Fairfax, Va.-based Virginia Tire & Auto is supporting the non-profit organization Any Solider by collecting donations of goods to be packaged and sent to servicemen and women stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

It is an especially important effort for the dealership because a former employee was recently killed in action while serving in Afghanistan.

Employees of Virginia Tire are assembling 150 care packages on June 13. The care packages are to include the basic necessities donated by the public directly at any of the dealer’s 11 stores and by dealership employees.

“Because so many of our customers and employees come from military families we felt that sending care packages to our troops would be a great way to give back to our community while at the same time thanking the brave men and women who are sacrificing everything to serve our country overseas,” said Myron Boncarosky, president of Virginia Tire. “We also specifically chose the month of May for this effort as it corresponds with Memorial Day.”

AnySoldier.com was founded in August 2003 by Marty and Sue Horn, whose son Brian served as a sergeant in the Army. This project has served nearly 2 million troops by sending soldiers the necessities they need to sustain the rigorous life overseas. Of particular need are personal hygiene products; baby wipes or sanitary wipes; twin size bed sheets/pillow cases; crossword puzzles, playing cards and magazines; portable food items; or Beanie Babies that the soldiers can give to local children.

Any Soldier is also accepting monetary check donations, which can be mailed directly to: Any Soldier Inc., P.O. Box 715, Waldorf, MD 20604. 

Former employee Sgt. Sean Callahan, 23, was killed in action in Afghanistan on April 23. He worked at Virginia Tire’s location in Gainesville, Va., from 2003-08, when he left to join the Marines.