Dawson Motors conducts drive for hometown heroes

WARWICK — Diane Kennedy, a sales representative at Dawson Motors, 45 Oakland Ave., Warwick, is proud of her son Joseph, an Army Private 1st Class serving with the 10th Mountain Infantry Division in Afghanistan.

However, she recently learned from her son that the Army had cut many of the services for military personnel stationed in Afghanistan in preparation for the planned withdrawal of combat troops by the end of 2014.

The mess hall at the private’s post, for example, is no longer open all day. However, the duty hours are still around the clock. So the soldiers are eating MREs, the “Meal, Ready to Eat,” self-contained individual field rations normally for use in combat or out in the field where mess hall facilities are not available.

In addition the Post Exchange (PX), which is very much like a small department store where soldiers can purchase toiletries, snacks, magazines and many of the items that make life easier in a combat zone, has scaled down its operation.

Upon hearing this, Bill and Linda Dawson, owners of Dawson Motors, offered to send the soldiers some boxes of food and to sponsor a “Hometown Heroes” food box where people can drop off much needed donations until the end of June.

Everyone is encouraged to contribute and if you’re also a customer, you will also receive a $5 discount on your repair bill. Dawson Motors will handle and pay the charges for the shipping.

Suggestions for the “Hometown Hero” food box include body wash, Q-tips, baby wipes, foot powder, baby powder, mouth wash, energy drinks or powders, Life Savers, gum, non-perishable snacks like chips and salsa and ice packs that can be activated when opened.

For additional information call Dawson Motors at 986-8558.