Can you identify with the Marines and soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan?

Hot, dusty, uncomfortable living conditions instead of the ideal weather and relative luxury of living and working in Orange County. That is one way to describe it. How about being separated from your family for one year or missing your child's birth? Or returning to the states and feeling like you have just missed out on a year?

Would you like to help them in a small way by donating through a relief agency? Now you can.

Those Marines and soldiers need phone cards to help them pay for long distance calls to stay in touch with their families. They need personal hygiene items like baby wipes, and gift certificates they can use to purchase items sold in stores operated by the military in remote areas. Current magazines and books are a great way to help them stay in touch with current events. This also helps them remember why they are serving overseas in harms way when they see tangible proof that individual Americans care for them.

Isn't it great to live in a free country where you can choose to support those who are defending your freedom?

For those wishing to donate a prepaid calling card to a military member, log on to any of the three Armed Services Exchange websites:

The Army & Air Force Exchange Service: http://www.aafes.com
The Navy Exchange Service Command: http://www.navy-nex.com
The Marine Corps Exchange: http://www.usmc-mccs.org

To purchase and send a PX coupon through the Red Cross: http://www.aafes.com/docs/homefront.htm

Donations will be accepted up to the June dinner meeting.

Thanks for your participation

We have collected - 2 boxes Puffs tissue, Baby Wipes XL box, 1 carton of Marlboro cigarettes, 12 paperback books, 1 Holy Bible, 4 packs of playing cards, Tootsie Rolls, Bubble Gum, Trail Mix, Wet Nap Wipes, Baby Wipes, Magazines and $91.00 - so far...

So bring what you can and we’ll see to it that they get it, thanks to Steve Belgum, C.P.M.