Posted on 09/25/2004 5:41:24 PM PDT by McLynnan
Although I rarely post (no time!), I email frequently with our contact in Kirkuk and try to stay in touch with PatriciaRuth. "C" in Kirkuk and I have been discussing the upcoming holidays, and what a tough time of year it is for our troops who are so far from home. I told him while there was nothing I could do to bridge the miles between them and their families, maybe I could provide things that would help give the desert that nice Christmas-y feeling. He gave me a very modest list, but it’s more than I can handle on my own. HELP!!! After talking with Patty, she generously loaned me her ping list so I could see if anybody is interested in contributing. Since she’s on overload with her other troop work, I offered to start this thread and try to get things organized.
Would any of you like to get involved? I know our Kirkuk troops would appreciate anything we can do. Here’s what C has asked for:
“We could use two trees with the ornaments and lights, wall decorations and more lights for around the rooms, stockings for 82 personnel and some gift wrap. Music CD's would be good, candy canes, Christmas cards and if possible a Santa suit.
I think that would be good. We are good on calling cards as I have stock-piled enough for all that need it.
Please include a list of contributors in an email to me so that I can honor them properly. Thanks for all your support!! I know that the men and women we have serving over here will greatly appreciate this generous on-taking”.
The Christmas cards need to be sent soon so they have time to address and send them back home. Ditto for the gift wrap. Would any of you with sewing skills be willing to stitch up some stockings?
I'll order an electronic gift certificate from Amazon and have it sent to you. You can pick out anything you'd like to send the troops and use up the e-certificate. The web site says you should have it in a matter of hours.
I really want to do something, and from reading your threads, I have absolute trust that you'll select the right kind of movies/books/games that our troops may not already have, and I'd like them to have something brand new. Will also gather up some pre-enjoyed movies and books from around here... although my son's recent Cub Scout book drive for Walter Reed has about wiped me out of those. These pre-enjoyed items, I'll snail-mail to the address you Freepmailed me earlier.
If you're agreeable, please FReepmail me a good email address. Realize that this takes some trust on BOTH our parts here, but I swear I'll not abuse your email address in any way.
God bless, Tonto
I'll FReepmail you the amount, so we can verify that's what you got. Still a little distrustful of some e-commerce tools. Not that I think they're crooks, I'm just never sure I did it right!
Not that I think they're crooks, I'm just never sure I did it right!
I would be happy to store photos on my site for posting.
Thanks, Patty, for handling this while I was out goofing off.
Tonto, I really appreciate this, and know the unit will be very grateful. Thanks so much.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. When I get them I'll FReepmail you for info on where to send them. You're a real lifesaver. I have NO clue how to do it myself.
Thank you for getting your package off. Deadhead has offered to host the pictures, and we'll ping everybody in a few weeks when they're up.
I have sent gift certificates through amazon.com and have had no problems ... it should go through very quickly and be available for use in no time at all.
I'm so grateful you all allowed me to just tag onto the work you've already done. God bless!
Actually, I ordered it and Patricia had it before I could FReepmail her to tell her about it.
I had no idea it would be that fast.
Hey, you can tag on all you want. Everybody on this thread has been amazingly generous, including you.
You are so thoughtful... freepmail on the way.
I hope I got everyone.
Just got a note from C******. He wants to thank us for our generosity for "making special the holidays for a group who may otherwise only feel the cold."
That card made my day; hope you all enjoy the news also.
WooHoo! I believe our boxes should make it to him in just a couple of weeks! I sent a one-time use camera and asked whoever opened the box to take some pictures of the soldiers with the stockings. I also sent a pre-addressed, pre-paid mailer for them to send the camera for the photos to be developed and put on my account. If all that happens, I'll post some of the pictures so everyone can see them!
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