Road, Schaumburg

• California Pizza Kitchen Northbrook Court, 1515 Lake-Cook Road, Northbrook

• California Pizza Kitchen Westfield Old Orchard, 4999 Old Orchard Center, Skokie

• California Pizza Kitchen Oak Brook Center, 551 Oak Brook Center, Oak Brook

• California Pizza Kitchen Cantera, 28258 Diehl Road, Warrenville

• California Pizza Kitchen Chicago Ohio Street, 52 East Ohio St., Chicago

• California Pizza Kitchen Geneva Commons, 1202 Commons Drive, Geneva

• Glueckert Funeral Home Ltd., 1520 N. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights

• Mariano's Fresh Market, 802 Northwest Highway, Arlington Heights

• St. Edna Catholic Church, 2525 N. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights

• St. John's United Church of Christ, 1475 W. Algonquin Road

• State Rep. David Harris office, 800 W. Central Road, Mount Prospect

• Village Bank-Main, 234 W. Northwest Highway, Arlington Heights

• Village Bank-Midtown, 311 S. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights

• Village Bank-Uptown, 150 E. Rand Road, Arlington Heights

• Village Bank-Des Plaines Banking Center, 1545 Ellinwood Ave., Des Plaines

• Village Bank-Mount Prospect Banking Center, 320 E. Northwest Highway, Mount Prospect

• Village Bank-Park Ridge Banking, Center, 950 W. Touhy Ave., Park Ridge

• Village Bank-Prospect Heights Banking Center, 1845 E. Rand Road, Arlington Heights

• Village Bank-Palwaukee, 606 N. Milwaukee Ave., Prospect Heights

Items need to be donated by April 30,

For questions, ideas or to volunteer, email Dawn Hedrick at HelpUSAtroops@gmail.com.

• Submit 'Your News' at www.dailyherald.com/share.

The family of James Bray Stack, U.S. Marine Corps, KIA, Nov. 10, 2010, honors and remembers their son with a major collection and shipment of comfort items for U.S. troops overseas. Donate through April 30 at 24 suburban locations. Courtesy of Greg Padovani

Article Comments

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.