The holiday film classic “White Christmas,” featuring crooner Bing Crosby, might shed a romantic light on war, but for some families this year, Dish Cloths war is a harsh reality. There might not be time to watch old favorites as Vermont families fundraise: Many charity drives Chair Pad happening now in our community are centered Bread Basket around recently deployed Vermont National Guard soldiers and the families they have left behind.

About 1,500 Guard members are being sent to Afghanistan for a year, the largest deployment since World War II. A community outpouring of donations to the Vermont National Guard Charitable Foundation Inc. raised $175,000 for Operation Holiday Homecoming — more than enough to bus 600 Vermont National Guard soldiers home from Indiana on Dec. 23.

“Charity drives have run the gamut,” foundation treasurer Chief Master Sgt. Richard Brehm said. “They have ranged from the Professional Firefighters of Vermont raising $8,000 to local elementary schools holding bake sales to benefit the soldiers coming home.”