Methuen man starts charity drive to benefit Massachusetts soldier missing in Iraq

METHUEN, Mass. -- Helping out men and women overseas is nothing new, but one Methuen man wanted to send a big thank you to the troops searching for a Massachusetts soldier who disappeared.

Jim Wareing created a drive for the search teams in Iraq looking for two missing soldiers, including Alex Jimenez from Lawrence. Jimenez was kidnapped on May 12 during an ambush.

"We were thinking, 'Wow look what they have done to search through these missing soldiers, and we have to do something to thank them,'" said Wareing. "We are trying to collect for all 4,000 that we know of that are on the search teams. Simple things that we just take for granted."

Wareing started the drive through the nonprofit organization New England Caring for our Military.

The drive started less than a week ago, and Wareing has already received an overwhelming amount of donations.

A half-ton pile of donations will soon be sent overseas.

Wareing's goal is to get more than three tons of goods.

"We can thank these search teams for searching," said Wareing. "Regardless of what the outcome is, we hope its a good one, but regardless, they went through the extra means to find these soldiers and bring them home to their families, and that means a lot."

He said this drive is about sending thanks and a helping hand from the home front.

"We are just thanking our soldiers," said Wareing. "They do an excellent job."

Drop off locations throughout the state for the drive will be open until July 14.

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