Make the holidays brighter for troops overseas
The United States still has troops in Afghanistan battling the Taliban; military advisers in Iraq turning the tables on ISIS; medical units and troops in Africa; peace keepers in Bosnia, in Djibouti and Korea.
Batavia Cares and Marmion Academy need your help to send "An American Christmas" to these servicemen and women.
The cadets of Marmion Academy adopted the Pat Tillman USO in Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, which requested holiday decorations and snacks for the holidays. The cadets will gather the items and send them to the USO for the holidays. Home-baked cookies are especially desired. Why not join their Cookie of the Month Club?
As in previous years, the USO remains a vital part of the morale of the troops serving in Afghanistan. They provide a place for relaxation, recreation, and supply hygiene as well as snack items.
Donations can be dropped off at Marmion Academy, 1000 Butterfield Road, Aurora. For more information, call Major Mark Emerson, (630) 896-1398.
Marmion cadets and Batavia Cares will conduct a "Shop and Drop for the Troops" from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, at the Jewel Osco Store on Randall Road in Batavia.
Customers will be handed a list of items needed for the troops' comfort packages that are being sent for Christmas. Shoppers are encouraged to buy one item for the comfort packages and drop it in the containers as they leave the store. Donations have been slower than usual this year so filling the packages will depend on the generosity of the shoppers.
Batavia Cares asks you not to forget our deployed troops. Buying one item when you shop will go a long way to make shipments a successful.
ACE Hardware and Berkely Finer Foods are Batavia's collection centers. Moral boosters include drink mix, snacks, coffee, cookies, hard candy, magazines, music CDs and DVDs.
Batavia Cares coordinates the packing and shipping of this special Christmas shipment, however, donations are needed to ship the packages. Cash donations help pay for postage.
Standard boxes cost $13.80 per box. Some bulk items are shipped parcel post and cost about $25. The postage goal for this year is $5,000.
Batavia Cares is a not-for-profit Illinois Corporation. Donations are tax-deductible. Donations can be sent to Marmion Academy, 1000 Butterfield Road, Aurora, IL 60502 or Batavia Cares, 324 Church St., Batavia, IL 60510.
Batavia Cares wants and needs addresses for our home troops. Friends and relatives are encouraged to register them on the website, www.bataviacares.org or you can send their address to Batavia Cares, 324 Church St., Batavia, IL 60510. For more information go to www.bataviacares.org, call (630) 687-1943.
Suggested donations include gum, hard candy, beef jerky, slim jims, nuts, trail mix, mints, dried fruit, drink mix, coffee, tea, hot cocoa, poptarts, Ramen noodles, Pringles, cookies, power bars, granola bars, tuna, cereal bars, oatmeal packets, crackers, peanut butter, playing cards, small gifts, batteries AA/AAA, magazines, paperback books, crossword puzzles, chap stick, baby wipes, DVDs, CDs, iTunes, socks (white or black).