San Bruno B.A.R.T.

  Alex Sciacqua, an 11-year-old from San Bruno, recently had a birthday party at a local San Bruno park. It wasn't just an ordinary party, however. On his invitations he asked his guests to bring "gifts" for the soldiers serving our country overseas instead of presents for himself.

  "His mother, Nancy (Hersh) raised in Pacifica, who attended Pedro Valley, Cabrillo and Terra Nova High School, sent an email to the Pacifica Military Moms asking if we could pick up and send Alex's birthday presents to soldiers serving overseas," said Debbie Smyser of Pacifica Military Moms. "We sent them overseas within days and Alex has started receiving emails and letters from the soldiers thanking him for his generosity. Alex joined us at our pizza fund raiser on March 19 and was able to meet some of the Pacifica Military Moms," she said.

  "One military mom, Nancy Meyer of Vallemar who has a son in Iraq, was so impressed with this child's selflessness that she gave him a portable DVD player with a movie for his birthday."

  Dot Bolton, whose grandson, Joe Quirarte, currently in Iraq, was also touched by Alex's gifts and gave him a McDonalds gift card," Smyser said. "Thank you Alex, you're a special boy."

  The next packing day scheduled for the Pacifica Military Moms to send care packages overseas will be in mid April.

  "We will be having a special "Baseball/Spring" theme for this packing. If you would like to donate items found at a baseball games such as pink popcorn, microwave popcorn, sunflower seeds, or anything that reminds you of Spring, please place your donations in our canisters by April 15 so that we know how many boxes we'll need," Smyser said.

  Collection canisters are located at the Pacifica Community Center on Crespi Drive, Dr. Kirkham's Dental Office at 669 Crespi Drive, City Arms Gun Shop in Eureka Square Shopping Center or Ocean Shore Mortgage at 904 Linda Mar Blvd.

  In related news, Smyser said Pacifica Military Moms recently held two pizza fundraisers at Straw Hat Pizza in Pacific Manor and raised $330 in profits which will help send 30 care packages overseas.

  There is one more pizza fundraiser scheduled for the Fourth of July. "This time they are allowing us to include pizza delivered to your home as well as dine in orders and orders to be picked up. If you plan on having a Fourth of July party and don't want to cook, just call Straw Hat pizza. All you have to do is let the cashier know that you want your order to go towards the Pacifica Military Moms fundraiser at the time you place your order."