Reach Out To Soldiers During The Holidays
Alone or with other kids, you can send gifts of thanks and hope.
08:12 AM CST on Thursday, December 7, 2006
By MICHELE CHAN SANTOS
Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News
Think about a time when you had to be away from your parents.
Maybe it was at summer camp or when you were visiting relatives.
Wasn't it great
when you received a letter or box of cookies from your mom or
dad?
"Mail call" is when men and women in the U.S. military receive a
care package, gift, card or letter from someone.
Sometimes, this card
or package is from that soldier's wife, husband, son or daughter.
Other times, the letters and packages are from Americans who have never
met
that soldier but who are grateful for the service soldiers do. ......
Here are ways you can help.
If a group of children pitch in – a whole
class, a Boy or Girl Scout troop – that's even better.
Although the U.S. Postal deadline for sending holiday packages to
soldiers overseas has passed, you can still spread cheer.
Letters and
gifts are always appreciated anytime. Even items that don't arrive
until after the New Year will be cherished. ......
SEND SOCKS, COOKIES AND MORE
Mail socks, painted pillowcases, packaged cookies, nuts or chocolate,
letters or drawings to Operation Care Packages.
During the holiday season, Operation Care Packages will mail packages
to more than 3,000 troops.
Every day, the organization gets new names
of soldiers who would appreciate a care package, says Debbie Smothers,
one of the group's founders.
Items received after tomorrow might not be delivered by Christmas.
But the troops appreciate any care packages, even ones delivered after
the
holidays.
You can help make their New Year brighter.
For Socks:
Buy pairs of white or black crew or tube socks.
Soldiers work hard and wear their boots for many hours, so their socks
wear out
quickly.
You can write a note and attach it to the socks and it will be included
in the care package.
For Painted Pillowcases:
Use fabric paint to decorate your pillowcase.
You can attach a card or letter.
Cookies And Other Treats:
Send packaged store-bought cookies (not
homemade, because of security reasons), or packaged store-bought nuts,
chocolate or candy.
All items must be in sealed packages or boxes.
Letters and drawings are also welcome.
Mail the items to:
OCP KIDS
611 Wilcox St.
Joliet, IL 60435
For more information:
www.operationcarepackages.org/OCPKidsReachOut.html
Michele Chan Santos is an Austin freelance writer.
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