By MaryHelen Swanson

To many, the daily reports of the deaths from the Middle East conflicts have become so familiar that people are forgetting those people over there are the men and women from our own communities.

Project Hope North, Inc., a Forest Lake-based disaster aid program, along with the Hugo American Legion Post 620, remembers them and their needs and is undergoing a third collection of items to send to our military folks overseas.

Through Project Hope North, two units have been adopted to receive boxes which include items to make life a little easier for these soldiers, items they have requested from home.

One of the units is in Iraq and the other is in Afghanistan. Both of the units are from Minnesota. Major Kristi Johnson of North Branch is part of the Iraqi unit- Marine Wing Support Squadron 472. The goal is to collect enough supplies to send 70 boxes to each unit.

Community help is being sought to collect the items and monetary donations to help with postage costs. According to Christ Bairaktaris from Project Hope North, it costs $20 per box to mail.
Bairaktaris figures it will take about $7,000 to complete the project. The Forest Lake Wal-Mart has donated $1,000 and the Stacy Lions donated $300.

Named Operation Military Pride III, the project will begin Jan. 17 and run through Feb. 28.
Items can be dropped off at the Forest Lake Wal-Mart or at the Post Review office in North Branch.
Or you can call (651) 464-7263 if you have a donation to be picked up. Checks can be made out to Project Hope North, Inc., Box 428, Forest Lake, MN, 55025-0428.

Collection cans are also available at the following locations: Koepís Village Bakery, Kitchen Collection, Corning, Karlís Appliance and Just a Dollar or Two in North Branch, and Rolseth Drug, Lakeside Groceries, Hietalaís, Lakes Conoco, Snyders Pharmacy, Nappa and Rapid Press Printing in Forest Lake.
Project Hope North, Inc. is a 501(c) organization.

Items desired by the soldiers:
Baby wipes (unscented in plastic case), Nerf footballs or any Nerf toy, Koolaid with sugar, cashews, mixed nuts, dried nuts, peanuts, dried fruit, raisins, powdered Gatorade or Poweraid, Tang, sunflower seeds in the shell, toothpaste, toothbrush, gum, coffee or tea, hot cocoa mix, lip balm, hard candy, AA batteries, paper, pens. No chocolate, please.
Also needed, cash donations for postage.

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