Bolingbrook’s Pioneer Elementary School kicked off its “Pay it Forward 365” campaign this week with a two-week drive to collect comfort items for veterans who are patients at the Hines Veterans Administration Hospital near Maywood.

Spearheaded by Laura West’s fifth-grade class, the program encourages students, families and community members to bring in items from a wish-list created by former Humphrey Middle School teacher Cindy Zamirowski and her non-profit group called Cindy’s Baking Angels.

That wish list includes alcohol-free mouthwash and aftershave, chapstick or lip balm, combs, denture adhesive, denture cleaning tablets, deodorant, disposable razors, hand and body lotion, nail clippers, pocket size tissue, shampoo, shaving cream, toothbrushes, toothpaste, crossword puzzle books, find-a-word books, playing cards and Sudoku books.

Zamirowski’s Bolingbrook-based Cindy’s Baking Angels was founded to provide baked goods and amenities for U.S. troops overseas. This year, the group launched the Team Forever Grateful campaign to help make veterans’ visits to Hines more pleasant.

The Pioneer collection drive will continue through Feb. 15.

More information is available by contacting the school office. To learn more about Cindy’s Baking Angels go to http://cindysbakingangels.net.