ASHLAND — Since 2007, Firelands Electric Cooperative has taken part in a proud tradition of supporting U.S. military personnel during the holiday season. Once again, the cooperative has teamed up with local radio stations WLKR-FM and K96-FM to collect donations for USO Ohio’s 2021 Step Up for Soldiers annual drive.
Beginning Veterans Day, Nov. 11, and running through Friday, Dec. 10, 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. Although the co-op’s interior lobby remains closed to the public, items may be dropped off in the collection boxes located just inside the front entryway during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Care packages are currently being tailored toward service members who have been activated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 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,” says Tracy Gibb, communications and member relations specialist at the cooperative. “We are honored to once again support the USO and the brave men and women serving our country.”
The USO supports military families through more than 250 locations nationwide, including 11 in Ohio. 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. It receives no government funding. Visit the USO Ohio website (https://ohio.uso.org) to learn more or to make a tax-deductible monetary donation.
Firelands Electric, A Touchstone Energy Cooperative, is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative providing service to approximately 9,100 homes and businesses in rural areas of Ashland, Huron, Lorain, and Richland counties.
