KALAMAZOO -- It's the time of year again that families come together to remind troops overseas that they're not forgotten back home.  The Blue Star Mothers of Southwest Michigan have begun their collection drive to gather items to send to deployed service members.  The group's Laura De Roo says they need items quickly because it takes a while to get packages overseas in time for the holidays.

She says they're looking for small items to bring comforts from home for the troops such as portable toiletries, snack items, and powdered drink mixes.  The only items they can't send are anything glass, aerosol, or with alcohol.  Last year they sent 3.3-tons of items and they hope to do it again this year.

They have drop boxes throughout the area to collect donations and they're asking the public to help them pack everything up for shipping at Calvary Bible Church on November 21st from 1 to 4 p.m.