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ICMS collecting items for military personnel

The Indian Creek Middle School Student Council is collecting personal items and other goods for the Boatsie’s Boxes campaign. Items will be taken through early November and shipped to military personnel overseas in time for the holidays. Some of the participants include grades 7-8 adviser Jessica Graham, at center, with student council members Dominic Price, Lyndi Starkey, Jordan Hiles and Connor Shultz. — Contributed

MINGO JUNCTION — Indian Creek Middle School pupils are collecting items for military personnel, with those items to be shipped overseas in time for the holidays.

Student council members are spearheading a Boatsie’s Boxes campaign in conjunction with the Jefferson County Women’s Club, and the goal is to gather personal items and other goods for service members stationed across the globe.

Jessica Graham, who shares co-advisory duties with Colleen Shepherd, said the first pickup of goods was held Friday, with the final collection occurring late this month.

“We are collecting items to stuff stockings with to send to deployed men and women in the United States military who will be far from home this holiday season,” said Graham. “We plan on collecting items until the end of October. Because these items are going to travel far distances, all items needs to be in Boatsie’s hands no later than Nov. 10.”

Among the items being taken are Christmas candy, chocolates, Slim Jims, trail mix, an assortment of nuts, chewing gum, dried fruit, Lifesavers, healthy snacks, cookies, DVDs, CDs, playing cards, wet wipes, travel dental kits, small cans of shaving cream, razors, lip balm, tissues, iTunes cards, batteries, crew socks and washcloths. No liquids or large items will be accepted but small packs of various items can be donated.

ICMS has participated for the past two years and got involved by working with Gina Judy, a retired art teacher and vice president of the local civic group.

Boatsie’s Boxes Inc. is part of Operation Christmas Stocking and is based in Wheeling. It has representatives in West Virginia and Ohio and supplies empty stockings to be filled with treats, toiletries, and other items to make soldiers serving abroad to feel some comforts from home.

Judy said her organization undertook the project years ago when the club was known as the Upper Ohio Valley Junior Women’s Club. This year, ICMS and the Edison High School Beta Club are participating and she’s proud to have the schools involved.

“Boatsie is a lady who started it for servicemen and we heard about it at an Ohio Federation of Women’s Clubs convention. I think it’s great (that the pupils are participating). I’m coming back as a retiree to do community service by working with the school. We are glad that we can make the service members’ Christmas a little brighter.”

Graham noted the student council enjoyed helping to raise awareness about the cause.

“They have been working together to make posters to help promote this collection around the school,” she said, adding the community can get involved by dropping items off at the school.

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