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Americans have been very supportive of the troops overseas by sending them care packages and letters.
But with their husbands, wives or parents fighting in the war in Iraq, it's the military families that often need support, too.
The Family Support Unit of the National Guard is working to help those families who may be in need now while their family members are gone.
MariBeth Smith said she and Shannon Igo from the support unit are working to collect items the military families need. The collection is for all families from any branch of the military. Involved in the family support unit are at least three Navy wives, three Marine families and other National Guard and Reservist family members.
MariBeth Smith is the wife of Jimmy Smith, 21, Warsaw, an Army transportation specialist stationed in Kuwait.
"We're trying to collect stuff for families who aren't doing well," Smith said. Local businesses have donated items and have drop-off boxes where the community also can donate items. The drive began Monday.
"It will go on until the guys get back home," Smith said.
Businesses that have donated items so far and have drop-off boxes include both the new and old Owens, Reinholt's Town Square Furniture, Midas Auto Service Experts, Monro Muffler Brake, Monteith Tire, The Cutting Edge, Today's Headlines and Fiesta Hair & Tanning. Smith said she still is contacting other businesses for donations.
Items being taken for the military family support food collection include cereals, toaster pastries, oatmeal, peanut butter, jelly, wipes, dish soaps, hair conditioner, bar soap, household cleaning products, personal care items, canned foods, dry goods, juices, baby foods and juices, diapers, laundry soaps, shampoo, toothpaste and deodorant.
"There's about 250 to 300 families just in our coverage area," Smith said. The coverage area of the military family support unit includes the area from Warsaw to Angola and parts of Michigan, Illinois and Ohio.
She said the goal is to get "just as much as we can get. People are really good about supporting the troops," but it is often the military families who need support too.
Lakeside Chevrolet, Smith said, also is accepting anonymous cash donations for military families. If writing a check, Smith said, no name should be written on it as the money will be given to the families that need it most first.
One anonymous donor gave three donations of $500 each, she said.
"I would thank him personally if I knew who he was because it was really needed by the families," Smith said. "If they have any questions, they can call me at home."
For more information, contact Smith at 269-6292 or Igo at the National Guard Armory at 269-4250.
