Members of the Marion County Rough Riders 4-H club and Central Christian Church recently collaborated to collect approximately 250 pounds of food and supplies for troops with local ties who are serving overseas. The congregation also donated $110 in cash – enough to cover the postage to send a soldier a package from home every month for a year.

The mother of one of the 4-Her’s heard Ben Morris – a member of Marion’s Viet Nam and Viet Nam Era Veterans, Spouses and Friends – on the radio, talking about that group’s ongoing efforts in support of hometown military personnel. She suggested the idea to Jamie Boblenz, the club’s community service committee chairperson. Since some club members also attend Central Christian Church, the two groups joined forces on the project. Boblenz said club member Blake Dennis and Central Christian’s Clyde Cole were particularly involved.

If you would like to donate to the troops, you can find drop boxes for food and supplies at: the Marion Moose Lodge #889’s Family Center, the Marion Area Convention & Visitors’ Bureau, the Geran Thomas Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #3313, the Marion County Building, the Alber Red Cross Center and the Fifth Third Bank branch on Marion-Waldo Rd.

Financial donations to help cover shipping costs may be sent to the Marion County Red Cross, 1849 Summerset Dr., Marion, OH 43302. Donors should specify the money is for the “military postage account.”

Boxes for the troops are assembled and packed on the fourth Thursday of every month at the Moose Family Center, 374 N. Main St., starting at 6 P.M. Anyone interested in participating is welcome to attend. For more information, call (740) 499-3411 or (740) 383-4735.