thedrifter
01-10-09, 04:59 AM
Posted on Fri, Jan. 09, 2009
Gifts from Weston headed to Marines overseas
BY JULIE LEVIN
Although Cleiton Juffo's four-year stint as a U.S. Marine is complete, the plight of his fellow Marines is never far from his mind.
The 25-year-old former Marine sergeant recently wrapped up a holiday donation drive designed to make life a little more comfortable for his buddies still on the front lines.
''Since I couldn't be with them, I wanted to be able to send them some things,'' said Juffo, of Oakland Park. ``I'll tell you there is no better feeling in the world when you get these packages from home.''
The nearly month-long drive wrapped up Dec. 30 at the Weston Town Center next to the massive Christmas tree. All the proceeds were slated to go to the soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Kilo Company, of which Juffo served as an infantry squad leader.
A security officer with Cleveland Clinic in Weston since June, Juffo took his idea for the holiday drive to his bosses when he learned his former unit was being deployed to Afghanistan in November for seven months.
Juffo said they are stationed in an area where everyday items that most of us take for granted are almost impossible to come by.
ENEMY LINES
''There's almost no infrastructure where they are. They are living off base, near enemy lines,'' he said.
With the help of the Cleveland Clinic and the Weston Town Center, Juffo set up donation boxes in several spots to collect such items as wet wipes, candy, magazines, toothpaste, protein bars, beef jerky, pens, paper and batteries.
Some, like John Bowles, who was visiting from Orange Park, stopped by the display at the Town Center and immediately reached into his wallet to help.
The Vietnam veteran remembered the tremendous emotional lift that packages from home gave to him and his buddies in Vietnam.
''It meant so much to us just to get a little something from home, particularly when you are so far from home,'' he said.
Cleveland Clinic marketing director Evelyn Arias helped get the project off the ground in November.
''We started putting fliers up and getting the word out, and we got an immediate response,'' Arias said. ``The employees have been incredibly generous.''
Along with the items, several employees also sent handwritten notes thanking the Marines for their sacrifice.
The donated items filled nearly two rooms at the Cleveland Clinic.
Juffo planned on sorting everything to make sure there was a little something for each of the five platoons the donations were going to.
''Particularly around the holidays, you are not with your family, so it can be detrimental to your morale. This makes you feel a little closer to home and it shows that people care,'' he said.
TWO TOURS
Juffo spent four years in the Marines, including two seven-month tours in Iraq. He was injured during the first tour, earning a Purple Heart. He also received the Combat Action Ribbon and the Navy Achievement Medal.
Now back home, he and his wife are expecting a baby this month, but his thoughts are never far from those in harm's way.
''They are expected to hold back the Taliban insurgency and I just pray for them because they are in a tough situation,'' he said.
Although the holiday drive is over, donations for the troops will still be collected at the Cleveland Clinic, 2950 Cleveland Clinic Blvd., Weston.
Take them into the main lobby and ask that they be taken to the security department.
Ellie
Gifts from Weston headed to Marines overseas
BY JULIE LEVIN
Although Cleiton Juffo's four-year stint as a U.S. Marine is complete, the plight of his fellow Marines is never far from his mind.
The 25-year-old former Marine sergeant recently wrapped up a holiday donation drive designed to make life a little more comfortable for his buddies still on the front lines.
''Since I couldn't be with them, I wanted to be able to send them some things,'' said Juffo, of Oakland Park. ``I'll tell you there is no better feeling in the world when you get these packages from home.''
The nearly month-long drive wrapped up Dec. 30 at the Weston Town Center next to the massive Christmas tree. All the proceeds were slated to go to the soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Kilo Company, of which Juffo served as an infantry squad leader.
A security officer with Cleveland Clinic in Weston since June, Juffo took his idea for the holiday drive to his bosses when he learned his former unit was being deployed to Afghanistan in November for seven months.
Juffo said they are stationed in an area where everyday items that most of us take for granted are almost impossible to come by.
ENEMY LINES
''There's almost no infrastructure where they are. They are living off base, near enemy lines,'' he said.
With the help of the Cleveland Clinic and the Weston Town Center, Juffo set up donation boxes in several spots to collect such items as wet wipes, candy, magazines, toothpaste, protein bars, beef jerky, pens, paper and batteries.
Some, like John Bowles, who was visiting from Orange Park, stopped by the display at the Town Center and immediately reached into his wallet to help.
The Vietnam veteran remembered the tremendous emotional lift that packages from home gave to him and his buddies in Vietnam.
''It meant so much to us just to get a little something from home, particularly when you are so far from home,'' he said.
Cleveland Clinic marketing director Evelyn Arias helped get the project off the ground in November.
''We started putting fliers up and getting the word out, and we got an immediate response,'' Arias said. ``The employees have been incredibly generous.''
Along with the items, several employees also sent handwritten notes thanking the Marines for their sacrifice.
The donated items filled nearly two rooms at the Cleveland Clinic.
Juffo planned on sorting everything to make sure there was a little something for each of the five platoons the donations were going to.
''Particularly around the holidays, you are not with your family, so it can be detrimental to your morale. This makes you feel a little closer to home and it shows that people care,'' he said.
TWO TOURS
Juffo spent four years in the Marines, including two seven-month tours in Iraq. He was injured during the first tour, earning a Purple Heart. He also received the Combat Action Ribbon and the Navy Achievement Medal.
Now back home, he and his wife are expecting a baby this month, but his thoughts are never far from those in harm's way.
''They are expected to hold back the Taliban insurgency and I just pray for them because they are in a tough situation,'' he said.
Although the holiday drive is over, donations for the troops will still be collected at the Cleveland Clinic, 2950 Cleveland Clinic Blvd., Weston.
Take them into the main lobby and ask that they be taken to the security department.
Ellie