Operation We Care: Troop Drive Ongoing at Blue Heron Artisan's Gallery

Local businesses owners are organizing a drive through the month of November to benefit troops currently stationed overseas.

Bette Langford and Becky Luedcke of Blue Heron Artisan's Gallery and Heron Bay Banquet Hall, are hosting an "Honor Our Military: Operation We Care," drive — collecting anything from food, toiletries, small games, phone cards, and more —  with plans to package the items and send them to troops overseas in time for Christmas. Individuals can also drop off cards for the troops or write a letter to send; Langford has supplies to write letters when you drop off your donation.

The gallery is hosting an Honor Flight Art Show from Dec. 8 to Dec. 23 — featuring photos from the official Honor Flight photographer of Visual Image Photography in Cedarburg — and Langford said preparation for that event sparked the idea to help the troops.

"It gets us more thinking about that," she said, adding that her father served in WWII.

The collection will wrap up with the Christmas on the Corner event on Dec. 1, Langford said, because it takes about three weeks to ship the items — meaning that will allow for the packages to arrive for Christmas. Anyone interested in volunteering to package the items can contact Langford at 262-268-0243 or via e-mail at info@blueheronport.com.

For a detailed list of accepted items, download the PDF attached to this article or visit the art gallery’s website. The art gallery is located at 102 E. Pier St., Port Washington, and donations