What do baby wipes and chap stick have to do with the American Armed Forces in Iraq?
According to the Tyrone Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary President Alice Ewing, these items were very much needed by the numerous servicemen and servicewomen overseas. The reason is because the intense heat of the dessert easily dries and chaps lips, so chap stick is a hot commodity. Also, the windy conditions causes the sand to stick to people’s skin. The baby wipes are used for fast relief from the sand and sweat.
Sally Swiderski approached Ewing with the idea for everyone to get involved to start collecting these much needed items. The Tyrone VFW Auxiliary, Tyrone American Legion, the Trinity Episcopal Church and the Tyrone Cootiette Club joined forces to collect the baby wipes and chap stick for the American Armed Forces in Iraq.
The collection began March 17 when Ewing put a notice in The Daily Herald, “Needs for Overseas,” to make the community aware of the drive. Numerous drop-off points were designated around the town where residents of Tyrone generously donated items.
Ewing also coordinated with Sergeant Arthur Vaughn of the Frankstown Armory in order to be able to send the materials to the troops. Vaughn contacted Froggy 98 because it was participating in the “Shoebox for Soldiers” drive at the same time as the “Needs for Overseas” drive. Froggy 98 was willing to make room on its trucks for the items collected by the Tyrone community to be shipped to the troops.
“There were big boxes, and we just kept loading and loading them until we got them all in there,” said Ewing of the van load of items she and Legion Auxiliary President Jean Nein delivered to Froggy 98. “They had the hallway of Froggy lined with shoeboxes and stuff you wouldn’t believe.”
Gearhart Trucking hauled the materials to Georgia, and then the boxes of baby wipes and chap stick were shipped to Iraq.
“Thanks for all the help and donations on behalf of the Tyrone VFW Auxiliary, the Tyrone American Legion Auxiliary, the Trinity Episcopal Church and Tyrone Cootiette Club for everything,” said Ewing. “A special thank you to O’s Sew Shop for being a drop off place and Conny’s Variety. God bless you all.”
The Tyrone VFW is sponsoring a yard sale at the VFW Post Home on June 25. Proceeds are to benefit the VFW Auxiliary.
