Photo provided Pictured left to right are: Nancy Ellis, MCC staff member; Trudi Scott, Vice President of the Gladbrook American Legion Auxiliary; Terry Grimes, MCC student and Air Force veteran; Richard Drummer, MCC student and Army veteran; Herschel Edwards, MCC student currently serving in the Iowa National Guard; Lara Thoms, MCC staff member; and Pele Waddilove; CVA advisor and Army veteran. Not pictured are CVA Advisors, Amber Bolen and P.J. Colbert.

The Collegiate Veterans Association (CVA), Marshalltown Chapter, gathered at Marshalltown Community College Tuesday afternoon to put together a special care package for troops overseas. The care package included donations from the community and MCC faculty, staff, students, as well as the Gladbrook American Legion Auxiliary #127. The care packages will be shipped to members of the Aviation Assault Helicopter Battalion (National Guard Unit) stationed at Camp Buehring in Kuwait. Donations included batteries, canned food items, DVDs, snacks, cookies, candy, chewing gum, cleaning wipes, soap, deodorant, tooth brushes, stocking hats, and other clothing items. Richard Drummer served in the U.S. Army (7 years) and National Guard (2 years) from 1984-1992, and was stationed in Iraq during Operation Desert Storm. Herschel Edwards currently serves in the Iowa National Guard and is also an Iraqi Veteran. Terry Grimes served in the Air Force from 1990 to 2013. All three are currently enrolled at MCC and are actively involved with the CVA.