Cresap’s Rifles Post  #78 is a veteran’s organization whose purpose is to support our service members.  As you may be aware, 130 soldiers from our local Maryland National Guard unit, Company A, 1st Battalion, 175th Regiment, 58th Infantry Brigade Combat Team recently deployed to Iraq.  They expect to be in Iraq for one year. We want to ensure that they are not forgotten by our community.  While they are away, we would like to provide them with packages from home.  These packages would include such items as canned foods, beverage powders, candy bars, peanut butter, personal hygiene and recreational items, and more.  Attached is a complete list of items we are requesting. 

Cresap’s Rifles Post #78 would be grateful if your organization would donate some of these items.  We could arrange for pickup at your convenience by calling Mrs. Becky M. Holdcraft at 301-473-4841 and leaving a message, or by email at Rholdcraft@aol.com. 

Shipping the packages to the troops is expensive and will be our biggest expense.  If you do not have any items to contribute, but would like to support the campaign with a monetary donation, we would appreciate that as well.  Please make checks payable to Cresap’s Rifles Post #78, 29th Division Association, and mailed to PO Box 1886, Frederick, MD 21702-0886.

Also, at the completion of this campaign, a list of all contributors will be posted in the Frederick News-Post newspaper thanking them for their support of the men and women of our local National Guard.   

Merchandise Items
You Can Donate:

FOOD:
Any ready-to-eat food items!
Some examples:

• Kool Aid Singles (pre-sweetened)
• Crystal Lite Singles
• PRE-SWEETENED powdered drink mixes (Gatorade, KoolAid, etc)
• Vanilla wafers ('Nilla Wafers)
• Coffee (ground; vacuum packs or small cans)
• Canned chili, ravioli, spaghetti-o's, etc.
• Canned stew, ready to eat
• Boxed or canned potato chips
• Canned salsa
• Bean dip or other canned dip for chips
• Canned fruit
• Canned tuna or pouches of tuna
• Star-Kist tuna "Lunches To Go"
• Star-Kist Chicken "Lunches To Go"
• Power bars
• Energy bars
• Breakfast bars
• Canned meat (chicken, turkey...)
• Boxed or canned cookies
• BEEF JERKY (ALWAYS NEEDED)
• Kellogg® Pop Tarts
• Trail mix
• Chewing gum
• Candy bars (Bit-o-Honey, PayDay, etc)
  (NO chocolate candy in the summertime!)
• Peanut butter in plastic container
• Jelly in plastic container
• Ritz crackers
• Wheat Thin crackers
• Rice Krispie bars
• Granola bars
• BREAKFAST CEREAL individual sized
• SMALL size hot sauce in plastic jars
• Plastic forks, knives, spoons
• Cases of individual packets of mayo, relish, ranch dressing, mustard, hot sauce, sugar, creamer, etc. (Can be purchased at bulk-rate stores. These are used to create "spice and condiment packets" for the troops.)
• Small manual can openers
• Ziplock baggies in snack, sandwich, quart, and gallon sizes. These are used to preserve freshness and prevent damage from leaks, plus the troops re-use them to keep other items.

PERSONAL & HYGENE:
(new, preferably in mfg packaging please)

• Cool-Tie type neck wraps
• Insoles for shoes
• Eye drops (for desert environment)
• Lip balm (Blistex, Carmex, etc.)
• Eye wash
• Travel size pillows and pillowcases (new only please)
• Twin size bed sheets and pillow cases (new only please)
• 1" paint brushes
  (to clean fine dust out of guns)
• Fine makeup brushes (also to clean guns)
• Talcum powder - small size
• Deodorant
• Body wash - small size, plastic container
• Hand sanitizer - small to medium size
• Mouthwash - small plastic containers
• Toothpaste (trial size is great!)
• Toothbrushes, individually boxed
• T-shirts (new only please)
• Bath towels and washcloths (new)
• Hand Lotion - small to medium size
• Body Lotion - small to medium size
• SOFT 2-ply toilet paper
  (Charmin, Northern, etc...)
• Personal/body wipes (or baby wipes)
• Band aids
• Shampoo (small to medium size bottles)
• QuattroPro razors and refills
• Mach 3 razors and refills
• Disposable razors, double or more bladed
• Shaving gel (not aerosol)
• Aftershave gel (no glass bottles)
• Thick cotton black socks
• White crew socks for exercising
• Black shoe polish
• Soft cotton boxer shorts (the funnier the better) Medium to X-large sizes (new only)
• Nail clippers
• Eyeglass cleaner
• Bounce sheets (for fleas), flypaper, etc...
• Lysol/Clorox cleaning wipes, etc.
• Laundry detergent TABLETS or
• Laundry detergent in SMALL boxes
• Insect and mosquito repellant wipes
• Table top flashlights
• Mag lights
• Ziplock baggies, snack size, quart size, gallon size and jumbo size (These are used to pack spillable items, and the troops re-use them for other things as well.)

RECREATION:

• Disposable cameras
• Hand held video games (poker, solitaire, etc.)
• Playing cards
• Poker chips
• Board games (used okay) up to 10" long box
• Crossword puzzles
• AA & AAA batteries
• Compact Disc players (used ok)
• Music CDs (used ok)
• Personal size DVD players (used ok)
• Movie DVDs (used ok)
• Laptop computers (used okay)
• Model car or airplane kits
• Glue, paint & brushes for model kits
• CURRENT sport or computer magazines
• Frisbees
• Dominoes
• Yo-yo's
• Baseballs and softballs
• Baseball catcher gloves (used ok)
• Stationery, pens, envelopes, etc.
• Beanie Baby type small stuffed toys (for soldiers to give to local children)
• Toy cars, matchbox size (for the children)
• AT&T International PHONE CARDS (Be sure they are the kind you can use to call FROM the mideast TO the United States)

!Please Note!

---- All merchandise donated should be NEW and preferably in original manufacturer's packaging, with a few exceptions as noted above. We are able to accept GENTLY used books, CDs, DVDs, DVD players, and laptops.
---- We cannot send alcohol, x-rated material, tobacco/cigarettes or pressurized items.
---- Please avoid donating items in glass containers.
---- Please avoid larger items such as quart size shampoo or large mouthwash.
---- Plastic containers are best, in sizes up to about 8 " tall.