Firelands Electric collecting donations

NEW LONDON — For the 15th consecutive year, Firelands Electric Cooperative has teamed up with local radio stations WLKR-FM and K96-FM to collect donations for USO Ohio's Step Up for Soldiers annual drive. Beginning Veterans Day, Nov. 11, and running through Friday, Dec. 16, members of Firelands Electric and the community can bring care package items to the co-op office, located at 103 Industrial Drive in New London. Items may be dropped off in the collection boxes located just inside the front entryway during regular business hours, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. USO Ohio requests that snacks and hygiene essentials be the focus of this year's donations. Suggested items include razors, cotton swabs, tissues, deodorant, toothpaste, eye drops, ear plugs, playing cards, chewing gum, hard candy, beef jerky, trail mix and non-perishable snack packs. Additional information and a more detailed list of recommended donation items is available on Firelands' website at www.firelandsec.com/uso-ohio. "Firelands is pleased to continue our partnership with WLKR and K96," said Tracy Gibb, communications and member relations specialist at the cooperative. "We are honored to once again support the USO and the men and women serving our country." The USO supports military families through more than 250 locations nationwide. The organization serves Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve members in all branches of the military. USO Ohio is a non-profit organization which relies solely on the generosity of the citizens, organizations, and corporations throughout the state and receives no government funding. Visit the USO Ohio website (https://ohio.uso.org) to learn more or to make a tax-deductible monetary donation.