Cheap phone card:

Former Marine collecting gifts for grateful soldiers

Thursday, January 20, 2005 A Hudson unit of National Guardsmen, awaiting deployment to Iraq at Fort Dix, N.J., have been recipients of more than 121 pounds of canned and boxed foods and toiletries collected at ABC Cleaners, 13 Washington St. Store owner Gary Miller said he will continue to send packages to the men until they return home. Miller, a former U.S. Marine, said that when the 156 members of Battery A, 1st Battalion, 102nd Field Artillery, Massachusetts Army National Guard were deployed in October 2004, he decided to put a collection box in his store. Many of the Guardsmen were customers of his cleaning store, Miller said, and his staff members often sewed on the soldiers' military patches. "I keep the box at the front of the store so that it is available to anyone, not just customers," said Miller, "and when it is filled I mail it out parcel post." Miller keeps a "care package list" with suggested items, at the store. Food items could include non-perishable breakfast foods and drinks, coffee and filters, canned nuts and chips, canned tuna, soups and pre-sweetened, powdered drinks. Suggested personal hygiene items include anti-fungal cream, foot powder, combs, sun screen and travel-size toiletries. Also suggested for entertainment are magazines, books, crossword puzzles, DVDs and CDs. Pens, paper, envelopes, batteries, disposable cameras and pre-paid calling cards are also suggested. Miller said the unit will soon be heading for Iraq, so he assumes that the next package will be headed overseas. The public is encouraged to drop off a contribution, and Miller will see that it is mailed to the unit -- "wherever they are." He said the collection will be ongoing until the men return home. -- Rosemary Rimkus