Lions Club collecting for troops

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BEACON FALLS — The Lions Club is taking up a collection of items to send to soldiers in Afghanistan.

Residents can bring cash or item donations to a table that the Lions will have on display at next month’s combined fifth annual River Race and 14th annual Riverfest and Duck Race.

The Lions also want to hear from residents if they have any family or relatives serving in Afghanistan so they can include them on a care package list to receive items, said Bill Mis, club member.

He said the club will pack boxes on April 22, and they will be part of the display to accept donations at the May 5 races, which start on the Naugatuck River in Waterbury and end in Beacon Falls.

The Lions have allocated $1,000 to help buy more items and to cover shipping, and the Lioness Club has committed $200, Mis said. He said he has received about $10,000 worth of drink mixes from 4C Foods Corp., of Brooklyn.

Allan Monteiro, 26, a club member whose sister is a sergeant with the Air Force in Afghanistan, said this is the least he can do to show his appreciation, and wishes he could do more.

“I think it’s a great way for us to demonstrate our appreciation for what they are doing for us,” Monteiro said.

His sister, Monique Monteiro, 28, is on her second tour, he said. She has forwarded a list of items that people sometimes take for granted here, such as healthy snacks and packets of tuna, Monteiro said.

The following items are on the list: coffee supplies including sugar packets, coffee/K-cups, creamer; snacks including trail mix, granola bars and jerky; soup; popcorn; tuna packets; water-flavoring packets; liquid laundry soap; fabric softener sheets and body wash.