By C.J. Carnacchio
Leader Editor
Catherine Woolman needs to know which military units currently stationed in Iraq have Oxford High School graduates serving in them.
And she needs to know soon.
For the past few weeks, the OHS Student Council along with its pint-sized counterparts at Lakeville, Leonard and Oxford elementaries have been collecting food and toiletries for U.S. troops.
‘All the supplies that we collect are going to units that have Oxford grads serving in them,? said Woolman, an OHS teacher and student council adviser. ‘Every district in the Flint Metro League is doing it. The high schools in each district organized this.?
The supply drive began March 12 and ends Friday.
‘Each school is doing something different,? Woolman explained. ‘The elementary schools are doing food.?
Food includes individually wrapped packs of crackers, hard candy, peanuts, trail mix, chewing gum, beef jerky, pretzels, cookies and microwave popcorn.
‘At the high school, we are collecting hygiene supplies,? Woolman said.
This includes shampoo, conditioner, body wash, cotton swabs, cotton balls, bars of soap, etc.
Even the district’s central office administration and staff are pitching in by collecting paper to write letters, pens and pencils.
So far, the supplies are going to be divided up and go to three soldiers? units with local connections.
The first is Spec. 4 Charlie Myer, son of school board member Doug Myer and OHS secretary Theresa Myer.
The 2001 OHS graduate is currently stationed in Baghdad and serving with the Kentucky National Guard.
Myer was one of 20,000 inactive reservists called back to duty. He had been out of the regular army for 1? years when he was activated.
The other two soliders are relatives of students at Leonard Elementary ? Sgt. Sean Stevenson, cousin of Stephen and Aaron Reynolds, and Corporal Nicholas Izydorek, cousin of Zack and Courtney Kessler.
Woolman said she would be more than happy to add more recipients to the shipping list.
‘If anyone can give me the names of any other units with Oxford grads serving in them, we can make arrangements for them to get a box as well,? she said.
All the supplies will be shipped out ‘probably the week before Easter,? according to Woolman. ‘That’s our goal.?
If you know of an Oxford graduate serving in Iraq, contact Catherine Woolman at 969-5100 ext. 4122 or e-mail depasc01@oxford.k12.mi.us.