SOLDIERS from Worthing are appealing for the town's businesses, organisations and residents to stump up cash or donate food goods to fill Christmas parcels for other local troops stationed in Afghanistan.
Worthing Lions are preparing to send parcels to 600 soldiers from the Worthing district serving in the war zone over Christmas but they need more donations to fill the boxes.
Click on the green play button to see a video about the appealThis month, Worthing-based troops from the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, who are currently serving in Afghanistan, will be travelling back to the UK.
They will be replaced by more soldiers from the Worthing district.
Food parcelsThe Lions want to send a parcel to each of the 600 soldiers but about £6,000 is needed, which equates to £10 per box.
The Army has agreed to deliver the boxes free of charge and Worthing recruits will help with the packing.
Specific items are being sought to provide a morale-boost for troops over the festive season.
Company Sergeant Major WO2 Dale Holley, who lives in Worthing and has been back from Afghanistan for eight months, said: "We've appealed to all the major players in Worthing, but we need a significant business to come on board. Please help your local troops.
Taste of home"Living in the most hostile living conditions all day every day for six months and all you have is the things that are sent out to you, it gets very hard.
"You can't pop to the shops, so you need luxuries to keep you sane.
"These items might not seem like luxuries to people who can have them every day but to us they really are, and they taste of home."
The requested goods contain sugar and salt, which keeps energy levels high.
Daytime temperatures in Afghanistan can exceed 50 degrees during the long summer-time so some items, particularly chocolate-based goods, are not suitable.
Fizzy sweetsWorthing soldier Corporal Stephen Shaw has just returned home and is on 15-day rest and recuperation leave, after which he will return to Afghanistan.
He said: "There's nothing like tangy, fizzy sweets when you've eaten nothing but bland food for weeks and you have no choice but to eat it because you are hungry and it keeps you going."
The troops have also requested donations of travel games for entertainment.
Any extra money raised for the troops will provide more boxes in the new year and will also go towards a welfare fund which helps injured soldiers and takes families out to see the soldiers when they are first deployed abroad.
Support troopsWorthing Lion Tony Holley said: "In order to raise funds, the Worthing Lions charity shop window in Goring will be displaying sample food parcels.
"We are hoping the public will show their support of our troops by donating food items or giving a donation to our shop, in George V Avenue, or by sending a donation by post to Worthing Lions Club, 115 George V Avenue, Goring, BN11 5SA."
"Now we need Worthing businesses to help Worthing troops who are doing a very tough job."
Items and donations need to be given to Worthing Lions by Saturday, October 11, so the goods can be packaged up and prepared for sending.
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