The Walnutport VFW will hold a Surf & Turf Raffle on Sunday, April 27, with proceeds going toward the purchase of wish list items for an Army unit it recently adopted that is stationed in Afghanistan.

"We do this every so often," said R.W. Fritzinger VFW 7215 Post Commander Carl Ellis, referring to the fact that this is the third time the post has chosen to adopt a military unit since it began doing so during the Gulf War in 1990.Worldwide, the Veterans of Foreign Wars' Adopt-a-Unit program supports more than 121,000 U.S. military personnel and their family members.The two previous units adopted by Post 7215 were one deployed to Kuwait and another to Afghanistan, both of which included a soldier from Palmerton."It's always nice to have a local connection with the unit you're going to adopt," said Ellis, and the VFW encourages it.This year's unit is no exception. Ellis said he and fellow post officers were recently discussing the possibility of adopting another unit when past quartermaster and current member Ted Kistler mentioned he has a 22-year-old grandson serving in a unit that was recently deployed.Michael Kistler of Lehigh Township serves with combat engineers of Company A of the 101st Airborne Division in Afghanistan. Ellis was able to get in touch with the platoon sergeant and asked if the unit would like to be adopted. Ellis then asked what types of items the soldiers might want or need that they cannot otherwise get.The wish list he received back from the platoon sergeant included items like protein mix, snacks and candy for the road, small fans, triple A batteries and baby wipes. Though considered comfort items, Ellis said things like baby wipes go beyond mere comfort in helping to keep sand and dirt out of the soldiers' eyes.The upcoming raffle money will go toward purchasing the requested items so they can then be assembled by the post's active and social members into individual packages for each of the unit's 30 members.Ellis, a former overseas veteran himself, said care packages like these let the troops know people at home are thinking about them and "trying their damnedest to help them out.""We were all in war zones, so we know what it's like when you're over there," said past post commander and current Quartermaster Bruce Jones, "what you don't have, what you wish you had."In a recent email to Ellis, the platoon sergeant wrote that, "We really do appreciate the help and support."Jones said that if enough money is made from the raffle or a larger donation, like from an area business, it may even allow them to purchase often requested calling cards for the soldiers so they can call home.The VFW hopes to have the packages completed to ship out by the end of May. The Slatington Skeet and Sporting Association, of which Michael is a member, has already volunteered to pay for the postage, which can be substantial.Kistler said the raffle is open to the public to "(come) help support the VFW while they're supporting our troops overseas."Doors open at 12:30 p.m., and prizes include such items as lobster tails, beef roast, Thompson's Meat Market gift certificates and more. In addition, food and refreshments are included, and various door prizes will be awarded throughout the day.Tickets are available by calling 610-767-2117 and will also be available at the door the day of the event.