A donations drive is underway at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater that will give people a chance to support troops serving overseas.
A collection event will take place from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 19, in the James R. Connor University Center. Anyone from campus and the community may drop off items. All donations will be sent to deployed troops in Afghanistan, Kuwait and North Africa.
The Veteran and Military Service Members Committee of UW-Whitewater is partnering with the American Red Cross to conduct the drive. Currently, the drive has collected 75 boxes of donations.
“We’re very excited,” said committee member Giorgianne Maziarka. “We’ve had really great efforts and feedback around campus from different departments and areas that are participating.”
Working with the Red Cross, volunteer student veterans will pick up and deliver thedonations boxes as well as count and inventory the donations.
Maziarka said similar collection drives often take place around the holidays, but donations are always needed.
“It’s going to be a meticulous project that day, but getting the supplies to military service members and putting smiles on their faces when they receive it will be the most rewarding aspect,” Maziarka said.
Below is a list of items that are needed.
Food and snack items
• Cookies (any and all kinds); Pop-Tarts; Rice Krispies treats
• Granola bars; fruit and nut bars
• Candy (mostly hard candy)
• Twizzlers (all flavors)
• Nuts (canned or in packages: mixed nuts or nuts like peanuts or pistachios)
• Trail mix
• Snack crackers (any kind, any flavor)
• Gum
• Beef jerky
• Individual packets of drink mix (for troops to use in bottled water)
Personal hygiene items
• Lens cleaners (to clean goggles and eyeglasses)
• Toothpaste, tooth brushes and dental floss
• Mouthwash
• Disposable razors, shave gel or cream
• Shower gel
• Shampoo
• Deodorant
• Lotion
• Hand wipes
• Foot powder
• Lip balm
• Feminine hygiene (Kotex)
Other items
• Board games
• Playing cards
• Dominoes
• Puzzles and Sudoku books
• Hygiene items should be packed separately from food and snack items.
