HAVE DINNER AND HELP OUR TROOPS.

Byline: BETTIE RENCORET Senior columnist

QUARTZ HILL - Quartz Hill VFW 3000 Auxiliary will host a spaghetti dinner to help raise money to buy snacks, toothpaste, flea collars and other items for local military personnel deployed overseas.

The dinner will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Post 3000 hall, 4342 W. Ave. L.

The cost is $5 and the dinner is open to anyone who wants to attend, according to Auxiliary President Jane Gordon.

``All the proceeds are earmarked for the purchase of items requested by our military personnel overseas, so we hope for a big turnout,'' she said, ``especially since our post has voted to monetarily match our net intake.''

The auxiliary has adopted the 80 soldiers of the Palmdale-based National Guard tank unit, Company B of the 1st Battalion of the 185th Armor Regiment.

There has been discussion about adopting yet another outfit if the results of this event warrant it, she said.

``We'd appreciate contributions of all the things on the needed list but we'll accept money donations, too,'' said Gordon. ``With the cash we can purchase whatever is lacking when we're ready to ship the stuff off.''

Food items the troops have requested include beef jerky, salsa, boxed chips, sardines and oysters, prepackaged snacks, mints, gum, dried fruit, candy bars and plain, ranch- or barbecue-flavored sunflower seeds. They don't like nacho cheese-flavored sunflower seeds.

They are also asking for new toothbrushes; extra-minty toothpaste, because that flavor lasts longer in the field; disposable razors; travel-size shaving gel; dental wash; shampoo and antibacterial wash. Lip balm and bars of soap are needed, too, said Gordon.

``Would you believe they want pantyhose?'' said Gordon. ``That's right, pantyhose. It seems that the hose help ward off the sand fleas. They also want flea collars to wear around their ankles, and fly strips.''

Travel-size AT&T phone cards (apparently the only ones that seem to work over there) are considered luxuries, as are disposable cameras, batteries in AA, AAA, C and D size, and U.S. News and World Report magazine and other reading materials.

For a more complete list, call Tammy or Skip Bollar at [phone] or the post at [phone].

``We want to be sure all of our soldiers know how much we appreciate their sacrifices for the rest of us,'' said Gordon. ``We want to do as much as we can to make it all even a trifle easier for them. Whatever we do here pales by comparison.''