Dear Friends and Family,
As you know, Alex and I are proud parents of a US Marine currently serving at 8th and I Marine Corps Barracks in Washington, DC. Since the day Adam left for Parris Island I have felt it is important to encourage him with lots of letters, packages and phone calls…. when allowed. Many of you have served in the military and can recall the joy you felt when receiving mail from home. This year local Marine moms and myself will be sharing that same type of joy with many of our deployed Marines through Operation Santa USMC.
Operation Santa USMC began when two Marine moms from Oregon realized that the holiday season would be a hard time for them while their sons were away, but much harder for their sons who would be gone for the first time during the holidays and in a war zone. Operation Santa started out as Christmas-in-a-box for a platoon of 30 Marines. Within two months it grew to 6,000 Marines receiving packages in the first year. Since that first year the Marine Corps Family Foundation volunteers have sent more than 50,000 filled holiday stockings to deployed troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
It is unfortunate but some of our brave men and women will not receive mail or packages from friends and family members this holiday season. That is where you can help. Each year your family probably contributes to the joy of others through Operation Christmas Child, Salvation Army Angel Tree, Christian Ministries and your local food bank. This year I hope your family or organization will consider helping a few of us Marine moms provide stockings for 50 Marines deployed from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Here is how it works. One of the moms has volunteered to sew all 50 stockings. The rest of us are responsible for gathering the stocking stuffers. We will also be sending a Party in a Box filled with snacks, a small Christmas tree, Christmas CD and other items needed for a holiday celebration.
There are two ways for you to help. I am responsible for 10 different items (listed below) for the stockings. I need 50 of each item. You and your family could donate 10, 20, 30, 40 or all of a particular item or you may give a monetary donation toward the purchase of these items and shipping costs. Because the Marine Corps Family Foundation Inc. is a 501©3 corporation, all donations are tax deductible. If you wish to include your donation on your personal income tax return let me know and the Foundation will provide you with a written receipt for tax purposes at the end of the year. Checks must be made payable to Marine Corps Family Foundation Inc.
Here’s what I need by November 7th: (50 each)
Candy canes Lance crackers Eyedrops Handwarmers
Nail clippers Packaged nuts Slim Jims Snack bars
Toothpaste White Socks
When I combine these items with the items being gathered by the other moms, we will have a very nice stocking for each Marine.
If you are unable to donate to this project, there is another way to help and it is absolutely free. All you have to do is simply pray for the men and women of the United States military.
Thank you for your consideration,
Wanda Patton
Very Proud Mom of Lcpl Adam W. Patton, USMC