Northwest Towns Sportsmen's Club sending jerky, comfort to troops overseas
Jerky for Troops, a charity started 15 years ago by a member of the Northwest Town Sportsmen's Club, is collecting fresh venison from local hunters to package and safely to ship to troops overseas in harm's way.
The effort is sponsored by VFW Post 981, American Legion Post 208, Sons of the American Legion 208, Auxiliary Post 208 and Junior Auxiliary Post 208.
Once again, the Northwest Town Sportsmen's Club will have hundreds of pounds of high protein, fresh, free range venison being turned into jerky for troops looking for a taste of home.
The jerky is sent along with Comfort Boxes. The troops overseas have told us what they really appreciate in the Comfort Boxes. These items are:
• Personal hygiene items: High quality razors, foot powder, ChapStick, ibuprofen, Mucinex, dental floss.
• Food and snacks: Snacks such as protein bars, granola bars, nuts (roasted peanuts, cashews, almonds etc.), sunflower seeds, fruit snacks, cookies, instant soup mixes, roman noodles.
• Candy and gum: Brand name chewing gum, Life Saver rolls, hard candy, Swedish fish, Skittles individually wrapped licorice, Airheads.
• Pocket size powdered drinks: Propel powder drinks, protein powder drinks, packets of hot chocolate, instant coffee, lemonade, Emergen-C.
• Miscellaneous: Ziploc bags (quart/gallon), stationery, envelopes, dice, travel-size games, socks.
• Cards and letters expressing your support and thanks.
Please consider shopping for our troops overseas. You can drop off these comfort items through the end of February at the American Legion Post, 208 121 N. Douglas Ave., Arlington Heights.
Each Comfort Box is mailed to the APO of the serviceperson overseas. The postage for each box is $20. When you "Adopt a Box," you will fund the mailing costs for a highly prized comfort box. Donation checks can be made out to "NWTSC" and mailed to: Dale Berg, 702 W. Burning Tree Lane, Arlington Heights, IL 60004.
Anyone who knows a trooper overseas can have a Comfort Box sent to them. To make this happen, email Dale Berg at bergda@comcast.net or call (847) 636-1479 to receive a request form.