UTICA, March 30, 2010 -- "I will be asking all member to bring in cookies to be sent to our troops for the week after Easter," notes Pat Dodge, who is coordinating the effort for the Post and Auxiliary. "Actually, if everyone who would like to bake can bring them to the post on the second Monday of the month of April, it would be really helpful."

She adds: "I now have 93 troops for the next two months to send cookies to," including a unit in Iraq with 43 troops and a unit in Afghanistan with 38, plus several individual troops that are related to members of the Post. 

"They really love rice crispie bars," she says. "Remember, no chocolate chips. The temperature over there is into the 100's now and it will get rancid.

Other items needed for the care packages include:

• Magazines such as hunting, fishing, golf, sports of any kind, and magazines that women might like.
• Paper back books (hard cover are too heavy to send).
• Handiwipes, Ivory soap, nothing with scents that might give a reaction with the heat.
• "The troops like the little individual containers of soup. Ramen noodles are favorites."
• Sunblock, the higher the better.
• Foot powder.
• Movie DVDs.
• Writing paper for letters home, and stamps.
• "Also, we are collecting school supplies for the group in Iraq. The troops are building schools and setting them up with supplies" -- paper, pens, pencils, crayons, coloring books, notebook paper, rulers. 

"We will take just about anything someone wants to donate, but nothing opened," Pat said.  If anyone has a question as to what to donate, contact Pat at 732-0302.