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R.I. Guard's Operation Holiday Cheer moving ahead

4:17 PM Tue, Oct 07, 2008 | Permalink
By Steve Peoples

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Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts is already looking ahead to the holiday season.

She's helping kick off this year's "Operation Holiday Cheer" Wednesday morning at the Rhode Island National Guard Command Readiness Center on New London Avenue in Cranston.

The effort helps collect money and donations for care packages for Rhode Island soldiers stationed overseas. Roberts will gather at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow with a host of corporate sponsors -- including the Boston Celtics and New England Patriots -- to kick off this year's charity drive.

Former Lt. Gov. Charles J. Fogarty started the program in 2003. His successor, Roberts, has continued the tradition. Last year she loaned eight staff members to collect donations and assemble packages.

They sent out beef jerky, chewing gum, ramen soup, coffee, newspapers, Del's lemonade mix, and New England Patriots' yearbooks, among other items.

The organizers hope to reach 300 National Guard troops. They're also asking families with loved ones on active duty or in the reserves to pass along their their names and APO addresses so they can be included as well.