thedrifter
10-31-07, 08:19 AM
Caring for the troops
A mother, daughter team leads a group of volunteers from their church to send care packages to Marines in Iraq.
By KARI WILKERSON
For THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
NEWPORT BEACH – Marianne Hess' wanted to do something to support her nephew, Lt. Mike Deal, when he was deployed to Iraq with his Marine platoon in January 2005.
Hess, 72, of Newport Beach, began sending him CARE packages with items such as letters, granola bars, socks, and sidewalk chalk or small bouncy balls for the Iraqi children. After learning that many troops don't receive letters or packages, she started a program at her church to fill that need.
"Mom has always been so caring," her daughter Jeanne Almaraz said. "She raised nine children, and is a very nurturing person. Mike didn't grow up here, so when he was stationed at Camp Pendleton, we really established a bond with him we never had before."
Almaraz, 48, an associate professor for Management and Human Resources in the business college at Cal Poly Pomona, assisted her.
They spoke with their pastor, Father Kerry Beaulieu, to see if parishioners at Our Lady Queen of Angels in Newport Beach would like to get involved. He welcomed the idea.
Hess and Almaraz put a notice in the church bulletin asking parish members if they had friends or family members in Iraq who they'd like to send packages to. Their list quickly grew, as did donations of supplies and money for shipping.
"We set up a table outside Mass and put out a wish list," Almaraz said. "It's been amazing how many donations we've received – anywhere from a $100 check to a box of Costco PowerBars."
Because the congregation was so generous, the mother-daughter team has had enough donations to adopt other soldiers from a variety of online sources, including such Web sites as anysolider.com, adoptaplatoon.org and soldiersangels.org.
Since Hess and Almaraz started the program last November, they have sent about 250 packages to troops in Iraq – about 20 to 30 per month.
Hess said she typically sends troops food, such as protein bars, soup, drink mixes and coffee; books; DVDs; music; and magazines. She also sends necessities, such as hygiene products, foot powder for their "poor, tired feet," and sunscreen.
They send letters and cards in every package, which are written by parish children, Hess' grandkids and local elementary students from schools, including Pegasus School in Huntington Beach.
Hess said the troops are always grateful to receive the packages, and she keeps a scrapbook of their thank you letters.
"They're very thankful that they're not forgotten," she said. "
Hess' nephew, Lt. Deal, 25, returned to Camp Pendleton from Iraq in August 2005. Last month, he left for his second tour of duty in Iraq with a new group of Marines as part of a weapons platoon.
Hess and Almaraz have decided to support his platoon of 38 troops, plus the others they are already supporting. This will increase their program to 50 to 60 packages per month.
Each package costs $8.95 to send, and their shipping bill is about $500 a month.
They are starting Operation Christmas Box in November, and Hess' team of Santa's helpers will send 60 to 80 holiday packages.
"We want to bring a little Christmas to every soldier on our list," Almaraz said.
Ellie
A mother, daughter team leads a group of volunteers from their church to send care packages to Marines in Iraq.
By KARI WILKERSON
For THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
NEWPORT BEACH – Marianne Hess' wanted to do something to support her nephew, Lt. Mike Deal, when he was deployed to Iraq with his Marine platoon in January 2005.
Hess, 72, of Newport Beach, began sending him CARE packages with items such as letters, granola bars, socks, and sidewalk chalk or small bouncy balls for the Iraqi children. After learning that many troops don't receive letters or packages, she started a program at her church to fill that need.
"Mom has always been so caring," her daughter Jeanne Almaraz said. "She raised nine children, and is a very nurturing person. Mike didn't grow up here, so when he was stationed at Camp Pendleton, we really established a bond with him we never had before."
Almaraz, 48, an associate professor for Management and Human Resources in the business college at Cal Poly Pomona, assisted her.
They spoke with their pastor, Father Kerry Beaulieu, to see if parishioners at Our Lady Queen of Angels in Newport Beach would like to get involved. He welcomed the idea.
Hess and Almaraz put a notice in the church bulletin asking parish members if they had friends or family members in Iraq who they'd like to send packages to. Their list quickly grew, as did donations of supplies and money for shipping.
"We set up a table outside Mass and put out a wish list," Almaraz said. "It's been amazing how many donations we've received – anywhere from a $100 check to a box of Costco PowerBars."
Because the congregation was so generous, the mother-daughter team has had enough donations to adopt other soldiers from a variety of online sources, including such Web sites as anysolider.com, adoptaplatoon.org and soldiersangels.org.
Since Hess and Almaraz started the program last November, they have sent about 250 packages to troops in Iraq – about 20 to 30 per month.
Hess said she typically sends troops food, such as protein bars, soup, drink mixes and coffee; books; DVDs; music; and magazines. She also sends necessities, such as hygiene products, foot powder for their "poor, tired feet," and sunscreen.
They send letters and cards in every package, which are written by parish children, Hess' grandkids and local elementary students from schools, including Pegasus School in Huntington Beach.
Hess said the troops are always grateful to receive the packages, and she keeps a scrapbook of their thank you letters.
"They're very thankful that they're not forgotten," she said. "
Hess' nephew, Lt. Deal, 25, returned to Camp Pendleton from Iraq in August 2005. Last month, he left for his second tour of duty in Iraq with a new group of Marines as part of a weapons platoon.
Hess and Almaraz have decided to support his platoon of 38 troops, plus the others they are already supporting. This will increase their program to 50 to 60 packages per month.
Each package costs $8.95 to send, and their shipping bill is about $500 a month.
They are starting Operation Christmas Box in November, and Hess' team of Santa's helpers will send 60 to 80 holiday packages.
"We want to bring a little Christmas to every soldier on our list," Almaraz said.
Ellie