ROTC is trying to lead the way when it comes to supporting American troops.

Huskie Battalion is collecting supplies for care packages as a Thanksgiving surprise to troops in eastern Afghanistan. The public is welcome to donate, and the donation collection box is in the Chick Evans Field House outside the military science office.

Huskie Battalion will package and ship the donations. Master Sgt. Rufus Beamon said all donated items should be things the troops can carry.

“Sometimes these troops are so far in that they are missing the basic toiletries, so it’s easy to send them that or some treats,” Beamon said.

The care packages are being sent to the 22nd Engineer Clearance Company, or the Hooligans.

“My job as operation sergeant is to get all the information out there and keep everything organized for Sgt. Beamon,” said cadet Sara Blanco.

The packages will be shipped Nov 1. so they can make it out to Afghanistan in time, Beamon said.

“I was deployed in Kosovo … and we received these care packages from a church group in Florida. [There were] lots of baked goods; inside was a star cut from a flag and a business-card sized note that said, ‘Let this remind you of what it did and make you proud.’ I carried that star with me the rest of my deployment,” said Lt. Col. David Dosier. “…I [also] got a package of six Christmas Oreos, and let’s just say I didn’t share many of those.”

Beamon said the care packages are important because they let troops know what they’re fighting for and show them people back home are supporting them.

The list of care package items is posted outside the military science office, which is where donations from the public can be placed.

“The items can range from toiletries, candy, cookies, individual drink mix packets and chips,” Blanco said.

The 22nd engineer clearance company is part of the 14th Engineer Battalion.

“The packages just let them know people back home care and are supporting you,” Dosier said.