YORK, Pa. -- Rutter's Farm Stores has teamed up with the nonprofit Support Our American Recruits (SOAR) to send Valentine's Day goodie boxes to 200 area troops serving in Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq.
Rutter's and SOAR volunteers assembled the boxes, which include salted snacks, candy, chewing gum and magazines, as well as plastic foam hearts made by Girl Scout Troop No. 1661 and cards from several area schools, scout troops and civic organizations.
Customers contributed $1,753 to the effort by tossing coins and bills into canisters [image-nocss] at each of Rutter's 50 c-stores in York, Lancaster, Adams and Franklin counties. A number of Rutter's vendorsUtz, Gem Candy, Harrisburg News, Hershey's and M&M Marsdonated many of the items for the boxes.
The boxes will reach their recipients by February 14, Valentine's Day.
SOAR (www.supportouramericanrecruits.com) was founded in York County, Pa., and has spawned chapters in seven states. The group's mission is to support troops serving at home and overseas, honor veterans and provide a support group for family members of the troops.
York, Pa.-based Rutter's is comprised of Rutter's Farm Stores, Rutter's Dairy and M&G Realty, a real-estate holding company. The companies employ more than 800 people in central Pennsylvania.
[Pictured (l to r): Rutter's volunteers Carol Owens, Michael Genovese, Rachel Wherley, Kerrie Ward, Sue Anderson, Donna Umstead, Deb Young, Jo Smith and Eric Anderson.]
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