Send care packages to troops News-Chronicle The American Red Cross Lakeland Chapter is collecting items to send to the U.S. troops. "Quality of Life" is a project to send comfort items to men and women away from home. Specific locations cannot be requested. Boxes can be dropped off at the Lakeland chapter office, 121 Bader St. Please call ahead to 468-8535 before dropping off boxes. Donations for postage are appreciated. The preferred box size is 18x12x10 inches. Do not seal boxes because the chapter must inspect them. The following items are needed: - Foods, like microwave popcorn, snack foods, individually wrapped candy (Twizzlers, Tootsie Rolls, Skittles, Sweet Tarts, etc.) - Drinks, like sweetened Kool-Aid mix, Gatorade, tea bags, hot chocolate, hot cider - Toiletries, like razors, toothbrushes and toothpaste, shower soap, hand lotion, wet wipes, foot powder - Miscellaneous items, like sunscreen, wrap-around sunglasses, batteries (no lithium or wet-cell), blank greeting cards, CDs, DVDs, small board games, playing cards, recent paperbacks