The community is invited to bring a little taste of home to men and women in the miliary who are serving overseas this holiday season as part of the Parkesburg Lions Club's Adopt a Soldier Project. Those who receive the boxes, which will be mailed to the unit in time for Christmas, are all residents of Pennsylvania.

Information about the servicemen and women was provided to the club by a Pennsylvania State Battalion command officer for the Army National Guard and Air National Guard.

"We were given the names of 207 Pennsylvania soldiers in this unit," said project organizer Danielle Salada. "Their names cannot be released due to security reasons, and they are in a remote area away from any services such as a PX (retail store)."

To adopt a soldier, community members are asked to fill a box and to donate the $16.25 required for postage. "The box needed is a Priority Mail medium-size flat-rate box," explained Salada. "You can get the box from the post office."

Those who are unable to donate the money for shipping may still fill a box with items that are needed such as snacks, toiletries, puzzle books, magazines, board games, handheld video games, decks of cards and DVDs. Those who donate boxes are also welcome to add their own personal notes. "Several people received thank you notes back last year," Salada noted.

The boxes should not be sealed because they need to be inspect for items that are restricted, including aerosol cans, solid stick deodorants, fireworks, lighters, matches or alcohol.

"Last year we sent out more than 200 boxes, and I hope to reach that goal this year," said Salada.

This year, students in Robin McKenna's class at Octorara Elementary School are creating handmade cards and letters to be included in the boxes. McKenna is also a member of the Lions Club.

"Seven of the soldiers we were informed about are from a certain fire department unit and we have students from the Octorara Homeland Security and Protective Services Program preparing their boxes," Salada added.

Boxes will be accepted through Monday, Dec. 12. Those who would like to donate boxes are asked to contact Salada at dsalada@jdeckmaninc.com or via the Lions Club Facebook page to arrange a drop-off time. For more information, search for "Parkesburg Lions Club - New and Improved" on Facebook.