Posted: Tuesday, November 4, 2008 4:00 pm
To the editor:
Operation Santa USMC is once again seeking donations of items to include with "Christmas In a Box" for our deployed troops. Last year, thousands of Marines, soldiers, and wounded warriors still in hospitals received a filled stocking, small gifts, holiday snacks and decorations, along with cards and letters from school children and other supporters.
The goal locally this year is to provide for 120 soldiers in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan and 180 Marines in Iraq. All of them are in very remote, isolated locations with little or no amenities. Some are living in cave-like holes they blasted out of the mountains and some are sleeping in holes they have dug in the sands of Iraq. All of them are in need of our support all year, but during the holidays it's even more important.
Donations sites are:
Curves for Women - Albany, Corvallis, Lebanon, and Sweet Home.
Citizens Bank - Lebanon.
Jan's Books - Sherman Street, Lebanon.
Linn-Co Federal Credit Union - Albany, Lebanon, Sweet Home (also adopting a platoon).
Umpqua Bank - Lebanon.
Employees at Entek Int'l and Research Mannikins are donating items for the troops. Willamette Community Bank's employees are adopting a platoon again this year.
Sweet Home Mennonite Church is collecting donations again this year and Sand Ridge Charter School students are making cards and writing letters for the troops once again.
A list of suggested items are available at each donation site.
It is so important that these young warriors so far from home during the holidays know they are not forgotten. Sadly, for some these will be the only holiday gifts and greetings they receive. For all of them it is a huge morale boost to know the folks back home care about them.
If you, your service club, church, or company would like to participate in this program your help would be welcomed. Monetary donations are needed as well, to help with mailing costs, and are tax deductible. Send to Operation Santa, PO Box 874, Lebanon, OR 97355. For more information, call 258-8239.
Anita Allen
Lebanon