Warsaw Community Public Library asks the community to help support the troops by donating items that will be sent to the men and women who serve.
A care package collection drive begins Monday at WCPL and continues until 6 p.m. Nov. 14.
The collection drive also will be during a fall book sale Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the library. Anyone who brings in items on that day will receive a free bag of books.
An exhibit of recommended items will be on display in the library's lobby with red boxes nearby to drop off items.
People can bring donated items to the library Mondays and Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Renee Sweeney, WCPL business manager, has a son-in-law, Dugan Julian, Silver Lake, who serves in the Marines. She said he is scheduled to return this week to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, after serving in Iraq since March 23.
"Sending care packages to our troops means a lot to the soldiers and lets them know they are not forgotten," Sweeney said.
Joshua Berger, WCPL network administrator assistant and care package organizer, said the library is excited for this year's care package efforts.
Berger, a U.S. Army veteran, served in Iraq in February 2003, returning in July 2003.
"A lot of soldier's don't have people to send them care packages. Collecting items lets them know we support them," Berger said.
Last year, library staff sent 56 pounds of items. This year, the library is partnering with the Salvation Army and their ongoing program, Operation Compassion, to collect item's during the library's fall book sale.
Operation Compassion is a program based out of the Salvation Army Indiana Divisional Headquarters. It was created in 2002 in response to the crisis in the Middle East.
Operation Compassion will pay for the shipping costs. The library's goals is to increase the packages to 50 pounds this year.
Recommended items must be individually wrapped, with no bulk packaging, and may include: microwave popcorn, suckers, Starbursts, Rice Krispy treats, beef jerky, individual packets of peanuts (no cans), peanut butter or cheese crackers, gum (multi-pack), granola bars and single-serve packets of Crystal Light drink mixes.
Hygiene items must be new and unopened and all must be travel size except for deodorant, soap bars and toothpaste: deodorant (non-aerosol), deodorant bath soap (full size), chapstick, washcloths, band-aids, travel pack of Q-tips, travel pack of tissues, toothbrush (single pack), toothpaste (full size), sunscreen (small size), playing cards and blank note cards with envelopes.
