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?
bump
(And that doesn't count the great topic!)
All, Kay brought something to my attention. There may be some Jewish troops in Kirkuk celebratiing Hannukah. Any Jewish FReepers who can fill us in on what would be needed?
Count me in for gift wrap, bows, tape, etc. and some wall decorations. And if you need more stuff, let me know.
ONE question.....BY WHEN, i.e. what date?
Thanks. I can't remember the last time I posted a thread. I'm always too busy reading everybody else's threads! Thanks for your contributions. I knew everybody here would have big hearts and pitch in.
Good question. Thinking with the mail time, we should send Christmas cards and giftwrap in the next week or two so the troops will have time to mail their cards and gifts back home to family and friends. The decorations for Kirkuk should be okay to mail by mid to late October.
bttt
Hi McLynnan!
I'm up for sewing some stockings. Let me know what size, how ornate, how many etc. and when you need them. Freepmail with all the details. I have a fabric store worth of fabric, trims, etc. if that's of any help to anyone. This cloth needs to be put to good use. It's what I've collected over the years from projects that never got started. I bet y'all know what I mean. LOL
Count us in, we would love to help!
My mother and aunt are teaching my 2 older daughters how to sew. Nothing would be better then helping to make our troops Christmas a bit more merry.
Anything you need... please let me know.
You're both too kind. I'm sure they will be happy with any kind of stocking you want to make. When you're ready, get back to me and we'll work out the details of getting them to Kirkuk. Thanks so much!
I'm signing off for tonight, but will check back tomorrow.
I'll be happy to send a contribution of money if that will help you.
I would need to look because I give them away all the time but I think I have quite a few crocheted snowflakes, candy canes, bells and angels which weigh next to nothing but would decorate a tree quite prettily but are very sturdy. I will look in the morning and let you know.
Thanks for the ping!
20 2 to 3 inch bells Red and white.
10 angels around 3 inches
19 snowflakes 2 to 4 inches
26 candy canes 4inch
They will fit in a shoe box and if they get squished they can just fluff them back up especially if they have a can of spray starch.
I also have a 4 ft tree, new in the box. I don't know how good it is because I haven't even opened it but it was cheap. I could open it and look to see what kind of quality it is. I also have 4 pkgs of brand new garland, very light but very pretty.
Post looks great, Lynnan!!
I'll help out, too, just wanted you to ramrod this particular project, as I've been out getting heat exhaustion sitting in front of Walmart handing out Bush campaign goodies (buttons, bumperstickers, yard signs, with information).
I could only take about 4 hours on 3 days, but got about 65 yard signs and about 300 buttons and 300 bumperstickers passed out, plus a couple hundred copies of Zell Miller's speech and Arnold's speech and a handout on Bush's domestic accomplishments and proposals taken from his acceptance speech.
We have an email that the DVD was received at Bagram, and I'm going to post that now on the Afghanistan thread.
Cheers, all!
This is a great project! Is there any central site to make sure ALL our Iraqi/Afghan troops get some help with Xmas?? If not, can we start one?
I know someone who sent a Hanukkuh card a couple years ago, althought he may spell the Festival of Lights holiday differently.
I'm not Jewish but my neighbor is, and he told me that they would need a menorah and several long slim candles, some dreidels (a top with Hebrew letters on the sides), the ingredients to make potato latkes (pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly donuts) if not available there, and some gelt (coins, maybe a roll of quarters for the gedunk machines).
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