Blue Star Mothers NY 4

The Blue Star Mothers’ Christmas Care Package Drive is collecting items for our devoted servicemen and women who are away from home and separated from family during the Christmas season.

All donations will go directly to active duty military men and women. Over the last year, the local Lake Erie Blue Star Mothers chapter has sent over 785 care packages to our courageous military personnel. The goal for this Christmas season alone is 600 care packages.

Here are some of the drop-off locations across Chautauqua County through December 2:

• Bemus Point Library, 13 Main Street, Bemus Point

• Frewsburg Central School Bus Garage

• Lakewood Starbucks

• Frewsburg Elementary School

• Cassadaga Valley School

• Anderson Precision

• Mayville Library

• Bemus Point Library

• Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Bemus Point

• St. Timothy Lutheran Church

• Zion Lutheran Church, Frewsburg

• Bemus Point Elementary School

• The Resource Center offices

• Zion Covenant Church

• Christ First United Methodist Church

• Bemus Point United Methodist Church

• Sherman Central School

• Levant Wesleyan Church

• Trinity United Methodist Church

• Jamestown Free Methodist Church

• BOCES A Building

• BOCES E Building

• Jamestown High School

• Chautauqua Striders Mentoring Program

• Fluvanna Library

• Fluvanna Community Church

• Bethel Baptist Christian Academy

• ILA Veterans Club Fluvanna Avenue

• Cassadaga American Legion Post No. 1280, 228 Maple Avenue, Cassadaga

• Chautauqua County Government, Gerace Office Building, 3 North Erie Street, Mayville

• Frewsburg Legion Post No. 556, 9 Meadow Lane, Frewsburg

• Heritage Village

• Heritage Park

• Heritage Green

Here are some of the desired items that can still be donated:

Food and Drink: just-add-water drinks, instant oatmeal and cereal, granola and cereal bars, tea and coffee, individual tuna or chicken pouches, jerky, seeds and candy, popcorn, canned fruit, mac and cheese, and other ready-to-eat foods.

Hygiene Products: baby wipes, hand sanitizer, soap, sunscreen, lip balm, dental care products, eye drops, shaving items, shampoo, deodorant, lotion, Ibuprofen, and bug spray.

Clothing: white calf-length socks with no logo, white crew neck t-shirts (M or L), and flip flops.

Other Gifts: AA batteries, tennis balls, yo-yos, crossword puzzles, word searches, playing cards, iTunes gift cards, Ziploc bags, books, magazines, and CDs.

Hand-written notes and cards are also welcomed.

To make a monetary donation to help cover postage expenses, you can send a check to:

Blue Star Mothers NY 4
P.O. Box 162
Westfield, NY 14787

Finally, if you have the name and address of a deployed soldier, let Blue Star Mothers know so they can receive a care package!

For more information, email bluestarmothersny4@yahoo.com or call President Susan Rowley at 716-499-6897.