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One of Downs' volunteers, Oxford resident Deborah A. Peterson, recently received a donation of 40 golf clubs from Oxford's Boulder Pointe Golf Course.

"They're mostly wedges and irons," that have been piling up for the past year in the 27-hole course's lost and found, Peterson said. For the moment they're sitting in her garage waiting to be boxed and shipped overseas.

Downs recently e-mailed some of the troops she sends packages to asking if they'd be interested in some golf clubs. A Cpl. Nicholas Izydorek e-mailed back, "If you have any more I know some guys in the platoon would love to hit golf balls to relieve some extra stress that we have put on us lately. We are still doing good. I've been so busy to all the new changes and R&R that I haven't got a lot of stuff done that I need but I know we would really appreciate some golf clubs."

Izydorek, an Oakland County resident, is serving with the 144th Military Police Company near Mozul.

Peterson, whose son Shawn is a Marine sergeant, met Downs last year after she joined the Oxford Women's Club. Downs recruited Peterson to help pack breakfast boxes for the troops.

At the time Shawn was serving in Iraq within a combat engineers unit. "He told me the boxes help these guys keep going." said Peterson, adding that for some young Marines the boxes from Desert Angel were the only mail they got.

Peterson's son, who recently re-enlisted for another four years, is currently at 29 Palms in California awaiting re-deployment.

Last year Peterson organized a golf outing at Boulder Pointe Golf Course to help fund the Desert Angel's activities. She said that after her son returned from Iraq she thought she'd take a little breather, but, "My son told me, 'Mom, you gotta keep doing this, it's what keeps the guys going.'"

Peterson's second golf outing will start with a scramble at 10 a.m. July 14 at Boulder Pointe Golf Course in Oxford, and wrap up with a pot luck barbecue at her house at 3:30 p.m. She said every golfer will have to pack a box for the troops before they can eat.

Tickets to the outing are $30 for Boulder Pointe and $70 for non members and include a continental breakfast and lunch on the course. She said prizes will be award at the barbecue following the outing.

For tickets and more information call Peterson at (248) 797-3764.

Phil Foley can be reached at (248) 627-2843 or reminder@lapeergroup.com