Oct 22, 2004 By Josh Krysak 3 min read

With the Iraq war a major focus of the presidential election, one area resident continues to focus on the conflict but in a different way: how to help the troops in harm’s way. In conjunction with efforts to raise awareness of the day-to-day struggles of American soldiers in Iraq, state Department of Americanism Chairman Joe T. Joseph is asking area residents to participate in drives across the region to show support for troops in Iraq.

And Joseph said the increased awareness of soldiers’ needs has brought a big-name company to the troops’ aid.

“We are the largest employer in the United States and we have a lot of associates directly affected,” Uniontown Wal-Mart manager Jack Yard said. “Many have been called to duty.”

Yard said local store officials saw the American Legion Post 51’s list of needed items and decided to team up with Joseph to try to get as many supplies as possible to the soldiers in Iraq.

The store employees had already sent packages to Iraq on their own to help the soldiers cope with the harsh environment.

In their latest care package, the store is shipping sun block, batteries, eye-care products and sunglasses.

“We have gathered a large variety of items to go over,” said Jane Croftcheck, who spearheaded the effort to gather supplies for the soldiers. “This is our 10th package since the start of the war.”

Joseph, working in cooperation with the Uniontown Legion post, said the eye-care products are much-needed items for soldiers in the desert terrain, where the harsh sunlight glares off the sand. Additionally, Joseph said the sunscreen should help the troops in the harsh Iraqi sun.

Additionally, Yard said the store is donating $585 to the Legion to be used for families of soldiers in the local area to help offset living expenses while their loved ones fight in Iraq.

“We cannot be thankful enough in Wal-Mart doing something like this,” Joseph said. “There are 150 more boys from the local area headed into harm’s way, and we have hundreds already stationed in Iraq. What generosity by Wal-Mart. This has enabled us to keep going.”

Joseph said as of Thursday, the Legion had shipped more than 710 care packages to Iraq.

Joseph added that donations of supplies also may be dropped off at the Legion.

Items needed include beef jerky, hard candy, chewing gum, mints, Kool-Aid with sugar, snacks and pretzels.

Also accepted are toiletry items, such as toilet paper, lip balm, baby wipes, shaving cream, toothbrushes and paste, sun block, shampoo, Vaseline, soap, deodorant and disposable razors.

Joseph said the troops also need black socks, books, puzzles, calling cards, playing cards, batteries of all sizes and other reading material.