Jane Holmes plans to send her son, Nicholas Patterson, a nice Christmas package which will feature a variety of candy for his sweet tooth.

Also receiving treats will be at least 499 of Patterson's friends and acquaintences.

Patterson is stationed in Iraq with the 82nd Airbourne Division. He's been in the U.S. Army two years.

"With the holidays approaching, we would like to send candy-filled treeat bags to our Amerian soldiers in Iraq," Holmes said. "We have set a goal to send 500 to 800 treat bags to help brighten their days and let them know they have not been forgotten."

Holmes is asking for donations of individually wrapped candy, preferably not chocolate, that would melt, also dessert cakes, bubble gum, peanut butter and cheese crackers and individual packages of peanuts.

The packages will be quart-bag sized.

"It doesn't matter where they go or who gets them," Holmes said. She plans to ship the treats after Nov. 1

Patterson, 23, is a 2001 graduate of Rochester High School. He has a son, Reilley, 3, who resides in Akron. His father and step-mother are Jim and Virginia Patterson of Rochester.

Holmes, and her husband, Scott, are Depuy employees, and the company has given permission for candy donations to be dropped of at the southwest entrance. A container there is labeled "Military Candy Drop Box." Depuy is on the north side of U.S. 30 at 700 Orthopedic Dr., Warsaw.

For more information, Holmes can be contacted at DePuy at 574-372-7354. Her cell phone number is 574-551-9308. [[In-content Ad]]