When Ocean State Center for Independent Living put out the word to collect items for Rhode Island Air National Guard troops serving at the base in Shindard, Afghanistan, Kathie Murtough thought they might collect enough for two or three boxes. On Monday, when it came to packing everything up to be mailed to the USO in New Jersey where in turn it will be sent to Afghanistan, she had 12 boxes. In addition to donations from fellow OSCIL workers, the Warwick Rotary Club and Art & Soul Gifts collected everything from chocolate, toiletries, games and poker chips to quick meals and hand and foot warmers. Murtough’s son, Tsgt. Richard Giroux, was deployed in July and is slated to complete his tour in January. A graduate of Pilgrim, this is Giroux’s second deployment to the Middle East. He served in Iraq in 2008. Murtough sends her son a package every week and stays in touch with him via email and Skype four to five times a week. Hand and foot warmers and chocolate, she said, are always welcomed by the troops. (Warwick Beacon photo)