Local Civil Air Patrol unit collecting care package items for troops and Afghan people.

Janet Fleck’s cousin is a contractor currently working in Afghanistan and told her about the hard times the Afghan people go through on a daily basis.

“He said there would be people frozen to death on the side of the road,” Fleck said. “This is something we can do something about.”

Fleck’s 14-year-old son, Dakota, suggested they get his Civil Air Patrol unit involved and collect winter clothing for the Afghan people and supplies for the troops.

“It started out just us making a care package for my cousin from our family and it’s morphed into this big, huge thing,” Fleck said.

The Civil Air Patrol Pen-insula Composite Squadron 051 is now working hard to collect goods for Operation Support Freedom.

Cadet Commander First Lt. George Nye, 16, of Port Orchard, said CAP was happy to help with the fundraiser.

“We thought it was a great idea,” he said. “I’ve heard that there’s been Afghan suffering.”

CAP has done smaller, local fundraisers, but Operation Support Freedom is the largest one they’ve ever undertaken.

CAP is looking for gently used winter clothing that would be appropriate for the conservative Afghan people. Sweaters, coats, blankets, thermal underwear, gloves and hats are all desired items.

CAP also is accepting drink packets, soft cookies, DVDs, hard candy, pistachios, microwaveable popcorn, card games and board games. Most of these items will go to the troops and contractors stationed in Afghanistan.

Fleck said CAP is hoping to set up outside retail stores and collect items in the future, but people can already drop off items at several locations:

Liberty Tax

Silverdale Poplars office

9857 Silverdale Way

Suite 91, Silverdale

Basile Spine Sport

and Wellness

5610 Kitsap Way

Suite 260

Bremerton

Wave Broadband

4519 SE Mile Hill Drive

Port Orchard

CAP is hosting a takeover from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22 at Buck’s A&W in Port Orchard. People may bring care package donations to the event.

Fleck said CAP would like to fill a C-17 airplane with goods to send to Afghanistan.

“The more that we get it out there, the more we can do,” Fleck said. “We’re working on getting more locations set up.”

People also may mail monetary donations for Operation Support Freedom to CAP at P.O. Box 4206, Bremerton, WA 98312. If writing a check, the note line should specify Operation Support Freedom or care package program.

“This is the time of year people go through their closets, their kids’ closets and get rid of stuff,” Fleck said. “Why not put it to good use?”

For more information about Operation Support Freedom, call Fleck at (360) 329-6682.

For information about CAP, call Nye at (360) 876-5519.