Donations requested for charity drive

A “Stuff the Bus” collection to benefit the Covenant Soup Kitchen in Willimantic will take place during the week beginning Dec. 10.

“Covenant Soup Kitchen assists shut-ins, families, the elderly, veterans, and children,” says Janet Freniere, an administrator in UConn’s transportation services department, which is hosting the charity drive.

“Most of these people rely on the soup kitchen to survive from day to day and week to week.”

Freniere says the department will collect children’s books and toys, personal care items, and some non-perishable foods.

A green, decorated van will be set up on Hillside Road, directly across from the UConn Co-op, each day Dec. 10-14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain, snow, or shine.

Departments may also collect items internally. Those items can be picked up by Mail Services, by leaving them in the immediate vicinity of the outgoing mail box in the department.

For large full boxes, call Freniere at 860-486-4804 to arrange for pick up.

Needed items include:

• Children’s books, puzzles, board games, dolls, stuffed animals, coloring books and crayons, trucks and cars.
• Personal care items, including shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, disposable razors, shaving cream, toilet paper, soap, hats and gloves, scarves, and warm socks.
• Non-perishable foods will also be accepted, but personal care items are needed most.

If anyone would like to donate items – instead or as well – to troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, Freniere works with two support groups, Soldiers Angels and Silver Star Families of America, sending items to troops overseas or to wounded veterans at Walter Reed Hospital.