Redmond-based Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2995, located at 4330 148th Ave. NE, has sent more than 6,300 five-pound “care” packages to America’s front line troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, according to John Kenny, chairman of the post’s Troop Support Program.

“Presently, we are providing comfort items for two Army and two Marine Units,” Kenny explained.

“These units are on the short end of the supply line and they need our items desperately. One of our Marine units was just relocated to an isolated area. They only had the packs on their back. The key items in the packs were water and ammunition. They were delighted when two helicopters made a mail drop to them. In that mail drop, were 50 of our boxes providing them with very needed items. Needless to say, they were very happy and they let us know.”

Kenny added, “The key to our recent success is that we have been given permission to do collections at the Fred Meyer and QFC stores. At the Fred Meyer stores in Bellevue, Redmond and Kirkland this past year, we collected over $115,000 worth of comfort items. This was done because of the generosity and caring of the customers in these stores.”

During the month of September, Redmond shoppers donated more than $25,000 worth of comfort items and $1,300 in checks and cash to help pay for postage. Postage alone, to send 200 boxes to the troops, costs $2,070.

Volunteers will be outside the Kirkland Fred Meyer store Oct. 16-18 and at the Bellevue store in the middle of November. Collections are not allowed outside Fred Meyer during the month of December but the cycle will begin again in January, at the Redmond store, said Kenny. He noted that QFC is also supportive of the effort, but more volunteers are needed to man those collection tables.

If you’d like to help, contact John Kenny at kjjkenny@aol.com or (425) 883-2295.