Christmas shoeboxes full of goodies will soon be winging their way to Afghanistan, courtesy of Royal British Legion member Jane Townsend.
Jane, of Upper Hoyland Road, Hoyland, is posting out 130 shoeboxes for the Parcels for Soldiers project - a non-profit organisation set up and run by members of the armed forces.
The boxes, packed with items like shampoo, sun-cream, lip balm and treats for the Army dogs are being sent to men and women serving in Afghanistan including Yorkshire troops now based there.
Jane heard about Parcels for Soldiers through social networking site Twitter and asked people to help in the charity's Christmas appeal.
She said: "Women troops appreciate things like lipstick and nice handcreams. Some items like chocolate and sunblock we can't send in the summer because it melts in the heat.
"And although it gets hot in the day now, at night it gets bitterly cold so we are including thermal long johns and woolly hats."
Jane, a member of Churchfield and Pogmoor sub-branch of the Legion, said not all the troops had families to send them presents.
Some soldiers had written letters of thanks. Jane said: "One said the scent of Johnson's baby shampoo he got reminded him how much he missed bathtime for his baby daughter - she's 18 months but will be two when he gets home. Another said his yellow Labrador Lance destroyed the shoebox trying to get into the dog treats."
Anyone who wants to send a shoebox should visit www.parcelsforsoldiers.com to check what can and can't be included or phone Jane on 07799412264.
