Lake Arrowhead Communities
Republican Women Federated

Supporting Our U.S. Troops

UPDATE ON OUR EFFORTS TO SUPPORT THE TROOPS IN IRAQ

Support for Our Troops

YOUR CLUB IN ACTION

We have two projects going with the Troops. First, we had great response at the last General Meeting to our request for donations for our adopted troop headed by Renee Morton USMC. You generously donated $168.00, and more donations are coming in, so we will be putting together a Christmas box of needed items for Renee's troop. Second, we will be packing toiletries and any other items that you bring to the meeting (we don't need books). These packages will be arranged by KCAL radio station to be sent directly by one of the local bases.

We would like to include Christmas cards in each package. Please bring cards, new and used (we will make cards from the used ones) so that we can provide cards to the servicemen and women to send to their families and friends at home. You can also write a card to a service person in general thanking them for what they are doing for our Country and wishing them a safe return home.

While most of us will enjoy the holidays safe at home with our families, we want to try to brighten the holidays for our brave men and women who are sacrificing that joy in order to protect us and make the world a safer place for everyone.

Remember, if you'd like to write to her directly, just send a letter with 37 cent postage to: CW02 S.R. Morton, USMC, MAG 16 (S-1), UIC 41056, FPO AP 96426-1056.

WE DON'T NEED ANY MORE BOOKS, BUT COULD USE PENS, PENCILS, NOTEPADS, GUM, LIFESAVERS AND SIMILAR FOOD ITEMS, TOILETRIES, POSTCARDS FOR THEM TO WRITE HOME (NO STAMPS NEEDED), GOLD BOND POWDER, BATTERIES, TRAVEL SIZE HANDIWIPES, CHAPSTICK, DENTAL ITEMS, EYE DROPS, FEMININE PRODUCTS, NASAL SPRAY, AT&T PHONE CARDS, PLAYING CARDS, Q-TIPS, SUN SCREEN, NEW SUNGLASSES, WASH CLOTHS. Just go up and down the aisles at the 99 Cent store; you'll be surprised what you'll find!

Please continue to consult the list of suggested items in previous newsletters, the listing below, or logon to KCALFM.COM, and bring the items to our headquarters, meetings, or Pat's General Store.

We are no longer referring to this as Operation Interdependence because that is not actually the organization that we are working with. We have been taking our donations to KCAL radio station in Redlands. They are working with on organization called Homefront Headquarters that picks up the donations, inspects them and sends them, via any of 5 Southern California Military installations, directly to the front lines in Iraq. They estimate that, to date, they have sent over 12 tons of donations!!! Their goal is to bring positive support to our military for as long as needed.

Remember that even though the 24/7 media coverage is over, there are still thousands of men and women deployed to protect us, so lets continue supporting them until they all come home. You really can make a difference. All you need to do is bring any of the items listed below to our meetings at the Royal Oak, Pat's General Store in Blue Jay, or our Headquarters in the Blue Jay Mall during hours open for voter registration.

It would be helpful if you put an assortment of items in 1 gallon ziploc bags. You may wish to include notes of gratitude and encouragement (which I am told are really appreciated). If you include a postcard with your address (no stamp needed) you may receive a response from a service man or woman. If you do receive responses please bring them to a meeting or mail them to Christi Schneider at P.O. Box 1331, Blue Jay, CA 92317-1331 so that they can be shared with the club.

If you choose not to package your donations, I will combine loose donations into ziploc bags. Please don't tie them up in boxes because they will have to be opened by Homefront for inspection.

Edible: Candy (hard kind, gum, M&M's); Condiments (single serving); Fruit/Pudding (single portion snacks); Snacks (jerky,seeds,nuts,dried)

Drinkable:Instant Coffee/Hot Chocolate/Tea Bags/Presweetened mixes to add to water

Reading Material:Activity Books/Bibles/Comic/Newspapers/Paperbacks/Reader Digest, etc.

Feminine Hygiene Products: (unscented tampons, liners, pads)

Patriotic:Flags, Stickers (anything red, white and blue)

DO NOT SEND! (per KCAL):

If you have children or grandchildren, encourage them to write a note and/or draw a picture that you can include. This is something that KCAL says is really appreciated. I plan to put a box at each of the local schools and ask that the students be encouraged to do this as their way of thanking the troops. Anyone who lives near a school and would be willing to pick up from the school a couple of times a month, please call Christi at 337-6940.

It you want to do something for the Troops on a more personal level, KCAL is asking for people to sponsor an individual, a unit or a package. Click for details are on their website KCAL - HOMEFRONT - Supports Our Military Forces "Send Care Packages to our Men and Women Overseas". It's a great website to look at anyway.

Thank you for the many donations at the last General Meeting, and for your continued support.

Christi Schneider, "Support Our Troops" Chairperson
337-6940

Add Your Dear One's Name to LACRWF "PRAYER and REMEMBRANCE".
Thank you for supporting our men and women who are doing so much.
Many paying the ultimate price, to uphold freedom.
Our prayers and personal gratitude are with them and their families.

God bless them and their families...
God bless and keep all of our Military Men and Women.
God bless America.
And may we bless God with our loving obedience to Him and love for one another.

Below are suggestions from The National Federation Republican Women Caring for America program.

NFRW Online Petition voices our support for the Armed Forces, which was initiated by the Fayetteville Republican Women's Club (N.C.) and passed by the NFRW Board of Directors during the spring meeting in Washington, D.C., in March 2003. You can demonstrate your support for this "RESOLUTION" by signing today.

Send a message to our troops through Operation Dear Abby: www.anyservicemember.navy.mil

The United Service Organizations (USO) is preparing boxes of sunscreen, lip balm, writing paper and snacks for soldiers shipping out. Sponsor a box for $25: www.usocares.org. You can even send a personal note. (Source: Newsweek, April 7, 2003)

Help house the family of a wounded soldier by contributing to the Fisher House Foundation: www.fisherhouse.org. (Source: Newsweek, April 7, 2003)

Donate grocery certificates: www.commissaries.com. (Source: Newsweek, April 7, 2003)

Donate a calling card to help service members keep in touch: www.operationuplink.org .(Source: Newsweek, April 7, 2003)

Give to the Army Emergency Relief: www.aerhq.org, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society: www.nmcrs.org, Air Force Aid Society: www.afas.org or Coast Guard Mutual Assistance: www.cgmahq.org.

For the latest rules, check the Pentagon's site: www.defendamerica.mil/ supporttroops.html. (Source: Newsweek, April 7, 2003)

Donate blood to your Red Cross chapter or where needed: www.redcross.org.

Adopt a military unit through the Veterans of Foreign Wars: www.vfw.org.org.

Attend a rally in support of our troops