2006
Packing Completed
Friday, December 08, 2006
On Friday, December 8, 2006 our packing operations have wrapped up for the season. The majority of our gift boxes left by truck to a military base from where they will be airlifted to Iraq. We are now in the process of mailing a few hundred boxes that wouldn’t fit into the full-to-the-brim trailer. Thanks to all who made this great effort possible!
Northwest University Students
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Hundreds of Northwest University students met at the chapel on Wednesday morning to assemble gift boxes for Operation Iraq: The Spirit of Christmas. Above, student Alison Selin wrote a Christmas note to a soldier in Iraq while a cameraman from KING5 News recorded. On this one day, students assembled 2,400 packages toward Operation Iraq’s goal of sending 10,000 packages to soldiers in Iraq during the Christmas season. More Photos to Come!!
Students Bring Spirit Of Christmas To Soldiers In Iraq
Saturday, November 18, 2006
For the article please visit www.kirotv.com
Holiday spirit
Seattle Times staff columnist
Ruth Ann Young, of Woodinville, received an early holiday gift. She found space to continue Operation Iraq: The Spirit of Christmas.
Northwest University in Kirkland has donated room for the packing and storing.
Young started the campaign in 2003 out of her former Kirkland storefront. Volunteers packed gift boxes that were sent to American troops in Iraq. The campaign, which has shipped nearly 30,000 boxes in three years, moved to a shopping center in 2004 and 2005.
That space was no longer available. Due to family demands, Young closed her store early this year. She has been searching for free space ever since.
Timing was tight. The packages need to be ready to ship by early December.
Seneca donated 9,000 bags of apple chips this week. Tim’s Cascade has sent 2,500 bags of potato chips. Now she needs cash, paperback books and small toiletries to get Operation Iraq off the ground.
“We are still 100 percent donated,” Young said. “I’m proud of that, but we need help. We’re going to start packing by the middle of next week.”
Young can be reached at 425-885-0796.
Sherry Grindeland: 206-515-5633 or sgrindeland@seattletimes.com
Thanksgiving Schedule
Packing will continue until 5 PM on Thanksgiving Eve, Wednesday, November 22 and start again on Friday the 24th at 12:30 PM. For those of you who have been emailing in offers to help out, please include your full email address and contact phone number in the text of the message so that we can get in touch with you.
Seneca arrived, Shipped Boxes on Friday
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Apple chips from Seneca arrived today, and we’re expecting our delivery of shipping boxes on Friday. Ruth Ann is working on procuring other supplies so that packing may be able to start on Monday. Please email her to schedule volunteer groups in advance.
We encourage everyone to take a moment and email their friends and family! Let them know this is your charity of choice for the Christmas season! Letting them know we need all the support we can get to touch the hearts of as many Americans possible.
Donations of All Kinds are Welcome
Please see the “Most desired items” page for items that we are hoping to receive from our wonderful donors and volunteers. We would also like to encourange the following items because they add a great personal touch to our packages.
- Thanks, Troops!” artwork by kids
- Letters and notes of appreciation from youngsters (from grades 1-12)
Starting the 2006 Season at a New Location!
We are pleased to announce:
Northwest University has welcomed us to headquarter
“Operation Iraq : The Spirit of Christmas 2006” on their campus.
The location is the Butterfield Chapel on the University campus, situated in the Houghton area of Kirkland. Please check the Northwest University website for directions and maps.
Our Christmas Letter to the Troops
Friday, November 10, 2006
Good friend Pascal Collins and Ruth Ann Young put a Heartfelt letter together that will be included in each Precious Christmas Package to our military serving our country.
“Our Real American Hero”
And has been done on behalf of all the volunteers and donors that have contributed to make this as successful as possible.
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Seattle Times staff columnist
The burgeoning local economy may doom what has become a tradition for Ruth Ann Young of Woodinville. She can’t find free space to pack her Operation Iraq: The Spirit of Christmas gift boxes for American troops. Earlier this year she closed her Kirkland store, the Spirit of Christmas. She organized the gift-box packing from that office. The first year the boxes were packed in the store; in 2004 and 2005 she used an empty store at a Totem Lake mall. Young’s project has shipped nearly 30,000 boxes to war zones.
She needs to use about 2,000 to 2,500 square feet of space from now until the boxes leave in mid-December.
Young still has the desire, the volunteers ready to work and the corporations willing to donate the goodies.
“I’m going to be just sick if we can’t do The Spirit of Christmas this year,” she said.
She can be reached at 425-885-0796.
Operation Iraq: Spirit of Christmas needs your help again for 2006
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Contact: Ruth Anne Young, (425) 802-7884
Kirkland, WA – - For three years now Ruth Ann Young and many volunteers have shown their passion for recognizing our military over the holidays. “ These Americans are so far from home during the Christmas season… Until we bring them back to their families, they need to know we recognize their sacrifices” Ruth Ann said.
Though she hasn’t had a chance to visit Iraq she has done the next best thing. Since 2003 Ruth Ann has been the driving force behind “Operation Iraq: The Spirit of Christmas”. The organization ( www.thespiritofchristmasusa.com ) has sent Christmas boxes containing wonderul goodies to front line troops in all branches of the armed forces.
Speaking of past efforts, General R.J. Seitz wrote, “In all my many years of association with the military I have never seen or heard of a more generous action of support….I want to express my heartfelt thanks for your magnificent and generous contribution to the welfare and morale of all American troops serving in Iraq“. The group has also received the Raytheon Award for it successful efforts.
“We have gotten a late start this year and need help and more donations to make this as succesful as possible” said Ruth Ann. We have gotten our first major donation from Mid West of Cannon Falls Minn. of 9,000 world famous pewter serenity dove ornaments. ( worth $96,000) “We need our youth to help pack boxes, and adults to help pick up items from local merchants to go in the boxes.” Some of the items the organization is looking for include eye drops, lip balm, nonperishable snacks and candy, powdered juice mix and toiletry items (toothbrushes, toothpaste, lotion, sunscreen, baby wipes, etc.). Also to be included this year are CDs (holiday and other music), “Thanks, Troops” artwork by kids, letters and notes of appreciation from youngsters and Holiday greeting cards. And to finish things-off they need packing material and packing tape.
Anyone interested in donating their time, items for the packages or to make a financial contribution can contact:
Ruth Ann Young at (425) 802-7884
or
Tim Matson at 206-235-1233.
New Web Address
Friday, September 22, 2006
We have a new web address and that is http://www.operationiraq.org.
Thank you to Andrew Culver and the NW Web Ministry