thedrifter
07-28-07, 07:06 AM
Program ensures military parents, kids can keep in touch
By Angela Holman
TODAY'S LOCAL NEWS
July 28, 2007
CAMP PENDLETON – Cpl. Jonathon Juneac's daughter is only 3 weeks old, but come November, the Marine won't be able to kiss, cuddle or hold her for at least six months.
Juneac will be deployed on a Navy ship. Juneac has a laptop and was considering buying a second computer so he could communicate with his family while overseas. But now he doesn't have to make the pricey purchase.
Juneac is one of 50 Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton whose family received a free refurbished Dell computer Tuesday from Kids In Touch. The San Diego-based nonprofit distributes computers to youths with a parent in the military who is or will be deployed, so they can keep in touch through e-mails and photographs.
Juneac said being away from his wife, stepson and infant daughter will be difficult. He said he could call home only once in a while the last time he was deployed, and it's hard to receive postal mail when stationed on a boat.
The new computer will help, Juneac said, because he will be able to see recent photographs of his daughter and interact with his family though Web cameras.
“He's going to miss a lot of her first year; her crawling,” said Juneac's wife, Maria. “Receiving the computer is a big thing, it really is.”
Cpl. Jesse Luhrs also will be deployed in November. He, too, plans to use Web cameras to talk with his wife and 10-month-old son, Matthew, while away.
Luhrs said receiving a free computer is “awesome” because Marines don't make much money.
“When people help us out, we really appreciate it,” Luhrs said.
His wife, Nicole, said she was worried that Matthew might forget what his dad looks like. But the new equipment ensures that they will be able to see and talk to each other regularly. “Matthew will be almost 2 by the time Jesse comes home, so this way Jesse doesn't miss out on him growing up,” Nicole said.
Jenny Dudas, director of Kids In Touch, established the organization in December 2004. Dudas runs the organization out of her garage, which is where her son refurbishes the donated computers that she distributes.
Dudas said KIT has given away about 400 computers to military families in Southern California since its inception, and she would like to expand nationally to serve more children.
“I'm finding there are a lot of (military) families that don't have computers at home, or it's on its last leg,” she said. “If kids want to be able to e-mail a note to mom or dad before they go to bed, they should be able to do it.”
Dudas said she created KIT because she wanted to do something to help military families. She said her father, who served during the Vietnam War, was gone a lot because he was in the Army.
“I know what it's like to be one of these kids and wondering where my dad is and if he is OK,” Dudas said.
She said KIT gave away the last of its computers Tuesday. The nonprofit is seeking corporate donations of computers that are no more than five years old, as well as individual monetary donations. Dudas said volunteers also are needed to help her son, Mike, refurbish used computers.
Mike said he spends one to three weeks fixing computers before distribution events such as the one held Tuesday morning at Camp Pendleton. He said he's happy to work on the computers, but it has gotten to the point where he can't do it all himself.
The refurbished and new computer systems KIT provides come with a keyboard, mouse, Microsoft operating system and StarOffice application software.
To qualify for a computer, applicants must be younger than 18 with a parent who is deployed or will be within six months.
For more information about KIT, call (85 337-7355 or go to www.kitcommunications.org.
Angela Holman: (760) 752-6750; angela.holman@tlnews.net
Ellie
By Angela Holman
TODAY'S LOCAL NEWS
July 28, 2007
CAMP PENDLETON – Cpl. Jonathon Juneac's daughter is only 3 weeks old, but come November, the Marine won't be able to kiss, cuddle or hold her for at least six months.
Juneac will be deployed on a Navy ship. Juneac has a laptop and was considering buying a second computer so he could communicate with his family while overseas. But now he doesn't have to make the pricey purchase.
Juneac is one of 50 Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton whose family received a free refurbished Dell computer Tuesday from Kids In Touch. The San Diego-based nonprofit distributes computers to youths with a parent in the military who is or will be deployed, so they can keep in touch through e-mails and photographs.
Juneac said being away from his wife, stepson and infant daughter will be difficult. He said he could call home only once in a while the last time he was deployed, and it's hard to receive postal mail when stationed on a boat.
The new computer will help, Juneac said, because he will be able to see recent photographs of his daughter and interact with his family though Web cameras.
“He's going to miss a lot of her first year; her crawling,” said Juneac's wife, Maria. “Receiving the computer is a big thing, it really is.”
Cpl. Jesse Luhrs also will be deployed in November. He, too, plans to use Web cameras to talk with his wife and 10-month-old son, Matthew, while away.
Luhrs said receiving a free computer is “awesome” because Marines don't make much money.
“When people help us out, we really appreciate it,” Luhrs said.
His wife, Nicole, said she was worried that Matthew might forget what his dad looks like. But the new equipment ensures that they will be able to see and talk to each other regularly. “Matthew will be almost 2 by the time Jesse comes home, so this way Jesse doesn't miss out on him growing up,” Nicole said.
Jenny Dudas, director of Kids In Touch, established the organization in December 2004. Dudas runs the organization out of her garage, which is where her son refurbishes the donated computers that she distributes.
Dudas said KIT has given away about 400 computers to military families in Southern California since its inception, and she would like to expand nationally to serve more children.
“I'm finding there are a lot of (military) families that don't have computers at home, or it's on its last leg,” she said. “If kids want to be able to e-mail a note to mom or dad before they go to bed, they should be able to do it.”
Dudas said she created KIT because she wanted to do something to help military families. She said her father, who served during the Vietnam War, was gone a lot because he was in the Army.
“I know what it's like to be one of these kids and wondering where my dad is and if he is OK,” Dudas said.
She said KIT gave away the last of its computers Tuesday. The nonprofit is seeking corporate donations of computers that are no more than five years old, as well as individual monetary donations. Dudas said volunteers also are needed to help her son, Mike, refurbish used computers.
Mike said he spends one to three weeks fixing computers before distribution events such as the one held Tuesday morning at Camp Pendleton. He said he's happy to work on the computers, but it has gotten to the point where he can't do it all himself.
The refurbished and new computer systems KIT provides come with a keyboard, mouse, Microsoft operating system and StarOffice application software.
To qualify for a computer, applicants must be younger than 18 with a parent who is deployed or will be within six months.
For more information about KIT, call (85 337-7355 or go to www.kitcommunications.org.
Angela Holman: (760) 752-6750; angela.holman@tlnews.net
Ellie