 Photos courtesy John Matuszak, Columbus Messenger Jordan Thomas, front, a fifth grade student at Chapelfield Elementary School in Gahanna, is joined by his teacher Karen Hammond and Reynoldsburg Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9473 members Mark Pheister, Robert Ward and Gary Pfaff, who presented the student with a check for $500 for care packages for the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hammonds class raised $450 on their own, and Jordan contacted Ward to obtain additional money. The students put together 65 packages containing paperback novels, writing paper, lip balm, candy and wooden flags, along with letters that they has written the troops. The Bottom picture, Marine Corporals Danny Swingle, left and Drew VanFossan of Loma Company, with the help of Kimberly Thayer, gather toys at the Reynoldsburg VFW Post to be given to area families. This is the first year that the Marines have partnered with the VFW posts in their annual charity that will distribute 66,000 gifts in four counties.
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