By Kara Hallissey, Staff Writer (Oct. 12, 2017)

Chewing gum, telephone calling cards, games, sunglasses and toiletries are some of the suggested items residents and visitors can donate to soldiers overseas through an effort by Star Charities this month. For more than 20 years, holiday gifts have been collected in Worcester County for American military members deployed across the world. “My husband [Carl] started it,” said organizer Anna Foultz. “He served in China, Burma and India and was so concerned about our soldiers. He used to say, ‘When I was there, we couldn’t get anything, why don’t we start up a collection?’ When he passed away [in 2010], I was heartbroken. I wanted to keep his legacy going.” Now until Oct. 31, donation containers will be located in the Ocean City, Ocean Pines and Berlin libraries, the Ocean Pines Community Center, the PNC Bank in Ocean Pines, First Shore Federal Bank, the Ocean Pines Platform Tennis Center, the Rite Aid in Ocean Pines and the Ocean Pines Sports Core Pool. The Ocean Pines and Ocean City Kiwanis in addition to local AARP locations will also collect donated items. People are asked to drop off gum, hard candy, Slim Jims, nuts, telephone calling cards, games, puzzles, small paperback books, white or black socks, sunscreen, regular-sized toiletries and feminine products. In addition, Tums, soap, hand towels, wash cloths, moist towelettes, toothbrushes, dental floss, Advil, mouthwash, nail files, Tylenol, toothpaste, tissues, nail clippers, sunglasses, powdered drinks such as iced tea, coffee or lemonade, and money are also suggested by organizers. No travel-sized toiletries, glass or perishable items. All items will be collected from the sites each week by Star Charities volunteers during the month of October and then taken to Foultz’s house to later be picked up by the National Guard in a huge truck. “My husband remembered how much the small comforts of home meant to all serving and wanted to do something, so he started to collect gifts by placing black containers at libraries and other locations in 2003,” Foultz said. “When he passed away in April 2010, Star Charities volunteers continued to remember our heroes overseas and let them know we supported them.”