District 300 schools pitch in for troops

The next time you're standing in the checkout line at the grocery store staring at the lip balm and Slim Jims, throw a couple in your cart for the men and women serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Schools across Community District 300 are collecting items until Veterans Day that will be sent to military personnel from Illinois as part of Operation Support Our Troops Illinois. While items like baby wipes, beef jerky and lip balm are easy to come by at home, troops have a hard time finding them overseas, said Michele Meyer, president of District 300 Education Support Association, the district's paraeducator union.

“We did this last year and it stemmed from the fact that my son was in Iraq,” Meyer said. “I had to send him things all of the time.”

Meyer said the project grew once other paraeducators with relatives or friends in the service learned of her care packages. Meyer said Adrianne Lindblom, a paraeducator at Westfield Community School in Algonquin, took on the collection.

According to the Operation Support our Troops website, the top 10 requested items are: individual packets of sugar, Slim Jims, individual packs of coffee creamer, lip balm, mouthwash, baby wipes, foot powder, vitamins, nasal spray and anti-itch cream.

Each school in the district is responsible for collecting one item on the list. The District 300 Administration Center will accept all items.

Last year, District 300 schools collected more than 3,000 pounds of supplies. This year, the paraeducators hope to exceed that amount, Meyer said.

“We are hoping that we will collect more this year but we know times are tough,” Meyer said. “But these men and women have to serve regardless of what is happening at home. Whatever they get they will be happy with. They are thankful for the support.”

For more information about the collection drive, go to the district's website at d300.org.