Local Soldier Prepares A ‘Care Package’ For The Troops

By Kaaren Valenta

A Newtown soldier whose husband is serving in the Tikrit area of northern Iraq is collecting desperately needed “care package” items to ship to the troops next week.

“A roll of toilet paper is like gold,” said US Army Sgt First Class Stacie Warden-Shields, who explained that the convoys that bring personal care items to the troops are being “targeted and blown up” by the Iraqi militants.

“The PXs where the troops can buy items like toilet paper, Q-Tips, and baby-wipes aren’t well stocked,” she said. “Everything is shipped up via convoy and that’s what gets attacked. [The Army] doesn’t like to send these items by helicopter or plane because there is more important cargo.”

Mrs Warden-Shields’ husband, Sgt First Class Bernard Shields, who is assigned to the 411th Civil Affairs Battalion in Danbury, is serving in Iraq.

“I am the family support group leader for my husband’s unit,” she explained. “I decided that if these items can’t get through by convoy, we will mail them because the mail always goes by air and gets through. There’s more than one way to skin a cat.”

Mrs Warden-Shields said that in addition to personal care items, her group hopes to collect small Christmas gifts like CDs and other stocking stuffers. Money also is needed to cover the costs of mailing the items and for publishing and distributing a monthly newsletter to help families keep in touch with the soldiers and each other.

“There are so many needs when a husband, wife, mother, father, son, or daughter is deployed,” she said. “While we are so very proud of our soldiers, it is not without sacrifice that we say good-bye for the deployment duration.”

Mrs Warden-Shields said the group is planning a special holiday meal and visit from Santa with gifts for the children of the servicemen and women.

“Goods, services, and funds are needed to make our care package drive and holiday party a welcome break from the realities of missing their loved ones. We’d also like to collect grocery and department store gift cards for families who may be struggling financially.”

The collection is being taken during the week of November 15–19. Items can be dropped off at the Army Reserve Center at 11 Eagle Road in Danbury. The Army Reserve Center is located in the industrial park area just down from the Holiday Inn and Wal-Mart.

Small quantities of donated items can be dropped off at the dental office of Dr Steve Landin at 26 Main Street (across from the Booth Library).

Items that are needed include pipe cleaners, soap and washcloths, towels, toothpicks, lip balm, games (card and board), DVDs, bed sheets and pillow cases, sunblock, Q-Tips, tooth brushes, toothpaste, dental floss, bandages (2- by 2-inch and 4- by 4-inch), antibiotic ointment, baby powder, A&D ointment, black writing pens with clips, sunflower seeds, small notebooks, AAA to D batteries, Christmas stockings, stocking stuffers, school supplies.

Also, nonperishable foods (anything that can be made with hot water) including instant coffee, powdered creamer, powdered Gatorade, Tang, crackers, Cheese Nips, cookies, beef jerky, plastic eating utensils, large and small zip-lock bags, individual boxes of laundry detergent, and dryer sheets.