ANOTHER SHIPMENT-From left, Paula Cornell, Janie Josephson and Robin Jaffee of the Warner Center Kiwanis Club send off 21 packages of T-shirts, toiletries and goodies. They're light as a feather and can't stop a bullet, but letters from home play a vital role in supporting our fighting men and women overseas.

"Anything from home keeps (our soldiers) motivated," said Mark Shuster, a Simi Valley resident and commandant of the Marine Corps League Detachment 597. "Many are alone for the first time in their lives and they're in a very dangerous place. These letters are as important as food, water and air to keep these guys going."

While the war in Iraq has been raging for more than three years and has resulted in bitter divisions in our nation, support for our troops continues to pour out of Simi Valley.

"I think that if ever there has been support for the military, it is at its highest right now," said Councilmember Barbra Williamson. "We want these young men to come home, and we are supporting them because they are protecting us."

A number of troop support services are located within Simi Valley. For The Troops, a volunteer organization run by Janie Josephson and Paula Cornell, dedicates its services to sending care packages to soldiers stationed overseas. The group recently sent 21 packages to troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan and is planning a much larger drive for Thanksgiving.

"We've gotten e-mails saying it's phenomenal to know that America has their back. They feel like they aren't being forgotten, and they all feel it's special to know that people care," Josephson said.

Simi Valley is also the headquarters for Pen Pals for Soldiers, Inc., a nonprofit volunteer organization that aims to increase the morale of our service men and women overseas. Operating under the mantra "No service member will be forgotten at mail call," the organization has 2,870 volunteers across the United States who supply our troops with letters, toiletries and comfort items.

Pen Pals for Soldiers employs a database to match volunteers to service men and women. In accordance with the policy of the United States military, letters that are sent overseas must be addressed to specific soldiers.

Volunteers for the organization also have the option of making a $20 donation to send a care package overseas. The 15-pound care packages, which have been tailored by Pen Pals for Soldiers to meet specific requirements, contain highly desired items such as toiletries, socks, T-shirts and reading materials. All donations are tax-deductible.

"Even if you aren't in the military you enjoy getting packages. Can you imagine what it's like being in a foreign country without the common goods you enjoy?" Williamson said. "The person who gives it also feels really good about helping out. It's just a few dollars out of a person's pockets, and we probably waste more money than what we would spend on a care package."

Several schools in Simi Valley have organized troop support campaigns. Two years ago, the Marine Corps League organized a campaign with the Simi Valley School Board and had every elementary school student write letters to soldiers stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. This year, Shuster has arranged for students from his son's school, Vista Elementary, to write letters to his brother's battalion stationed along the Syrian border.

"Nothing is better than getting a letter from a young kid that thinks of you as a hero when you're overseas," Shuster said.

For the past four years, student-athletes at Royal High have also adopted soldiers and platoons stationed in Iraq.

"It happened that we had some students that graduated from Royal and were stationed over there. When they came back to visit, we became aware of the situation and decided to help," said Jim Wilber, the athletic director at Royal High School.

Soldiers currently serving overseas aren't the only ones who need support, according to Williamson.

"The city really needs drivers to take elder veterans to the hospital and doctor appointments," Williams said. "We have great volunteers in this community, and assisting older veterans is a great way to help out. People that are interested can go to veterans' organizations to help out." The Marine Corps League also

hosts an annual Memorial Fund Benefit Dinner in order to raise money to assist current Marines, former Marines and widows and orphans of Marines. The ball will take place this year at the Air Force One Pavilion of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on Saturday, Nov. 11.

"It's our biggest fundraiser for the year," Shuster said. "It's a formal event and you'll see Marines dressed in their blues, but everyone is welcome to attend. If you own a business and want to make a donation, it's a great way to show your support for the troops."

For more information or if you want to get involved visit www.penpalsforsoldier.org or www.mcl597.org or e-mail forthetroops@aol.com.