Couple collecting donations for troops / LJWorld.com

Archive for Friday, November 23, 2007

By David Oakes - doakes@theworldco.info

November 23, 2007

Iraq war - Lawrence perspective Â»

Eudora — After hearing about the everyday items troops in Iraq are going without, Lee and Danny Trimble decided to do more than just talk about the problem.

The Eudora couple's response was Project Bucca, which is designed to collect donations of items such as toothpaste, soap, deodorant, cotton swabs and baby wipes to be sent overseas.

The Trimbles heard about the troops' needs from the wife of Sgt. 1st Class Tim Buchhorn, who is stationed at Camp Bucca on his second tour of duty in Iraq. Buchhorn's sons are friends with the Trimbles' sons.

"We found out that their stores (the troops' stores, called Post Exchanges) over there are out of several things like Q-tips and deodorant and hand sanitizers and those kinds of things," Lee Trimble said. "So, we thought this would be a great way to help troops by having people donate stuff so that we can send items over there."

The Trimbles had been sending over about two packages per week on their own, but they wanted to see the community get involved.

"We'll take whatever anyone can give, and we're looking for local businesses who might be willing to help with the shipping costs," Lee Trimble said. "We're hoping we can send four to five packages a week. The more we can get over there, the faster we can get over there, the better it's going to be."

The Trimbles' three children have helped by distributing fliers throughout the town.

"We're trying to do fun stuff, too," Lee Trimble said. "They love to have DVDs. We've been sending them DVDs, and what they do is they take that one DVD and just pass it around throughout all of the troops."

The Trimbles will run Project Bucca until Jan. 1 and then find out if more supplies still are needed.

Donation barrels are set up at Simple Simon's Pizza, 310 E. 15th St.; Eudora Community and Aquatic Center, 1638 Elm St.; Coffee Talk, 724 Main St.; and Eudora City Hall, 4 E. Seventh St.

For more information, e-mail Lee Trimble at lee@tbarracing.com or call (913) 207-1108.