To see more photos from Zion’s 40 Days of Community:

• Mission Projects
• Ministry Fair
• Small Groups
• Kick Off
• Other

Thank you to everyone who brought in donations and contributed money towards the Troop Care Packages. Thank you also for the prayers you have offered up for these men and women. A 40 Days of Community Small Group collected, packaged and sent 10 care packages to our Zion Troops serving in active duty away from home (most serving in Iraq.) Additionally, they were able to send 4 more care packages to these soldiers with the request that they pass the care package on to a fellow soldier of their choosing. On behalf of our troops — thank you for the care packages, prayers and for thinking of us!

Our small group is working on two projects right now:

1) Care packages to send to Zion troops–this has been publicized, but now donations have been received to date that we are aware of. Based on the “desirable items” list, one of our group members will be purchasing items for these care packages and the group will finance it. Any additional donations of goods or $ will be used either to supplement these packages or to provide additional packages for each of our troops to share with a buddy. We will have a table at the Ministry Fair this Sunday with a sample care package already assembled.

2)Food for Friends–Julie Kabe will coordinate group members in various capacities with this project. Members may provide a meal to a family in need, help package leftover food from Wednesday night suppers, or be involved in restocking the Zion freezer with meals for members.

(We got so involved in discussing these projects at our last meeting that we didn’t get around to discussing the topic for the week. Guess we’ll have to cover extra ground this week.(:-))

The 40 Days team sending care packages to fellow Zion members serving in active military duty is looking for donations of previously viewed (or new) DVDs. If you are interested in donating items or money (to purchase items or cover shipping) please have your donations to church by Sunday, March 9th, marked Troop Care Packages.

More Ideas of items to send

Are you interested in contributing to care packages for our fellow Zion members away from home serving in active military duty?

As a missions project, a 40 Days of Community Small Group is going to be putting together and sending care packages to each of these soldiers. Additionally, they are going to send a second care package to each of these soldiers that they can pass on to a fellow soldier who could use it. The packages will be from their Family at Zion Lutheran Church.

There are a few ways we could use your help:

• write a note of support, appreciation or encouragement (get names from our ongoing military update list)
• purchase an item from the soldier’s list of desirables (listed below)
• contribute an item you think they’d appreciate
• or, simply donate cash that will be used to purchase items and cover shipping costs

Please bring your donations to church by March 2nd and clearly mark them Troop Care Packages.

These suggestions came from some of the soldiers and their families:

For any of the soldiers:

• Home baked goods
• Easter candy
• magazines (MAD, History magazines, Time, Newsweek)
• “goofy stuff” – one soldier got a care package with a jump rope in it with handles in the shape of cows – they like that they can put a smile on someone’s face by using it.

Especially for those stationed overseas

• new insoles or gel inserts for boots
• healthy snack foods (for long days without a meal)
• baby wipe travel packs
• white socks
• Mints, gum
• beef jerky
• Ramen noodles
• licorice, sturburst, skittles
• tuna PACKETS
• Starbucks coffee
• movies
• cookies
• trail mix

Other items of use to those overseas, but some receive plenty of these already:

• baby powder
• chapstick
• sunscreen
• lotion
• real soap (not hotel freebies)
• drink packets / powdered gatorade
• crossword/sudoku puzzle books

Especially for those stationed in the US:

• Gas cards
• fast food gift cards

On behalf of our troops, thank you!!