THE biggest donation yet for the Treats for Troops campaign has come from Weymouth Rotary Club.

President Kevin Vincent donated 27 boxes to the Echo from the rotarians and said: “We feel it is important to show to serving soldiers that they have our support and that they are not forgotten.”

He added: “The rotary club of Weymouth is pleased to support Councillor Rennie and the Dorset Echo’s shoebox scheme for troops in Afghanistan.

“Our members have individually put together 27 boxes under the co-ordination of our International Committee led by Alan Burt.”

“From the comments from our members we are sure that the men and women putting their lives on the line will enjoy the treats that have been packed.”

Chairman of the International Committee at Rotary Club of Weymouth Alan Burt added that writing messages to the troops was thought provoking and made the process worthwhile.

The Echo launched Treats for Troops last month after joining forces with the Dorchester Comfort Box appeal run by Coun Rennie.

Last week we sent out 110 boxes to named troops on the Afghanistan frontline.

A lottery winner has spent her prize on more than 30 items to send out.

Maureen Grant, 63, of Wyke Regis, Weymouth, won £10 on the Thunderball last Saturday using a set of five birthday dates which she always uses.

Mrs Grant said she knew what to do with her winnings after reading about the Treats for Troops appeal in the Echo.

She dug deep and added a few more pounds from her own pocket to her winnings so she could buy enough items to send two shoeboxes.

She said: “I didn’t have the £10 before so what you don’t have you don’t miss – it’s nothing really.”

Mrs Grant travelled especially to Weymouth with her friend Mary Kingston, 69, who’s also donating a shoebox of goodies, to purchase items and source their shoeboxes. Mrs Grant’s husband, Peter, served in the army for three to four years more than 50 years ago and was deployed to Mombasa and the Mau Mau uprising of 1952 to 1960 in Kenya.

How you can help

What to put in: Biscuits, wet wipes, fruity chewy sweets, small bottles of ketchup or barbecue sauce, tabasco sauce, Lucozade sachets, puzzle and crossword books, make-up products, chewing gum and mints, letters, travel games, packs of playing cards, pots of long life fruit in jelly, lip salve, coffee and cappuccino sachets, moisturising lotion, magazines, custard and rice pudding, long-life food, small packets of dried fruit, dried nuts, American hard gums, Calypso juices, variety cereal packs, foot gel or powder.

What not to put in: Chocolate, aerosols, alcohol, cans, perfumed soap, anything that is likely to melt, heavy items or batteries. Please remember, that there is a weight restriction on the boxes of two kilos.

Collection bin locations

Weymouth: Dorset Echo headquarters, Granby Industrial Estate; Superdrug, New Bond Street; Asda, Newstead Road, Morrisons, Dorchester Road; WH Smith, St Mary Street; Boots, St. Mary Street; Value House, Wyke Regis; Wilkinsons, Westham Road; Rieker Shoes, St Thomas Street; Littlemoor Hardware; Tesco Express.

Dorchester: Dorset Echo, Antelope Walk; Dorset County Council, Collition Park; Superdrug, South Street; Wellworths, South Street; Tesco, Weymouth Avenue; WH Smiths, South Street; SCATS Countrystore; Mousetrap.

Bridport: Bridport News office, East Street.

PORTLAND: Codfathers Fish & Chips; Hairstudio; George Inn.