OLYPHANT - Supporting soldiers has gotten to be a way of life for Lisa Fumanti-Francis.
As the president of the Rolling Angels for Armed Forces Chapter Two, she has been holding an annual Support Our Troops night for four years but has been bringing them a slice of home for more like 10.
"We just try to send them comforts that they don't have there," Mrs. Fumanti-Francis said. "Protein bars, coffee, snacks."
More than 100 people came to Harrington's Pub on Saturday night as the members of the Rolling Angels raffled off gift baskets and raised money to buy Christmas packages to send to deployed troops.
Rolling Angels Vice President John Grunza said that this event usually brings our a large number of people because it is a simple way to show support for the troops.
"It's a way to get involved without doing a lot on your own," Mr. Grunza said. "It's good to show support for the troops."
Mr. Grunza said the group does other fundraisers like this throughout the year, ranging from rallies to roast beef dinners. Sometime next year, he said the group wants to do another rally, one that focuses on family-friendly activities rather than motorcycles to "try and get kids from a young age to appreciate our troops," Mr. Grunza said.
Allentown resident Joe Longo, 53, attended Saturday's fundraiser. As he enjoyed a light beer at the bar, he said that it is important to provide the soldiers with any kind of "comfort from home."
"They can't be home and they do what they do to allow us to sit in this bar and enjoy ourselves," Mr. Longo said. "It's payback for that."
Contact the writer: jkohut@timesshamrock.com, @jkohutTT on Twitter