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Ida High sends care packages to help support troops overseas - 04/9/2003
— Evening News photo by VALERIE TOBIAS
Evening News staff writer By RAY KISONAS IDA - The cardboard boxes on the Ida High School stage were filled with so many store items, the sight would make any grocer rub his hands and see dollar signs. But the hundreds of Pop-Tarts, tubes of toothpaste, bars of soap and bottles of shampoo are not for sale. They are for the troops overseas courtesy of the IHS students and teachers. They have been collecting the goods and are planning to send them to the soldiers with local connections fighting in the war. "This is a lot more than we expected," said senior Dan Mathis, president of the Student Council, which is sponsoring the drive. "We're overwhelmed." The students are planning to create what could amount to 200 care packages jammed with everything from mints to flea collars. Next week, if they collect enough cash, they want to begin sending them overseas for soldiers who graduated from Ida and their battalions. Melanie Nowak, a student council member, said the drive only shows that the war does hit close to home. "A lot of people don't think the war affects them," she said Tuesday while separating the goods. "They don't have to support the war. But they do support the troops." The Student Council began the drive March 31 and will end it Thursday. Students said they need cash to pay for postage because the number of items collected has been so impressive. On the stage in the IHS cafeteria, seven tables supported boxes brimming with cotton swabs, canned fruit, baby wipes, deodorant sticks and flea collars that soldiers in the desert wear on their ankles to keep sand fleas away. "It's amazing," said PJ Newman, a student council adviser and she watched the students separate the supplies. "We're going to need more tables." The idea to start a supply drive for the troops came from Mary Jane Schmidt, whose son, Joel, is in Iraq. Joel, 26, is a 1995 IHS graduate and a Marine Corps reservist. Mrs. Schmidt, a teacher and student council adviser, said she talked to Dan about the drive and the council readily agreed to pursue it. She said the response from school and community has been wonderful, estimating that the students collected about $4,000 worth of goods. "It's just unbelievable," she said. "We never quite thought it would be this big. I'm really proud of our students." And since the supply drive began with her son in mind, Mrs. Schmidt said it has special meaning to her. She knows her son is in Iraq, but not exactly sure where. "It brings tears to my eyes," she said. "It's touched my heart. It has enabled me to get through this." Now the students are in the next phase, which is trying to collect enough cash to send the items. They are sponsoring a dance Thursday with the proceeds going toward postage. It will cost plenty to send 200 seven-inch cubes full of supplies. But the students are confident they will raise enough money. In fact while Melanie was talking about the drive, she had to rush off to meet a man who dropped by the school just to donate $20. It's that kind of support and effort by the students that has adults feeling pretty good about their kids. "They never cease to amaze me," Principal Marvin Dick said as he watched the students on the stage separating the items. "I'm proud of them." Anyone wishing to donate cash for postage and phone cards for the troops can visit the IHS office or call 269-9003. Also, a rally to support U.S. Troops overseas and their families will be held from 1-2:30 p.m. Saturday at Monroe Custer Airport, next to Munson Park off N. Custer Rd. Donations of "quality of life" items will be picked up by the Ida High School Student Council.
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