MOAA collecting small items for USO at Lambert-St. Louis Published March 18, 2009 By Steve Berry 375th Airlift Wing Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- The local Military Officers Association of America is collecting snacks and personal products for military personnel and their families passing through Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. Lambert International holds one of the largest airport USO facilities in the world. The James S. McDonnell USO Facility serves over 120,000 military members and their families every year. The facility in St. Louis operates 24-hours-a-day, 365 days-per-year. Retired Col. Nick Wartonick said March marks a low point for USO contributions. Mr. Wartonick is a representative for the Southwest Illinois Chapter of the MOAA. "They (USO Lambert) get a deluge of people through the holiday season," Mr. Wartonick said. "So they get drained pretty well. They have to replenish their stocks." Mr. Wartonick also attributed the timely need for donations to the post holiday season and tax-time. Donations and contributions have already started to arrive at the MOAA for the current drive. The Southwest Illinois Chapter of the MOAA held its major collection day Saturday during its regular meeting at the Lady of the Snows Shrine in Belleville, but donations can still be made at Wartonick's house located at 7342 Timberpoint Court, Fairview Heights, through Saturday. The MOAA and the USO are seeking single-serving refreshments and small sized personal care and specialty items. "We wanted to stay away from unusual things like loaves of bread and hamburger buns and stuff like that," Mr. Wartonick said. In addition to the MOAA, the Officers' Spouses' Club of Scott Air Force Base and St. Michael's Episcopal Church, O'Fallon are also collecting items for this USO drive. HOW TO GIVE Items can be dropped of at the following locations through Saturday, March 21. Please call before donating. · Ron and Ann Morey 811 N. Lincoln Ave., O'Fallon Phone: 628-0286 · Nick and Sonja Wartonick 7342 Timberpoint Court, Fairview Heights Phone: 628-0858 REQUESTED ITEMS chips candy bars pretzels crackers cookies raisins nuts beef jerky trail mix oatmeal tea bags hot cocoa travel size: deodorant tooth paste Kleenex lip balm cough drops phone cards