Join us in ‘Sending Love to Our Troops’

Residents can donate care package items, letters of support to send to military personnel

LANSDALE » While the approaching Valentine’s Day holiday is widely considered the celebration of romantic love, we at Digital First Media are thinking in a broader fashion — love for our family, friends, community and country.

Our thoughts are also turning to the love and sacrifice our military personnel demonstrate for the U.S. and its residents. As the Bible states, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13, NLT).

From Monday, Jan. 22 through Wednesday, Feb. 14, The Reporter and The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Montgomery County invite our community to show their support by contributing to the “Sending

Love to Our Troops” drive.

Both organizations will serve as drop-off points for

donated items that will be sent to Operation Gratitude,

a four-star rated Charity on Charity Navigator. Operation Gratitude, according to Charity Navigator, “annually sends 100,000+ care packages filled with food, hygiene products, entertainment and handmade items, plus personal letters of support, addressed to individual Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines deployed overseas, to their children left behind, and to Veterans, New Recruits, First Responders, Wounded Warriors and their caregivers.”

The following care package items are on the Operation Gratitude wish list:

*Note: All donations should be new and unused

- Knit or Crocheted Scarves and Hats

- Paracord Survival Bracelets

- Beanie Babies, Webkinz, or other Small Plush Toys (6 inches or smaller)

- Hand Sanitizer (travel size with seal)

- Drink Mix Packets (single serve, Kool-Aid, Crystal Light, etc.)

- Socks (preferably black, brown, green, tan; not white)

- Mouthwash (travel size with seal)

- Tissue (individual packets)

- Cotton Swabs (travel size packets)

- Lip Balm (with extra seal)

- Moist Towelettes (individual or travel size packets)

- Sunscreen (travel size, non-aerosol)

- Travel-size Toiletries (shampoo, body wash, lotion)

- Batteries (4 pack, “AA,” “AAA”)

- Entertainment Items (DVDs, CDs, new magazines, and paperback books)

- Crossword and Sudoku Books

- Jigsaw Puzzles (in small boxes) - Gum Contributions can also include letters, cards or drawings for the troops.

Anyone who wishes to donate can drop off items Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at The Reporter building, 307 Derstine Avenue, Lansdale, or The Chamber of Commerce of Greater Montgomery County’s building between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 217 Church Road, Suite C, North Wales.