Beanie Babies, ‘quality of life’ items needed to bring touch of home to service members overseas

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WESTON – The Weston American Legion Auxiliary is conducting a donation drive for their November CARE
packages to be shipped to the deployed U.S. Forces. Any individual or organization wishing to donate
something should contact Darline Weaver, president of Unit 409, at (419) 669-3313.
Among the many items being collected are Beanie Babies.
"No kidding! It’s a really good excuse to get rid of those things," Weaver said with a smile.
"Don’t buy new ones; collect them from your house and ask your friends."
The unit will send some Beanie Babies in every package to all units "as they are really easy for the
soldiers to carry with them and give to the local kids who love them. These are better than small
plastic toys, which will break easily and are not as easy to carry in a pack."
The small stuffed animals may seem unimportant, but Weaver argues, "there is no more effective
ambassador for our country than a soldier helping the local folks. This is done far more often"
than civilians realize, "and quite probably is the most important thing a soldier will ever
do."
Other, more typical items needed for the packages are:
Individually wrapped pieces of hard candy (Twizzlers, Tootsie Roll Pops, bubble gum, Skittles, lollipops,
Life Savers, candy sticks, Sweet Tarts, Bit-o-Honey, etc.) No homemade candy can be accepted.
Also welcome are both flavored and plain instant coffee and coffee creamer; tea bags; hot chocolate or
hot cider; powdered drink mixes such as Kool-aid, Gatorade, ice tea or lemonade in individual serving
sizes; peanuts, pretzels, chips, trail mix, microwave popcorn, gum; beef jerky – Slim Jims, store-bought
dehydrated fruits, dehydrated cups of soup; non-refrigerated snack containers with tuna, mayo, and
crackers; and plastic pudding snack packs.
Toiletry items such as shaving cream, razors, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shower soap/gel; Q-tips,
hand sanitizer, hand lotion, sunscreen, lip balm, wet-wipes, eye drops, small pump hair spray, FDS body
spray, disposable razor blades, Gold Bond powder or store brand powder, feminine hygiene products,
deodorant, body wash, nail clippers, wash clothes and comb hair picks.

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