We have a lot of fun on this blog.  In between bringing you the latest tech news, we have our chuckles at some of the more obscure and humorous happenings in the world of the web. 

But there’s nothing fun about war.  It’s easy to forget–being so far removed from the situation ourselves–that American soldiers are risking their lives on a daily basis.  One of Eric’s friends, a Major in the National Guard, recently mentioned the regular need his troops have for the everyday comforts of home.  Stuff like playing cards, DVDs, and headache medicine are often in short supply for deployed soldiers, but can go quite a long way toward improving morale.  Hearing this inspired us. 

So we’re kicking off the Keystone Collection Drive for the Troops.  We’re asking our clients and readers of this blog to find something on the list below that they can purchase.  We’ll collect donated items here in our office through the month of November–and we’ll come pick them up if you’d like as well (for you Nashville businesses, that is).  Then we’re going to box it all up and send it over to the Major to distribute to his battalion.  If enough of us participate in just a tiny way, we’ll have a lot of “the comforts of home” to send. 

The Major has even promised to send us an update after the shipment, to let us know how everything was used. 

So if you have a spare few dollars on your next shopping trip, consider picking up one of the many inexpensive items below.  Ship it to us, drop it off, or let us come pick it up.  You’ll be happy you did.  Help us make some soldiers’ lives just a tad better for even just a little bit.

Here’s the list:

• International Phone Cards

• Playing Cards & Chips

• Batteries (AA/AAA ONLY)

• Nerf Balls

• Movies (DVD’s)

• Twin Sheet sets

• SEC football stuff (Especially with this battalion, I.E. UT)

• Pillows

• NASCAR stuff

• Towels/ Wash clothes

• Gloves & Baseballs (They really need baseballs)

• Blankets

• Frisbee

• Stress Balls

• Body Wash /Soap

• Game System Games (Xbox, Playstation, etc.)

• Body/Foot Powder

• USB thumb/Jump drives

• Baby Powder (Including Gold Bond)

• Shaving Cream (non-aerosol)

• Puzzle books (SODUKU, CROSSWORD)

• Reading material

• Q-tips/Cotton Balls

• Moist wipes/Clorox wipes

• Pens (black ink)

• Eye Drops/Eye Wash

• Blank CD’s/DVD’s

• Aspirin/Tylenol/Motrin

• Antacids/Diarrhea meds. (The soldiers have a LTD #)

• Powered Drinks (single serving) (CRYSTAL LITE)

• Crackers & Easy cheese

• Coffee/Cold tea bags/Hot Chocolate (BIG TIN OF COFFEE)

• Chex & Trail Mix

• Slim Jim’s

• Beef Jerky

• Cookies

• Snack Crackers

• Nuts

• Breakfast Bars/Pop tarts

• Snack size Fruit /Pudding cups

• Granola/Power Bars

• Salsa, Dry

• Individual Chips (snack size & Pringles)

• Sunflower seeds

• Hard candy/Gum (GUMMIES/GUM )

• Sugar & sweet-n-low (individuals) (SPLENDA)

• Peanut Butter/Jelly

• Dried Fruit

• Movie theater candy boxes (the troops love these!)

• 2 pronged electrical cords

• Copies of sports magazines or magazines worth reading (can be previous month)