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A county-based social media group is reaching out to raise the spirits of service members stationed overseas.

Voices of Butler County Alabama on Facebook has started a drive for letters and requested dry goods to be sent to soldiers currently serving in the Middle East.

In addition to letters of encouragement and support, requested/suggested “care package” items include Slim Jim meat snacks, beef jerky, various types of chips and crackers, foot powder, and flavored drink packets (no liquids, please).

The letters and other items may be dropped off at the Butler County Courthouse, says Voices page administrator Greg Luckie.

“There are two boxes, one to the left and one to the right, just inside the courthouse doors. They were put in place Monday morning, and we appreciate everyone’s assistance in getting them filled up,” said Luckie.

Currently, plans are for the donation boxes to stay in place at the courthouse through April 30.

“We want to thank Sheriff Danny Bond for his assistance with the project and also to our Voices member Michael Watts for helping us locate this military unit overseas,” said Luckie. “We hope to get the entire community involved in supporting this drive.”

Watts says for those who cannot donate dry goods, “letters by themselves would be really nice.”

Letters should be enclosed in envelopes and sealed, minus stamps and return address, and dropped into the box marked “Voices of Butler County, Alabama Military Letters.” All dry goods should be dropped off in the box marked for that purpose.

According to Luckie, the items will be mailed on Saturday morning, May 8 from the Greenville Post Office.

“We ask everyone to help us spread the word and help make this a very successful drive. If we get good community support, we can look ahead to doing some type of Christmas shoebox drive for our military members,” Luckie said.