Web of Support seeks families to adopt troops in Middle East

P.J. Degross of Carson City developed a troop adoption program called Web of Support, an Internet-based program that pairs volunteers who are willing to send care packages and letters to service members deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Degross is in need of families to adopt 86 soldiers who are with the 101st Airborne from Ft. Campbell, Ky. This is the group's second tour of duty.

"Sometime in November I'll have another 104 military who will need to be adopted."

The easiest way to help is go to the Web site www.WebofSupport.com and download the fact sheet. Then e-mail Degross at PJdahling@aol.com with your full name, address and telephone number (for security reasons).

Degross will then give you a soldier to adopt, which means you're asked to send a care package to the soldier once a month.

"Halloween boxes, Christmas gifts, that kind of thing," Degross said. "Some people get so addictive they send every other week.

"And I ask you support local businesses who are supporting the program. Wal-Mart, Costco, Raley's and the Dollar Store. They support me 100 percent."

Degross is also asking local businesses to put out collection boxes for Christmas cards and maybe donations from people, to buy items to ship to soldiers for Christmas.

"When I give you a soldier, it's for 12-14 months," she said. "I also give you a fact sheet on what to do and how to do it."

Degross said some families have become so close to their soldiers, they have connected with their families.

"It's huge. I've adopted many."

To reach Degross, e-mail PJdahling@aol.com, or call 887-1767.

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Don't worry if you have been seeing blue pigs around town. It's not a hallucination. The Carson City Elk's Lodge No. 2177 is placing Blue Piggy Banks out to raise funds for the Nevada Elk's State Project, Safe Haven.

Safe Haven provides funding to private homes throughout Nevada that are open 24 hours a day for the placement of children taken from dangerous situations or are battered or abused. It was initiated in 1990 as a joint project between the Nevada Elks and the Nevada Department of Human Resources - Division of Child and Family Services. The money the Elks donate is used to support the care needed by these abused and neglected kids. Not one penny is used for salaries or administration within the Child and Family Services Division.

The pigs will be out until after the Nevada Day Parade, so seek them out and help save our children. To send in a donation, mail it to: Carson City Elk's Lodge, 515 N. Nevada St., Carson City, 89703, be sure to put blue pigs in the memo line. Call 882-2177.