The Seventh Annual Singing for Soldiers will occur at Sunny View Elementary School at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 17, co-coordinator James Metcalf said.
“Music strikes a chord for a lot of people,” Metcalf said. “The concert gives people a chance to bring stuff for our soldiers, and it has been quite successful.”
After the concert, the items will be given to Captain Chaplain Michael McCawley, brother-in-law of the late Sherry Carney, who co-founded Singing for Soldiers. McCawley works with the Wounded Warrior Program and he has been in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Monetary gifts will be used to cover the cost of postage. The event also occurs on Memorial Day. Deb Williamson, co-coordinator, requested small toiletry items, including toothpaste, toothbrushes, shaving cream, soap, lotion, Carmax lip balm and shampoo. Soldiers also need practical items, like white athletic socks, black knit caps, hand warmers, pens and writing tablets.
They enjoy receiving snacks like gum, granola bars, jerky, nuts, hot chocolate, dried fruit, and hard candy, but chocolate melts so it doesn’t travel well overseas.