The Democratic Women of Moore County are expanding their Phone Cards for Soldiers campaign this fall because of increasing need.

Diane Greene, who heads the DWMC committee sponsoring the project, says that the effort is being extended throughout Moore County. She reports that the red, white and blue collection boxes are now located in 12 sites in Aberdeen, Cameron, Carthage, Pinebluff, Pinehurst, Robbins, Southern Pines, Vass and West End.

"Phone cards are a small, but significant, investment in troop morale," Greene says.

Through these telephone cards, military personnel are able to call loved ones from their stations in the United States or abroad. The domestic and international cards are distributed through Fort Bragg's United Service Organizations (USO) and Womack Hospital.

The USO staff reported that recently they have turned down at least two requests for cards because none was available. The USO said that many service men and women do not have the financial means to make these calls.

"While 'Support Our Troops' signs may be good for morale, allowing a soldier to call home provides encouragement beyond our imagination," says Greene. "We can actively support our troops by providing them an opportunity to call home, from hospitals and bases all over the world."

The Democratic Women of Moore County have sponsored this project for six years, but this is the first year that the project has been extended throughout the entire county.

Greene says that DWMC members plan to deliver hundreds of phone cards to the USO and Womack Hospital at Fort Bragg on Veterans Day, Nov. 11.

Phone cards may be purchased for varying amounts, starting with $5.00.

The red, white and blue collection boxes are located at the following businesses: Aberdeen -- Exxon, U.S. 1, and Exxon, Roseland Road; Cameron -- Thomas Auto Care, U.S. 1 North; Carthage -- Prescription Shoppe, N.C. 24-27 and Democratic county headquarters on McNeill Street; Pinebluff -- McNeill Oil, U.S. 1; Pinehurst -- Exxon, N.C. 211, Olmsted Village; Robbins -- Coffee Shop, Main Street; Southern Pines -- Exxon, corner of Voit Gilmore Road and Morganton Road, near Wedgies, and Southern Pines Car Wash, U.S. 1, across from Best Western Inn; Vass -- Tommy's Service, U.S. 1 North; West End -- Seven Lakes Prescription Shoppe, 120 MacDougall Dr., West End.

Anyone interested in helping may mail cards to SOS, P.O. Box 877, Aberdeen, N.C. 28315.