The Raider Republicans will be accepting donations for the “Soldier Box Drive” at MTSU’s football game against Louisiana-Lafayette.
Saturday’s fundraiser is a part of MT’s football “Salute to Armed Services and Veterans” celebration during halftime.
“We would love to have everyone on campus participate,” said Chelsea Curtis, president and junior political science major, of the Raider Republicans.
The game is scheduled for kick-off at 3:15 p.m., Nov. 14, at MTSU’s Floyd Stadium, and game-day attendees will have the chance to donate throughout the afternoon.
The organization adopted the army unit, which is stationed in the Diyala province of Iraq, earlier this semester and has already sent two boxes full of small non-perishable goods to the soldiers.
“We hope to reach our goal of 20 boxes by the end of the semester,” Curtis said. “I hope we can fill up all of the boxes at the football game, especially since the holidays are coming up.”
Curtis said anyone wishing to give a monetary donation can also go by any Pinnacle Bank in Murfreesboro, and make a “Soldier Box Drive” deposit into the Raider Republicans student account.
“All of the cash donations we receive will be used to buy items to fill the boxes,” Curtis said.
Curtis said popular items include: playing cards, beef jerky, magazines, footballs, frisbees, soccer balls and eye-drops.
“Many of the soldiers also like to receive scented candles,” Curtis said. “Even though most will not ask [for those kinds of items], they are confined into small living areas and it doesn’t always smell great.”
She also said that certain items are specifically prohibited.
“We cannot accept any items that contain or are related to pork,” she said, adding, that pornographic material is also prohibited, but tobacco products, such as chewing tobacco, are allowed.
Most importantly Curtis said soldiers miss the small things that remind them of home, and as long as the item will not melt or expire by the time it reaches Iraq, it is probably okay to donate to the box drive.
Raider Republicans will also be hosting guest speaker Major General David Evans of the United States Army Reserve, Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 7:00 p.m., in Room S106 of the Cason-Kennedy Nursing Building.
Evans is running in the Republican primaries for the 6th District of the U.S. House of Representatives, the seat currently held by Democrat Bart Gordon. He served in the Persian Gulf War, Bosnia and Croatia, and has also worked for the Department of Defense. His opponent is Lou Ann Zelenik, the former chairwoman of the Rutherford County Republican Party.
Raider Republicans accepting donations for soldier
Published: Monday, November 9, 2009
Updated: Monday, November 9, 2009
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Maj. Allen,Rest assured that all the men and women who choose to serve in our Armed Forces will never be forgotten whether in times of peace or conflict.
Maj. Jeff Allen
As the Public Affairs Officer for Task Force Marne in N. Iraq, and as a 2008 masters degree graduate in Mass Communications from MTSU, let me say "thank you" on behalf of the Soldiers who will receive your Soldier Boxes. It's good to know that there are students at MTSU who understand the importance of supporting those who serve. The women and men serving in the Diyala province are busily partnering and training with the Iraqi Security Forces--great improvements have been made everywhere in N. Iraq because of their duty and dedication. Again, thank you MTSU for remembering our Soldiers.
