The American Legion Auxiliary unit at Wells-Hussey Post No. 42 in Damariscotta will ship packages of comfort items to service members overseas later this month.
The auxiliary needs the public’s help to both gather items and submit the names and addresses of local service members overseas. The unit hopes to send boxes to service members first from the area, then from the state.
Auxiliary members will assemble the boxes at the post in Damariscotta at 1 p.m. April 29. Volunteers are welcome to assist.
To donate items, drop them off at the post at 527 Main St. in Damariscotta from 4-6:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Ring the buzzer at the side entrance and go into the downstairs bar area.
To submit a name and address of a local service member, email mjmcloon@gmail.com or leave the information with items at the post.
The auxiliary asks for donations of the following items:
Recreational activities: video games, board games, playing cards, movies, music, iPods with movies and/or music, books, and magazines.
Personal items: socks, foot powder, body wash, Vicks VapoRub, lip balm, pain-relieving topical cream like Icy Hot, lens-cleaning cloths for goggles and glasses, small plastic bottles of glass cleaner, baby wipes, sunscreen, “floss pickers,” zinc oxide cream (tubes only – no jars), gaffer’s tape (matte finish only – no glossy or vinyl tape).
Snacks: flavor packets for water, hot sauce (try to locate sauce packets), barbecue sauce, beef jerky, Slim Jims or similar individually packaged beef or pork sticks, salami or pepperoni sticks (nonrefrigerated), cookies (oatmeal, iced oatmeal, raisin, peanut butter, sugar, or molasses – no chocolate or M&Ms), small bags of trail mix (no chocolate chips), dried banana chips, dried apple slices, dried apricots, freeze-dried strawberries and blueberries, instant cup of soup, 5-Hour Energy shots, crackers (Triscuits, Chicken in a Biskit, Ritz, Wheat Thins, etc.), cereal (preferably small boxes in six- or eight-packs – Frosted Flakes, Trix, Cheerios, etc.), nuts (cans or individual sleeves – mixed nuts, honey-roasted peanuts, almonds, pistachios, sunflower and pumpkin seeds), dips (small cans of bean or cheese dips for crackers), granola bars (no chocolate chips), protein bars, Carnation Instant Breakfast.
