thedrifter
12-07-08, 07:48 AM
Despite Recession, Mom 4R Marines Planning to Send Holiday Packages to Troops Deployed in Middle East
Sat Dec 6, 6:45 pm ET
To: STATE EDITORS
Contact: Tim Lewis, +1-215-385-4986, for Mom 4R Marines
WILLOW GROVE, Pa., Dec. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Patty Lewis, president of the nonprofit Mom 4R Marines (www.mom4rmarines.org), knows what it's like to have a son deployed in the Middle East during the holidays. Lewis, whose son Brian (former USMC) was deployed for two of the last four Christmases knew she needed to stay active during the holidays, so she recruited her own troops to send Christmas stockings to our military troops forced to spend the holiday on active duty in the Middle East.
This is the third year Lewis has undertaken this project, and each year her list of followers grows longer. In fact, two years ago, a stocking recipient wrote a letter to his parents detailing the gifts he received in his stocking and what it meant to him. Sadly, he was killed in action soon after his letter was received. His parents traveled from Texas last year to help stuff stockings and to show Lewis how worthwhile her project is to those deployed this time of year.
Each of the 1500 stockings that will be "stuffed" this Sunday has a value of approximately $100. Through vendor donations and more than $150,000 in cash donations received by posting the organization's mission on several syndicated radio hosts' web sites, Lewis purchased items needed by the troops (special socks, shoe inserts, head gear and much more) and will pay the $7000 fee for the United States Postal Service to ship these stockings, due to arrive before Christmas day.
The task of stuffing these stockings is not small and Lewis's recruits for the Sunday stuffing, packing and mailing of the stockings include parents of former marines who received stockings last year and 15 parents of marines stationed in Afghanistan, whose sons will be the recipients of this year's stockings. These volunteers are coming from New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. In addition, volunteers from University of Pennsylvania and Villanova ROTC's, The Marine Corp League, Young Marines and other local organizations will be on hand to assist.
Although Lewis is fortunate that her armed forces project is so successful, she is feeling the effects of the recession drastically on her own homefront. Medically disabled since 2003, Lewis counted on her husband's income as their financial strength. Last January, her husband, an IT Senior Systems Analyst lost his job as it was outsourced overseas. As he continues to look for work, their home of 30 years is now in a serious risk of foreclosure. Lewis, however, explains that she can't let her friends down and more importantly, she can't let the marines and sailors have a holiday without a special gift, so she has put all her energy into organizing this event.
The following is a schedule of activities for the SUNDAY DECEMBER 7 event:
9:30 Opening Ceremony - Young Marines present colors
Katy McCourt (local singer, songwriter) will
sing
Packing begins immediately following opening ceremony and will continue through the day.
Place: Upper Moreland Intermediate School
3990 Orangeman's Rd
Hatboro, Pa 19040
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
For more information, contact Tim Lewis at 215.385.4986
SOURCE Mom 4R Marines
Ellie
Sat Dec 6, 6:45 pm ET
To: STATE EDITORS
Contact: Tim Lewis, +1-215-385-4986, for Mom 4R Marines
WILLOW GROVE, Pa., Dec. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Patty Lewis, president of the nonprofit Mom 4R Marines (www.mom4rmarines.org), knows what it's like to have a son deployed in the Middle East during the holidays. Lewis, whose son Brian (former USMC) was deployed for two of the last four Christmases knew she needed to stay active during the holidays, so she recruited her own troops to send Christmas stockings to our military troops forced to spend the holiday on active duty in the Middle East.
This is the third year Lewis has undertaken this project, and each year her list of followers grows longer. In fact, two years ago, a stocking recipient wrote a letter to his parents detailing the gifts he received in his stocking and what it meant to him. Sadly, he was killed in action soon after his letter was received. His parents traveled from Texas last year to help stuff stockings and to show Lewis how worthwhile her project is to those deployed this time of year.
Each of the 1500 stockings that will be "stuffed" this Sunday has a value of approximately $100. Through vendor donations and more than $150,000 in cash donations received by posting the organization's mission on several syndicated radio hosts' web sites, Lewis purchased items needed by the troops (special socks, shoe inserts, head gear and much more) and will pay the $7000 fee for the United States Postal Service to ship these stockings, due to arrive before Christmas day.
The task of stuffing these stockings is not small and Lewis's recruits for the Sunday stuffing, packing and mailing of the stockings include parents of former marines who received stockings last year and 15 parents of marines stationed in Afghanistan, whose sons will be the recipients of this year's stockings. These volunteers are coming from New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. In addition, volunteers from University of Pennsylvania and Villanova ROTC's, The Marine Corp League, Young Marines and other local organizations will be on hand to assist.
Although Lewis is fortunate that her armed forces project is so successful, she is feeling the effects of the recession drastically on her own homefront. Medically disabled since 2003, Lewis counted on her husband's income as their financial strength. Last January, her husband, an IT Senior Systems Analyst lost his job as it was outsourced overseas. As he continues to look for work, their home of 30 years is now in a serious risk of foreclosure. Lewis, however, explains that she can't let her friends down and more importantly, she can't let the marines and sailors have a holiday without a special gift, so she has put all her energy into organizing this event.
The following is a schedule of activities for the SUNDAY DECEMBER 7 event:
9:30 Opening Ceremony - Young Marines present colors
Katy McCourt (local singer, songwriter) will
sing
Packing begins immediately following opening ceremony and will continue through the day.
Place: Upper Moreland Intermediate School
3990 Orangeman's Rd
Hatboro, Pa 19040
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
For more information, contact Tim Lewis at 215.385.4986
SOURCE Mom 4R Marines
Ellie