Posted on 09/29/2003 9:05:23 AM PDT by Ex-Dem
Montana soldiers in Iraq will have a merrier Christmas thanks to the small Stillwater County community of Fishtail.
With the help of their neighbors in Absarokee, Columbus and Reed Point, they plan to send at least 100 personally wrapped gift packages to the troops.
The idea started with Nancy Mendenhall, a customer at the Fishtail General Store, who had been buying a lot of candy.
Katy Martin, who owns the store with her husband Bill, said her husband remarked that Mendenhall must really like the candy.
"She said, 'No, it's for my son in Iraq,' " Martin recalled.
That got the Martins talking about Christmas and all the local kids far from home. It wasn't a big leap from those conversations to a drive to collect donations for soldiers in Iraq.
The general store sends out a monthly flier, and the Martins announced in September that the store would serve as a collection point.
"This part's so wonderful," Katy Martin said. "The VFW Auxiliary in Absarokee called and said they would like to gather donations."
Lynn Phipps, who delivers eggs to the store, said she would help, and the IGA Store in Columbus agreed to serve as a drop-off point. Then Best Nest Floral in Columbus called and asked if there was something that the people there could do.
Soon, the Stillwater Ranch Hands 4-H Club with kids from Fishtail and Nye and the Stillwater Independents 4-H Club of Reed Point had volunteered their services. Youth groups at St. Mary's and St. Michael's in Columbus and Absarokee decided to go door to door for donations.
Linda Robinson of Fishtail volunteered to craft cards to put on each package.
Finally, the Army Reserve in Billings called, offering to ship the gifts to soldiers of the 413 Chemical Corps and the 101st Airborne. Martin said efforts will be made to get packages to Montana soldiers, but it's likely that troopers from other states in those units will also benefit. It doesn't matter in the least, said Martin, as long as they get to servicemen and women.
"It's going to be a wonderful Christmas," Martin said.
The list of donations includes disposable cameras, phone cards, toiletries, powdered drinks, candy, nuts and chapstick. A list drawn up based on conversations with returned soldiers and the parents of soldiers is available.
"One lady brought in a box of stationery," Martin said. "What a great idea. We hadn't thought about that."
Another donated drawing pencils and a drawing pad.
There are some restrictions on what can be sent. No alcohol or pornography is allowed, and chocolate or homemade goodies that will disintegrate in the desert heat are discouraged.
Donors can also contribute cash. Martin said about $250 has come in so far. Any money left over after shipping costs will be used to buy more gifts for the soldiers, she said.
The Martins have installed a Christmas tree decorated with American flags in their general store. Anyone who makes a donation gets to pick a flag from the tree.
Martin said she has been surprised at the response. She already has collected four big boxes of donated items.
"It's just growing," she said. "It really makes your heart warm."
Gifts will be accepted until Oct. 11. That's the day the 4-H groups and anyone else who wants to volunteer will meet at the store at 10 a.m. and start wrapping the packages for Christmas.
"We might even sing Christmas carols," Martin said. "Maybe I'll take Polaroid shots of the kids wrapping and put them in the packages. The kids might want to write little notes to send along."
Meanwhile, Mendenhall has started a separate drive to collect Christmas toys for the children of soldiers in Iraq. It's called Project Joy, and will make the holidays happier for the children of the 101st Airborne, 3rd Bravo Company, at Fort Campbell, Ky.
Martin's son-in-law, Bill Hearther, recently returned safely from duty with the Navy in the Middle East. That makes her all the more proud to be part of a community effort to help those still there.
When asked how much time she has spent on the project, Martin replies, "Not as much time as they've given to us."
Montana soldiers in Iraq will have a merrier Christmas thanks to the small Stillwater County community of Fishtail.
...The idea started with Nancy Mendenhall, a customer at the Fishtail General Store..
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"It's going to be a wonderful Christmas."
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