BEGIN:VCALENDAR PRODID;X-RICAL-TZSOURCE=TZINFO:-//com.denhaven2/NONSGML ri_cal gem//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN VERSION:2.0 BEGIN:VEVENT DESCRIPTION:Northville Schools\, NHS Baseball To Hit Home Run With Armed Forces Collection \; \;\n&ldquo\;For&hellip\;a baseball game\, y ou would be sure to bring some gatoraid (sic)\, sunflower seeds\, or may be gum. \; But here\, there is no going back to the store for things to snack on\,&rdquo\; revealed a soldier from a field artillery battali on. \; &ldquo\;God bless&hellip\;you..for the packages. \; It&rs quo\;s good to know that we are not forgotten over here\,&rdquo\; shared Sergeant First Class Ryan Francis of another battalion. \; Both e-m ails were sent last June from U.S. troops stationed overseas to Northvil le High School&rsquo\;s baseball program. \; Many more letters were sent in appreciation for 50 boxes (weighing 35 pounds each) shipped last year to troops on-duty in Iraq and Afghanistan\, as part of NHS Basebal l&rsquo\;s Armed Forces Day efforts. \;\nAgain this year\, participa ting Northville Public Schools will team up with NHS Baseball during Arm ed Forces Week to collect items for U.S. troops. \; (Celebrated annu ally since 1949\, this national observance begins on the second Saturday of May and ends on the third Sunday of May.) Participating Northville P ublic Schools on the elementary level are Amerman\, Ridge Wood\, Silver Springs and Winchester. \; Both middle schools and NHS also urge stu dents to fill school collection boxes Monday through Friday\, May 14-18. Collection will conclude at NHS Baseball&rsquo\;s Third Annual Armed Fo rces Day Celebration and Doubleheader on Saturday\, May 19 at the NHS va rsity field. \; This well-attended event will add even more momentum to the 2012 varsity Mustangs&rsquo\; game-winning juggernaut. \;\nS uggested donations of individually wrapped snack items include instant d rink mix\, beef jerky\, licorice\, cheese &\; cracker packs\, chips\, pumpkin &\; sunflower seeds\, granola &\; cereal bars and hard ca ndy. \; Popular donations of individually wrapped toiletries include hand sanitizer\, lip balm\, wipes\, body wash\, SPF 45 sun block\, zinc \, vitamin E &\; other lotions\, shampoo\, Band-Aids\, tissues\, toot hbrushes and toothpaste. \; Other useful donations include CDs\, DVD s\, playing cards\, small board games\, Frisbees\, pens\, stationery\, o ld cell phones and gallon-sized freezer bags. \; Children&rsquo\;s d rawings and letters of support\, including sports news and top local sto ries\, are also very well-received\, and are frequently on display in th e soldiers&rsquo\; living quarters. \;\n&ldquo\;Don&rsquo\;t underes timate the impact you can make with these basic donations\,&rdquo\; remi nds Tracey Roberts of Michigan Military Moms\, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit or ganization. \; She will oversee the shipment of all donations. \ ; &ldquo\;Take a look at our wish lists. \; Donate what you can.&nbs p\; When the war is over\, stand among the people who supported their Am erican troops. \; Bring it on\, Northville\,&rdquo\; she cheerfully suggests. \;\nNHS Assistant Varsity Baseball Coach Bill Flohr&rsquo\ ;s commitment to perpetually enhance the initiative he founded is unwave ring. \; &ldquo\;Hearing from the troops drives home the importance of every toothbrush and pack of sunflower seeds we collect\,&rdquo\; he enthuses. \; "These simple things really boost their spirits. What d oes that say about the sacrifices they&rsquo\;re making for my family &n dash\; for all of us?&rdquo\; \;\nA U.S. flag\, flown on August 25\, 2011 at Camp Sabalu-Harrison\, Bagram Air Base\, Afghanistan will be ra ised and proudly fly overhead during Armed Forces Day at the NHS varsity field.  \;&ldquo\;Sergeant Francis not only sent his note of thanks \, he sent us the flag flown at the base specifically in our honor\,&rdq uo\; shares Head Coach John Kostrzewa. \; &ldquo\;No doubt about it.  \; We worked hard last year\,&rdquo\; adds Coach Flohr. \; &ldq uo\;But that one incredible flag far outweighs the 1750 pounds of donati ons we sent.&rdquo\; \; \; \; \; \; \; \;&nb sp\; \; \; \; \; \; \; \; \; \;  \;\nFor more information\, contact Bill Flohr at 248 761 9694 or info@pr ecisionbaseballone.com.\nSubmitted by: \; Katy Baetz-Matthews\n  \; URL:http://northville.patch.com/events/northville-schools-nhs-baseball-to -hit-home-run-with-armed-forces-collection SUMMARY:Northville Schools\, NHS Baseball To Hit Home Run With Armed Forc es Collection LOCATION:Northville Public Schools Central Office: 501 W Main St\, Northv ille\, MI END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR