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Members of Cub Scout Pack 833 started collecting donations of items to send to soldiers overseas at their group's fundraising Cake Auction last week.
Members of Cub Scout Pack 833 started collecting donations of items to send to soldiers overseas at their group's fundraising Cake Auction last week.

Cubs collect goodies for soldiers

by jmaloni
Wed, Nov 24th 2010 10:00 am
The Wheatfield family of U.S. Army Spc. Thomas A. Cannuli well remembers the anxiety of seeing "Tommy" go back to Iraq after attending the funeral of his brother Army Spc. Alan N. Dikcis, who was killed in Afghanistan last March.

That's why they were glad to support youngest son Robert Dikcis' efforts as a member of Cub Scout Pack 833 out of Adams Volunteer Firehall to collect items to help make the holidays brighter for those still stationed overseas.

Cannuli, a Niagara-Wheatfield High School graduate, was among 20 soldiers from his unit recently brought back stateside and is now serving at Fort Lewis, Wash. The rest of Unit 117 is still at Camp Basrah, Iraq.

"We used to send Tommy packages to Iraq all the time. Maybe his guys can use something, since they didn't get to come home," Cannuli's mother, GiGi Dikcis, said.

Once the collection is over, the Cub Scouts will package the items and send them on to Iraq. Target date to have items ready for mailing is Dec. 1.

The young Scouts will earn their coveted community service patches for their effort.

Anyone interested in adding a few items to the boxes can drop them off at the Dec. 1 den meeting, to begin at 6:30 p.m. at Errick Road Elementary School.

According to a list provided by the Scouts, suggested donations might be socks, sunscreen, DVD movies, paperback puzzle books, Chap Stick, wet wipes, paperback novels, dental hygiene items, hard candy, local newspapers, gum, cookies, playing cards, small board games, magazines and liquid body wash. Don't forget a few "girly" items. Eight members of Cannuli's unit now stationed in Iraq are women.

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