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VALLEY — On Tuesday morning, members of American Legion Post 67 met at Valley Community Center to pack two care packages to be sent to young men from the local area who are currently serving overseas.

Both packages were mailed on Tuesday. One will be going to a young man who is in Kenya and another to a young man who has been deployed to Kuwait.

The two boxes contain personal care items such as soap, wash cloths, socks, tooth brushes and toothpaste, shampoo, and baby wipes and snacks such as cookies, sunflower seeds and beef jerky.

“All we need to do this are the names and addresses of local men and women who are serving in the military,” said Post Commander Lanny Bledsoe. “If anyone knows someone who is serving, they can give us their name and current address, and we will send them a care package. We are trying to find the most economical way to do this. The boxes will mail these items in cost around $20 each. People can donate money so we can get the boxes. They can also help us by donating items we can put in the boxes. We will be talking about this at our next meeting, which will be taking place at Sunny’s Restaurant in Valley at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February Feb. 11. Anyone who wants to help us is welcome to be there.”

Post Adjutant Sammy Newton said he can remember getting care packages from his parents while he was serving in the Vietnam War in the 1960s.

“I can’t tell you how good it made me feel to get one,” he said. “I would share the items with the guys, and they would share with me when they got something from home. We loved getting buy baby wipes. They helped us stay clean when we were out in the jungle. We also loved Jiffy Pop popcorn.”

The Post is planning on having a special day at Veterans Park in Valley where people can come and make donations to the care package program.

They can bring items to be put in the boxes or can sponsor a box with a $20 donation.

“We are learning as we go,” said Bledsoe said. “The main thing we want to get across is that we support our soldiers. We want them to know that we haven’t forgotten them, that we have them in our thoughts and prayers.”

The day in the park will probably be on a Saturday in February.

Members of the Legion will decide that in their February meeting.