Missouri Western State University is thanking and honoring military veterans this weekend.

Veterans are invited to stop by the office of the Western Institute, Spratt Hall room 105, for some free Missouri Western gifts as a small token of appreciation for their service from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Friday.

The Griffons will host Northwest Missouri State University at 1 p.m. Saturday on Craig Field at Spratt Stadium. Fans in attendance will have the opportunity to help “Pack the Truck” by bringing supplies for deployed soldiers to the two Humvees that will be parked outside the gates. For a complete list of toiletries, entertainment items, snacks, drink mixes and more that can help, click here.

At the Kansas City Chiefs’ Salute to Service game on Oct. 30, the Missouri Western State University Foundation and Heroes United, a charity organization that serves the families of service members killed in the line of duty, presented scholarships to Missouri Western students Taylor and Landry Collins. Their father, Army Sergeant First Class Gary Collins, was killed in Iraq on Nov. 8, 2003. Taylor, Landry and their mother Kassie Collins, a 2008 alumna of Missouri Western, will be recognized at halftime of the football game Saturday.