thedrifter
09-18-06, 07:43 AM
Group starts new gift box drive for troops
By PAT KINNEY, Courier Business Editor
WATERLOO --- Alan Mast is a soldier with the Waterloo-based Iowa Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry.
He and more than 250 of his comrades with the Ironman Battalion have spent most of this year in Iraq. The unit has performed hundreds of convoy escort missions.
Mast and others with the 1-133rd recently received a gift --- a big box loaded with snacks, toiletries, video games and letters from folks back home.
The Waterloo resident has been in the guard for 15 years. He saw a lot more in those containers than material items.
"It was a welcomed breather and a good emotional feeling to open them and see the love and care that was packaged with them," Mast wrote from Camp Al Asad, 150 miles west of Baghdad.
"Thanks for the wonderful snacks and all the kind words that were written by everyone, especially the young children who wrote their hearts' thoughts in the cards," Mast added. "God Bless each one of you, and look forward to seeing everyone when we all come home."
The boxes are the result of an effort by Iowa's Bravest, a group of John Deere union and salaried workers. They initiated the effort after the start of the Iraq war in March 2003. The organization has mailed more than 1,200 gift boxes containing more than 20,000 pounds of goods.
Iowa's Bravest is starting another drive to raise money and donated items to be sent to local troops this holiday season. With the 1-133rd deployed to Iraq, project organizer Julie Ehlers is anticipating another big effort will be required.
"We expect to send 400 or more boxes again this year," Ehlers said.
About 450 were shipped last year when Marine Reservists with the Waterloo-based 1st Battalion, 14th Marines, were stationed in Iraq. Those in that group have since returned.
"Depending on how generous our donations are this year, each box could expect to have a value of over $100," Ehlers said. "The postage costs alone will be $7,000 for our 2006 holiday shipment."
Ehlers said people have responded --- and can participate --- in this year's drive in a number of ways:
--- Individuals have already started raising money by having casual days in their work places, holding bake sales and cookbook sales and taking workplace gate collections.
--- Schools collected more than $3,800 worth of items last year. Scout troops have also been heavily involved. One group sold 1,700 packages of microwave popcorn to raise cash.
--- Volunteers will be at Wal-Mart stores asking customers to shop for items on a "wish list," like hot cocoa, graham crackers, microwaveable macaroni and cheese and other snacks.
--- Letters of support and holiday greeting to troops can be submitted on the Iowa's Bravest Web site at www.iowasbravest.org. Messages will be included in each of the boxes soldiers receive.
--- Patriotic "We Support our Troops" or "Thank You for Your Service" flags can be purchased from Ehlers by calling (319) 232-3795 or by e-mailing IowasBravest@IowasBravest.org. Garden-size flags cost $10; large flags are $20. A garden-size flag with a soldier's name embroidered costs $15.
Gift boxes will be assembled for shipment at 4 p.m. Nov. 10 at United Auto Workers Local 838, 2615 Washington St. Families with loved ones in Iraq or Afghanistan may submit the person's name and address before Oct. 20 to Ehlers.
"We still have hundreds of soldiers in Iowa and Afghanistan that deserve to be remembered," Ehlers said.
For information about Iowa's Bravest, call Ehlers at (319) 232-3795 or e-mail to IowasBravest@IowasBravest.org.
Contact Pat Kinney at (319 291-1484 or pat.kinney@wcfcourier.com.
Ellie
By PAT KINNEY, Courier Business Editor
WATERLOO --- Alan Mast is a soldier with the Waterloo-based Iowa Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry.
He and more than 250 of his comrades with the Ironman Battalion have spent most of this year in Iraq. The unit has performed hundreds of convoy escort missions.
Mast and others with the 1-133rd recently received a gift --- a big box loaded with snacks, toiletries, video games and letters from folks back home.
The Waterloo resident has been in the guard for 15 years. He saw a lot more in those containers than material items.
"It was a welcomed breather and a good emotional feeling to open them and see the love and care that was packaged with them," Mast wrote from Camp Al Asad, 150 miles west of Baghdad.
"Thanks for the wonderful snacks and all the kind words that were written by everyone, especially the young children who wrote their hearts' thoughts in the cards," Mast added. "God Bless each one of you, and look forward to seeing everyone when we all come home."
The boxes are the result of an effort by Iowa's Bravest, a group of John Deere union and salaried workers. They initiated the effort after the start of the Iraq war in March 2003. The organization has mailed more than 1,200 gift boxes containing more than 20,000 pounds of goods.
Iowa's Bravest is starting another drive to raise money and donated items to be sent to local troops this holiday season. With the 1-133rd deployed to Iraq, project organizer Julie Ehlers is anticipating another big effort will be required.
"We expect to send 400 or more boxes again this year," Ehlers said.
About 450 were shipped last year when Marine Reservists with the Waterloo-based 1st Battalion, 14th Marines, were stationed in Iraq. Those in that group have since returned.
"Depending on how generous our donations are this year, each box could expect to have a value of over $100," Ehlers said. "The postage costs alone will be $7,000 for our 2006 holiday shipment."
Ehlers said people have responded --- and can participate --- in this year's drive in a number of ways:
--- Individuals have already started raising money by having casual days in their work places, holding bake sales and cookbook sales and taking workplace gate collections.
--- Schools collected more than $3,800 worth of items last year. Scout troops have also been heavily involved. One group sold 1,700 packages of microwave popcorn to raise cash.
--- Volunteers will be at Wal-Mart stores asking customers to shop for items on a "wish list," like hot cocoa, graham crackers, microwaveable macaroni and cheese and other snacks.
--- Letters of support and holiday greeting to troops can be submitted on the Iowa's Bravest Web site at www.iowasbravest.org. Messages will be included in each of the boxes soldiers receive.
--- Patriotic "We Support our Troops" or "Thank You for Your Service" flags can be purchased from Ehlers by calling (319) 232-3795 or by e-mailing IowasBravest@IowasBravest.org. Garden-size flags cost $10; large flags are $20. A garden-size flag with a soldier's name embroidered costs $15.
Gift boxes will be assembled for shipment at 4 p.m. Nov. 10 at United Auto Workers Local 838, 2615 Washington St. Families with loved ones in Iraq or Afghanistan may submit the person's name and address before Oct. 20 to Ehlers.
"We still have hundreds of soldiers in Iowa and Afghanistan that deserve to be remembered," Ehlers said.
For information about Iowa's Bravest, call Ehlers at (319) 232-3795 or e-mail to IowasBravest@IowasBravest.org.
Contact Pat Kinney at (319 291-1484 or pat.kinney@wcfcourier.com.
Ellie