Seventh grader Ryan Thompson of Surprise has chosen his charity! It's Packages from Home, which sends books, toiletries, socks, and a myriad of other items to our troops overseas. "They are sacrificing so much for us, it just seems like a good thing to send them things from home that we take for granted," Ryan says of his reason for volunteering. "My grandma, Vicki Hunt of Peoria, got me and my sister started volunteering around Peoria when I was about 4 years old. Last Christmas she took us to Packages from Home, and that one really stuck with me. I appreciate what the soldiers do for us, but it makes me sad that they have to be so far away from home. That's why I like to send them things."

Ryan will be giving away books for a donation at next Saturday's Woman's Expo and Craft Fair at Old Town Getaway in Peoria. "I love books myself, and have over 1,000 to give away to anyone who loves to read like I do or who wants to turn around and donate them to a different charity. All I ask is a modest donation to Packages from Home."