"Operation Hometown Pride" is a two-fold support drive launched by WSAU radio in Wausau. It involves collecting items for Wisconsin soldiers in Iraq and their loved ones at home. And in addition, the station will send morning host Pat Snyder to broadcast live from Iraq.

"I want to be able to make a touch of home for them and then let them be heard back here." That's the goal for WSAU's Pat Snyder as he prepares for his first ever overseas broadcast .

Next month, the host of "55 Feedback" will embed with troops from Central Wisconsin and broadcast live from the warfront in Iraq.

Through his live broadcasts, Snyder wants to give listeners a better understanding of what troops are going through.

"I want to lay everything that I see as what they're experiencing, the good and bad, the ups and downs, and I want to get that picture across," Snyder says.

In addition to his broadcasts, Snyder hopes to get the whole community involved in showing that troop support. The station will collect items to send to the troops and for the families who await their return.

He says it's just a small way to let the soldiers know they can count on their hometowns.

"That's what I want to get across, and the station to get across, to let the families and the troops know we're the neighbors and if they need something, let them come and we'll help them," Snyder says.

Snyder says the items most needed right now are flip-flops, pajama bottoms, medical scrubs, and money for phone cards and gift certificates.

For more information on "Operation Hometown Pride", including a list of donation drop-off sites, log onto www.wsau.com. Snyder will broadcast live from Iraq August 8th through the 12th.