| November 9, 2006 The city of Thousand Oaks is partnering with Soldiers’ Angels and MilitaryConnection.com to collect supplies and gifts for military personnel serving in Iraq. “In honor of Veterans Day, during the month of November the city is observing Military Appreciation Month and using city facilities as collection points for residents to drop off supplies for members of our armed forces serving overseas,” said Linda Pappas Daz, assistant city manager. Residents can drop off items for military personnel until Nov. 30 at any of the facilities listed below. Items will be picked up locally by MilitaryConnection.com staff and distributed to Soldiers’ Angels, where care packages will be created for shipment to the military. City facilities with collection bins are: Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, main lobby, 2nd floor, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd.; Municipal Service Center, 1993 Rancho Conejo Blvd.; Grant R. Brimhall Library, 1401 E. Janss Road; Newbury Park Branch Library, 2331 Borchard Road. Items that are popular with service men and women are snacks such as trail mix, peanuts, hard candy and beef jerky in their original wrappers; lemonade, Crystal Light, Kool-Aid or Gatorade in packets for water bottles; individual tea bags, hot chocolate and instant coffee; CDs, DVDs and video games (new and used); AA batteries; stationery and writing supplies; lip balm; hygiene items in individual sizes; prepaid phone cards; microwave popcorn; instant oatmeal in individual packets; sand scarves; sunscreen; and playing cards. Food items are the most popular requests. Canteens hold one quart. If sending a larger drink mix packet, please send a jug, too. Do not donate pork or pork products, alcohol, pornography or glass containers. Chocolate cannot be sent after May or before September due to high temperatures during those months. Include plastic silverware with food items. Liquids and scented items should be in ziplock plastic bags. For more information on Military Appreciation Month and collection, call Diaz at (805) 449-2121. For information on collection items, MilitaryConnection.com or Soldiers’ Angels, call Debbie Gregory at (800) 817-3777 or (805) 306-0580. |