I should have mentioned-- the whole idea about "Operation with Love from Home" started when ONE LOCAL PERSON-- a mom w/a son in the marines-- heard from her son that there was someone in his unit that got no packages at all from home. Her heart just went out to the guy, and in chatting w/a friend, they came up w/the idea of making a package and sending it to him "from some friends who care about you and want to say thanks for what you're doing".
That first package actually became 12. Then, it was over a hundred. Then, almost 500.
By the fourth time they'd done it, it was over 700-- just based on all of the donations from friends and other locals! They literally did everything by word of mouth then, and really didn't try to drum up support-- it just happened.
We first met them b/c they had a booth at the 4th of July event in Downtown Napa (a friend worked for the event, and suggested they share it w/others-- it was their first "event")-- it was really great talking to them, and seeing what they were doing.
This is a great example of how one person-- with a good idea-- can get a groundswell of support from hundreds of others who want to help.
The care packages are simple, and contain things like safety razors, antiperspirant, candy, etc. One of the most popular (and small) items is hot sauce from Taco Bell-- a little "taste from home" that you'd never miss until you're in the middle of nowhere, eating rations every day.
I'm still trying to figure out how best to help-- they need to pack things than can withstand a LOT of bumping around, and some severe temps. One of the marines joked his favorite was a "Skittles Bar"-- turns out it's a lump of melted skittles-- what you get when they're exposed to the 120º temps in their bags and melt into one blob!
Another said he really liked the bag of cookie crumbs (cookies don't typically make it-- they fall apart)-- he poured milk into it and ate it like cereal, and loved it.
-Russ H.
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