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If you would like to make a donation for Toys for Troops, The News-Gazette is hosting a collection during The News-Gazette Film Series at the next movie, M*A*S*H on Sept. 7 and 8 at the Virginia Theatre. Bring your item(s) to the Virginia Theatre from 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 7 and 1 to 9 p.m. Sept. 8. Toys for Troops collects beanie babies and soccer balls (deflated) for soldiers to give to Iraqi children to improve the relationship between U.S. soldiers and Iraqi villagers "one plush toy at a time." In addition to collecting beanies and soccer balls, the group is beginning to focus on care packages. Here are some ideas of things they can use: ITEMS FOR CARE PACKAGES " Powdered drink mixes, the individual ones you can pour in a water bottle " Wet wipes " Beef jerky " Trail mix and substantial snacks " Long socks. These are popular with the soldiers because after walking a few days in that heat and dust, there's often no salvaging a pair; they just take them off and toss them. " AA batteries " Magazines, books " Any small sundry creature comforts such as eye drops, foot creams, sunglasses, deck of cards, deodorant, sunscreen, or even small goofy toys. In order for the troops to receive care packages before the holidays theyll be doing a public event to assemble the packages in late October for Thanksgiving. The date for that event will be announced later. Toys for Troops can also use money for postage. A flat-rate package, which can fit about 20 beanie babies, costs $8.95 to mail. The cost for a larger package is about $18 to send about 100 beanies, although theyre working on figuring out how to make it more economical to send to an APO address. Want other ideas for how you could help? See www.toys-for-troops.com.

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