toothpicks and periodical materials among other things. Money is being collected in a container in the lobby of the police department. Items will be packaged and shipped at no cost overseas. Anyone who knows specific military personnel are asked to submit the soldiers' names and addresses to Kathy Garcia, Marine Corps veteran and secretary to the chief of police, so items can be sent to those personnel. Call Garcia at (847) 359-9011.

Schakowsky to visit veterans:

U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, an Evanston Democrat, will visit with Des Plaines area veterans at 10 a.m. Friday at the Des Plaines Community Senior Center, 515 E. Thacker St. Local veterans say they invited Schakowsky, whose district covers most of Des Plaines, weeks ago to talk about federal programs to benefit veterans, but say the war with Iraq will likely emerge as the dominant topic.