Downtown Hutchinson Rod Run & Classic Car Show invites the entire Kansas community to join them in supporting the Kansas National Guard Troops overseas by helping to collect much needed items for Troop Care Packages.

With the aid of the Kansas Adjutant General’s Department, Public Affairs Office in Topeka, the car show will add a military truck to the collection of vehicles on the street this year. That truck will be manned by two National Guard soldiers responsible for accepting Troop Care Package donations from the 25,000 or more people who visit the Car Show each year.

The list of requested items was compiled by the more than 550 Kansas National Guard troops now stationed in the Horn of Africa to provide security and to be involved in missions that range from force protection to mentoring professional development. The unit includes soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 161st Field Artillery, headquartered in Wichita with subordinate units in Dodge City, Great Bend, Lenexa, Liberal, Hutchinson, Newton, Paola, Pratt and Topeka, and from the 35th Military Police Company headquartered in Topeka. The unit was deployed in February, 2011 and is scheduled to return to Kansas in April, 2012.

The Car Show also will give visitors to the weekend celebration, September 30 – October 1&2, the opportunity to write personal letters to the troops to be included in the Troop Care Packages. Personal messages thanking them for their selfless service in the protection of our country, pictures of their special hot rod, street rod, rat rod, antique or classic car, truck or motorcycle in the Car Show are especially appreciated by the soldiers and are sure to be answered.

Businesses, schools and churches have the opportunity to help kick-start this Troop Care Package program by requesting a poster, flyers listing requested items, and a collection box to set at their location so that customers, employees, students and church attendees can bring in items to donate during August and September.

Again, with the help of the Adjutant General’s Department, Public Affairs Office, soldiers from the Hutchinson National Guard Armory will assist the Downtown Hutchinson Rod Run & Classic Car Show promoters sort, box, address and mail Troop Care Package items collected before and during the Car Show. Donations of cash or checks will be used to help with mailing costs of the boxes.

To request a collection box, poster and flyers, call Janet Regier at 620-259-7840 or 620-966-5447, or email Janet@hutchrodrun.com for delivery of the items. Cash or checks to help with mailing costs should be made out to Hutchinson Rod Run, Inc. and mailed to P.O. Box 627, Hutchinson, KS 67504-0627.

Anyone wanting to volunteer to assist the Hutchinson Rod Run, Inc, a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit organization, with the Troop Care Package project should contact Janet Regier at 620-259-7840 or email Janet@hutchrodrun.com.