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Three years ago Mindi Thomas got a notion to do something nice for the Flathead Valley’s veterans.

Not sure where to start, she called the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls. Thomas quickly learned there was a big need among the residents for everyday items from tweezers to pillowcases.

“It’s funny how it started,” she recalled. “I thought, ‘I’ll make some cupcakes.’”

With help from her friend Jenny Root, the Flathead County jail commander, they set up a donation box for veterans.

“We raised $600 and had a ton of stuff, and I thought, ‘wow, we really did good,’” Thomas recalled.

Last year she added a raffle to the giving effort and got donations for raffle baskets from local businesses. The Flathead Marines presented a check for $1,500, which brought 2016’s giving to $4,000.

“Every year I try to do better,” Thomas said. “This year our box drive hasn’t been going as well, but the raffle is going great. I hit $4,000 on my own and [the Marines] donated another $2,000.

It’s not fancy stuff Thomas is looking for. Orthopedic socks are needed by many veterans home residents. They also love Thuringer, a type of smoked sausage, she said as she drove to Lower Valley Processing earlier this week.

“They’re donating a bunch of Thuringer and vets love Thuringer,” she said, explaining how hunters sometimes donate their venison for sausage or burger to supply those in need.

“You take for granted the little stuff, like Thuringer. A lot of the veterans are hunters and they just don’t get that anymore,” Thomas said. “It’s the little things that make a difference.”

A native of the Flathead Valley, Thomas said her family has gotten involved in the annual giving project, too, including her husband, Terrell, and their children Genry, 19, and Taw, 9.

“Taw is a social butterfly,” she said. “Last year he went in front of everybody and said ‘let’s sing Christmas carols.’ He got all those vets to sing.”

This year Operation: Christmas for Our Heroes will happen at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20 at Montana Veterans Home. Santa will be delivering the gifts with help from the Sheriff’s Office.

Drop-off boxes are set up at the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office and Big John’s, 170 Seventh Ave. WN. in Kalispell. Items should be dropped off by Tuesday, Dec. 19. Cash donations should be made via check, made out to Montana Veterans Home Memorial Board Foundation, a nonprofit organization.

Items on the veterans’ wish lists include: black oil sunflower birdseed, peanut butter suet, popcorn to be popped, Sony headphones ($15-$20 range), headphone extenders, meat snack sticks, Lindor candy truffles, diabetic socks (all sizes), extra large gripper socks, wall clocks with large numbers, electric razors, Old Spice aftershave, body pillow-pillowcases, decorative pillowcases, twin size comforters in solid colors, envelopes and stamps, tweezers, combs and hairbrushes, eye glass repair kits, toothbrushes and personal grooming items.

Gift certificate suggestions are to the Nite Owl restaurant, Dairy Queen, A&W, Chick-fil-A, Sykes, Cislo’s, Pizza Hut, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Mudman Burgers and Signature Movie Theatre.

For more information call Thomas at 270-8570 or Root at 758-5687.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.