Michelle Scott (wearing neck lanyard) and her crew at the Lakeport Taco Bell will be helping troops at an April 10, 2009, event to benefit Operation Tango Mike. Photo courtesy of Ginny Craven.

LAKEPORT – Michelle Scott, general manager of the Lakeport Taco Bell, knew there had to be a way for the business to help support deployed troops.

That’s where her longtime friendship with Operation Tango Mike founder Ginny Craven came into play.

The two have known each other since elementary school and between them they came up with a plan to offer local patrons a great deal and an easy way to support troops.

“Tacos-4-Troops” will take place at the Lakeport Taco Bell from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on April 10.

Customers donating items for Operation Tango Mike troop care packages will receive coupons for free tacos. So, the old adage, “There ain't no such thing as a free lunch,”doesn’t hold true in Lake County. In these economic times, free is an unbelievable price!

Items needed for care packages include but are not limited to hygiene products, food items and entertainment items.

The most requested hygiene items include razors and shaving gel, toothbrushes and toothpaste, deodorant, foot and body powders, socks, lip balm, hand sanitizer and wet wipes.

Food items include nuts, jerky, tuna pouches (packed in water), trail mix, granola bars and snacks.

Needed entertainment items include puzzle books, CDs and DVDs (new or used), blank DVDs, CDs and small games.

There has also been a recent request from a specific unit, asking for help from Operation Tango Mike. The unit is deployed to Afghanistan and the troops are in immediate need of power strips with surge protectors, blank DVDs (RW), air fresheners (solid or stick-up type), coffee, wet wipes, and packing tape and extension cords. The deployed unit is from California and most of the soldiers are from Northern California, including some from Lake County.

Items may be donated during an April 10 visit to Taco Bell and coupons for free tacos will be given in exchange for the donations. Customers may conveniently support the troops and enjoy a free meal for doing so.

“Taco Bell is proud to be supporting our troops and happy to give our customers a great deal,” said Scott.

For further information please contact Ginny Craven at 707-349-2838 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..