Ayala Band and Color Guard collects for troops

he Ayala Band and Color Guard is sponsoring Operation Band Aide -- a drive to collect much-needed materials, personal and otherwise, to a battalion of about 450 Marines in Afghanistan.

Donations will also support their dogs, which sniff out explosives, with dog treats, dog beds, snacks, etc. One of the officers of the platoon is Lt. Mike Martin, a 2002 graduate of Ayala.

Collection boxes for Operation Band Aide will be available from 10 a.m.to 2 p.m. Saturday, at the following Chino Hills locations: Fresh & Easy on Chino Hills Parkway and Eucalyptus, Kahoots pet store at Pipeline and Chino Hills Parkway, Albertson's at Grand and Peyton, The Shoppes, Petco at Grand and Roswell. 

Boxes for collection will be in the lobby of City Hall as well as Postal Place at Grand and Peyton through Oct. 29.

The plan is to place a collection box at each CVUSD school with the assistance of the PTA.

The receptacles will also be dropped off at schools and picked up by Oct. 30. Volunteers will then drive the donations to Camp Pendleton for shipping to Afghanistan.