The latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Heartland

OTTUMWA, IOWA -- Have you thanked the troops lately? Here is your chance.

On Saturday, September 11, the Republican Victory Headquarters across Iowa are packing supplies to send to Iowa troops.

The September 11th date was selected to pack the supplies because of its significance to the war America is fighting.

As Iowa faces its largest troop deployment since WWII, supporting our troops is a bi-partisan issue.

“So what we are doing is we’re just gathering things,” Said Trudy Caviness with the Wapello County Republicans. ”We always need more things.  Our goal is to package everything tomorrow morning starting at 10:00 here at the Republican Headquarters Victory Office. But if you bring something next week, we will package that up and send it over too.”

The supplies will be sent to the Iowa National Guard’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division. While not based in Ottumwa, it still holds many personal ties.

“It’s not the Ottumwa National Guard but people from Ottumwa are going over. So if you think of 3,500 troops think of how many families that involves, just 1000’s and 1,000’s of people,” Caviness said.

The list of items to send over is nearly endless. It includes: Microwave popcorn, ramen noodles, Mac and cheese, microwave pasta, soup mix, cereal and granola bars, hot chocolate, beef jerky, cookies and snacks.

Non-food items include: Microwavable plates and bowls, DVD, reading materials, crossword puzzles, cards and poker chips, sewing kits, and pens.

Personal care items include: Wet wipes, shoe laces, underwear, razors, foot powder, ice and hot patches, hand warmers, and more.

Also to be included in each box are thank you letters and absentee voting registration forms.

Caviness said the Iowa National Guard’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division has been involved in every war since WWI.

The Victory Center in Ottumwa is located at 219 E. Main St.