MILITARY MOMS SEND SUPPLIES
February 13, 2003

By Linda Sandsmark

Every person on active military duty leaves behind a family. Locally, those families
have banded together to create a support group called Operation: MOM.

Operation: MOM is sending care packages overseas to our military personnel, and they're inviting the public to join in.
The group will be collecting donations of many types this Sunday at the old Mervyn's parking lot on the 16000 block of Hesperian Boulevard. Another donation site will be Rite Aid's parking lot, 3848 Castro Valley Boulevard, Castro Valley.
Moms: Group requests food, hygiene products

"This is the first time we've done a 'donation depot,'" says Terri Langdon of Operation: MOM. The drop-off locations will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Sunday, Feb. 16.

Operation MOM: has several focal areas. It's a support group for family and friends of those in active military service. It also provides direct support to military personnel overseas through letters of encouragement, food packages and other necessities. It supports all branches of the military, reminding the troops that they are valued by the folks back home.

For this weekend's collection, requests include food items of individual sizes including ground coffee, instant hot chocolate, beef, jerky, dried fruits and nuts, mints, gum, microwave popcorn, and lightweight foods which cannot spoil or become crushed.

Trial-size containers of sanitary hand wipes, waterless hand cleaner, Q-tips, lip balm, tissue, shampoo, feminine hygiene products and vitamins are also requested.

Entertainment items such as playing cards, magazines, short stories, word puzzle books and international phone cards are welcome as are boxes, packing materials and tape.

Monetary donations (payable to Operation: MOM) are welcome. These may be mailed to: Operation: MOM, P.O. BOX 1096 ANTIOCH CA 94509 .

For information email us at: info@operationmom.org or call us at
(925) 706-1736.