Owens Community College Red Cross Student Club is reaching out to the brave men and women fighting overseas in Afghanistan and Iraq by holding a “Donations for Soldiers” Supply Drive.

Through Nov. 24, the students are collecting pens, paper, envelopes, packaged candy, coffee, creamer, coffee filters, gloves, socks, ChapStick, spices, gum and mints. Monetary donations also will be accepted to help cover the cost of shipping.

Additionally, soldiers have requested miscellaneous items like footballs, Frisbees, soccer balls, crossword puzzles, decks of playing cards, disposable cameras, magazines and new or used DVDs or CDs.

Collection points include the Student Health and Activities Center, the Industrial and Engineering Technologies Building, Health Technologies Hall and the College Hall Bookstore and Atrium on the Owens campus.

Students will pack the items collected, along with thank you letters and correspondences into care packages for the soldiers overseas.

For a complete list of requested items for the “Donations for Soldiers” Supply Drive, or to make a donation, call 56-661-7583 of 1-800-GO-OWENS, ext. 7583.

Cell Phones for Soldiers
VFW Post 9963 in Walbridge is accepting unwanted cell phones as part of the “Cell Phones for Soldiers” program.

Any types of cell phones will be accepted.  Cell phones collected are sent to ReCellular, which pays Cell Phones for Soldiers for each donated phone – enough to provide an hour of talk time to soldiers abroad. Learn more about erasing personal data from phones before donation by visiting www.recellular.com/recycling/data_eraser/default.asp.

Drop-off points include:
• Woodbury Market, 1503 Woodville Rd., Millbury;
• Lake Township Administration Building, 27975 Cummings Rd.;
• Can-Do Credit Union, 113 S. Main St., Walbridge;
• VFW post home at 109 N. Main St., Walbridge.
• Oregon Insurance Agency, 3458 Navarre Ave. # 2, Oregon.
• Huntington Bank, Perrysburg;

Phones will be accepted through Dec. 31.

For more information, call Pat at 419-666-8987. Learn more about Cell Phones for Soldiers at www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com.

Holiday Mail for Heroes
The Red Cross is partnering with Pitney Bowes this holiday season for the Holiday Mail for Heroes campaign. For the second year in a row, the Red Cross is collecting holiday cards to distribute to American service members, veterans and their families in the United States and around the world. Pitney Bowes is generously donating technology, resources and postage to make this holiday card program possible.

The goal is to collect and distribute one million holiday cards to spread holiday cheer and facilitate thanks to these brave individuals and families.

Cards may be sent to:
Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

Visitors to the American Cross Web site (http://www.redcross.org/email/saf/) can also:
• Download and print a free card.
• Learn about other ways to participate.
• Get the latest news about Holiday Mail for Heroes.

Those sending cards are asked to follow the following guidelines to ensure greetings will quickly reach service members, veterans and their families. Every card received will first be screened for hazardous materials by Pitney Bowes and then reviewed by Red Cross volunteers working in one of 16 sorting stations around the country.

• All cards must be postmarked no later than Wednesday, Dec. 10. Cards sent after this date will be returned to sender.
• Participants are encouraged to limit the number of cards they submit to 25 from any one person or 50 from any one class or group. Those who are mailing a larger quantity are asked to bundle the cards and place them in large mailing envelopes. Each card does not need its own envelope or postage.
• All cards should be signed.
• Please use generic salutations such as “Dear Service Member.” Cards addressed to specific individuals can not be delivered through this program.
• Please send cards as opposed to long letters, which delay a quick review process.

Those interested in sending cards should note that Walter Reed is not accepting mail addressed to “A Recovering American Soldier.”

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