By PHOEBE DONALD ROBINSON / Community Columnist

The Calera High School NJROTC Program needs your help for their “Support Our Troops” mission!

The JROTC holiday service project is to provide service members currently serving overseas with a care package and letter of support this Christmas season.

Our servicemen and women are gone from home but not forgotten!

“The holidays are approaching and this time of year gets lonely for those serving overseas far away from home,” said Major Aurelio Garcia III. “We are asking the community to please help ‘Support Our Troops’ in the form of donations so we can package up and mail our servicemen and women a care package during the holiday months.”

Items needed are: Package crackers/chips/nuts/raisins; non-perishable fruit snacks, gummy bears, trail mix; hand sanitizer; pain relievers; toothbrushes, carriers, travel toothpaste and dental floss; boxes of round toothpicks; individual packages of Kleenex; finger/toenail clippers; SPF Chap Stick; powder Gatorade; foot powder/medicated body powder; chewing/bubble gum; shampoo; microwave meals; paperback books; comb/brush; eye drops (Visine); beef jerky/Slim Jims; wrapped hard candy; travel baby wipes; AA batteries; package cookies; antifungal cream; magazines; disposable razors; Tums; shaving cream; black cotton boot socks large/XL; Ziploc bags, sizes quart, ½ gallon and gallon; male/female deodorant; and letters and cards expressing concern and support.

Please note, nothing that will melt or explode under flight pressure and only small, individual sizes!

Deadline is Monday, Dec. 7 at Calera High School, NJROTC classroom, Room F-210, 100 Calera Eagle Drive, Calera, Ala. 35040.

For more info, contact Garcia or Chief Eric Williams at (205) 682-5992.

“We are providing much needed supplies for the holidays so that our men and women overseas can feel a little bit of home,” said Garcia.