LAKE STEVENS – Donations and letters of support are being collected for a battalion of U.S. Marines who served in Iraq with Pfc. Cody Calavan.
Calavan, 19, a U.S. Marine Corps machine gunner, was killed in an explosion in Iraq on May 29. He joined the Marines after graduating from Lake Stevens High School in 2003.
Care packages for soldiers in his battalion will be assembled this week by Lake Stevens middle school students, the Lions Club and the American Legion.
“We want them to know we care about them and we support them,” said Dick Cowden of Lake Stevens, area coordinator for Operation Interdependence, a program meant to show soldiers that their military service is appreciated by the folks at home.
The Lake Stevens-area group just happened to be assigned the soldiers who served with Calavan, Cowden said. Local residents and students have been collecting donations for soldiers since the war started, he said.
Each month, soldiers receive a plastic bag filled with socks, sample-size toiletries, candy, books and other treats.
Soldiers especially need hygiene products including creams, suntan lotion, foot and body powder, he said. They have to be in small containers – sample sizes of 6 to 8 ounces fit in the individual bags.
They also enjoy DVDs, Cowden said. The Tulalip Casino donated a thousand packs of playing cards, too.
The soldiers enjoy getting the care packages, but they seem to appreciate the notes and cards of support the most, Cowden said.
“As long as they’re there, we’ll be there for them,” Cowden said.
To donate, drop off items at North Lake or Lake Stevens middle schools by Wednesday. Cash donations also are being accepted at the schools, Cowden said.
Reporter Katherine Schiffner: 425-339-3436 or schiffner@heraldnet.com.
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