'Operation Shaving Cream' taking off

GAINESVILLE - A campaign in Gainesville to collect shaving cream for U.S. troops in Afghanistan is taking off.

Hank Tanner of the Gainesville Rotary Club says organizers raised $3,000 in just a few days for the project and an order has been placed, with the help of Darrell Wiley, CEO of J&J Foods, for 10,200 cans of the stuff. Wiley has set up displays in his stores asking people to buy cases of shaving cream for the project.

The shaving cream is used to mark the location of improvised explosive devices.

Tanner says the amount being shipped will cover an entire battalion of more than 1,000 Marines and provide a "starter stock" for a new battalion deploying in November.

Tanner wrote in an email Friday "I'm truly humbled by everyone's support. This project is saving lives and limbs."