Penacook employee organizes drive supporting

local soldiers headed to Iraq

HAVERHILL – Employees, residents and family members at Penacook Place Nursing and Rehabilitation Center are working together to make life a little better for local soldiers who are about to be deployed to Iraq.

Activities Assistant Donna Shaw of Bradford, who is active in Haverhill’s VFW Ladies Auxiliary Post 29, is coordinating an effort to collect items for soldiers of the National Guard 182^nd Engineers Company out of Newburyport. The Auxiliary has adopted the 152 soldiers of the 182^nd who are currently training in Wisconsin, but will soon serve in Iraq. They are requesting items such as books, snacks, toiletries, sandals, sunscreen, lip balm and baby wipes. Shaw set up a donation box in the Penacook Place lobby three weeks ago. She is pleased that her fellow employees, as well as residents and their family members, have taken an interest in the drive and have been very generous in contributing all kinds of needed items to the troops.

“The box is pretty full right now. We’re doing pretty good,” said Shaw, who has worked at Penacook for about six years. “In a couple of weeks we’ll start packaging everything and send it out when we have a definite address. Everyone has been wonderful.”

The cause is near and dear to Shaw’s heart. Her husband is a retired Air Force veteran. Her daughter served in the U.S. Marines and her niece continues to serve in the Marines. Anyone who wishes to donate items for this drive can drop them off at Penacook Place.