thedrifter
10-28-07, 08:13 AM
Volunteers make stockings for soldiers in Iraq
Oregon Guard troops will receive holiday items
EUNICE KIM
Statesman Journal
October 28, 2007
Lisa Encabo, 37, carefully pinned a piece of red plaid fabric onto a larger piece of blue wool. After making sure it was in place, she passed the fabric onto Ron Riley, 66, who sewed the pieces together.
The fabric was on its way to becoming a holiday stocking, which eventually will make it into the hands of an Oregon National Guard soldier serving in Iraq.
"The holidays are a really hard time to be away from home," said Encabo, a military spouse. "We wanted to bring (the soldiers) a little cheer."
About 20 volunteers created custom-made holiday stockings Saturday at the Salem First Church of Nazarene for the more than 300 members of the 1249 Engineer Battalion of the Oregon National Guard deployed in Iraq.
The stockings are being made as part of Operation Adopt-A-Warrior, which was organized by Laura and Zach Driscoll with the help of the Nazarene church. The wool creations will be stuffed with personal items and shipped abroad in time for the holidays.
Church and community members have "adopted" 266 of the guardsmen so far. More volunteers are needed to buy items for the remaining stockings and donate money to cover shipping costs.
"It's just a matter of service," said Zach Driscoll, a member of the 1249 Engineer Battalion. "I know what it's like to be deployed. It gets pretty lonely. We just want (the guardsmen) to know we're thinking of them and care about them."
This is the second year the Driscolls of Stayton have made stockings for military service men and women serving abroad. Last year, the couple created 18 for Marines with the help of friends.
This year, they enlisted the help of their church. Military spouses and members of the Mid-Valley Quilt Guild and Covenant Quilters also helped put together the stockings.
Each one is made of fabric donated by Pendleton Woolen Mills and features the patch of the 82nd Brigade.
ekim@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6721
Ellie
Oregon Guard troops will receive holiday items
EUNICE KIM
Statesman Journal
October 28, 2007
Lisa Encabo, 37, carefully pinned a piece of red plaid fabric onto a larger piece of blue wool. After making sure it was in place, she passed the fabric onto Ron Riley, 66, who sewed the pieces together.
The fabric was on its way to becoming a holiday stocking, which eventually will make it into the hands of an Oregon National Guard soldier serving in Iraq.
"The holidays are a really hard time to be away from home," said Encabo, a military spouse. "We wanted to bring (the soldiers) a little cheer."
About 20 volunteers created custom-made holiday stockings Saturday at the Salem First Church of Nazarene for the more than 300 members of the 1249 Engineer Battalion of the Oregon National Guard deployed in Iraq.
The stockings are being made as part of Operation Adopt-A-Warrior, which was organized by Laura and Zach Driscoll with the help of the Nazarene church. The wool creations will be stuffed with personal items and shipped abroad in time for the holidays.
Church and community members have "adopted" 266 of the guardsmen so far. More volunteers are needed to buy items for the remaining stockings and donate money to cover shipping costs.
"It's just a matter of service," said Zach Driscoll, a member of the 1249 Engineer Battalion. "I know what it's like to be deployed. It gets pretty lonely. We just want (the guardsmen) to know we're thinking of them and care about them."
This is the second year the Driscolls of Stayton have made stockings for military service men and women serving abroad. Last year, the couple created 18 for Marines with the help of friends.
This year, they enlisted the help of their church. Military spouses and members of the Mid-Valley Quilt Guild and Covenant Quilters also helped put together the stockings.
Each one is made of fabric donated by Pendleton Woolen Mills and features the patch of the 82nd Brigade.
ekim@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6721
Ellie