2009
Desk of Ruth Ann Young
November 13, 2009
On behalf of Christ Church Academy in Kirkland, WA we want to say thank you so much for your sacrifice and the sacrifice of your families in order to make our nation a safe place to live. We don’t take lightly what it has cost so many of our soldiers and their families. We hope that the pictures the children drew will be of some small comfort and a piece of home to those serving overseas. It is our prayer that the Lord would continue to bless this great nation and the soldiers who protect it. Merry Christmas and thank you Operation Iraq for giving us an opportunity to say thank you.
Desk of Ruth Ann Young
November 13, 2009
On behalf of the students, staff, and families of Juanita Elementary School in Kirkland, Washington, we thank you for your incredible efforts in attempting to make this world a safer place for us. Please extend our appreciation to your families as well, for the sacrifices you all make for liberty and justice for all. As the holidays approach, our hearts are with you, and our hats are off to you. Many, many thanks again.
Desk of Ruth Ann Young
November 11, 2009
“We at South Clinton Elementary in Clinton, TN, want to wish all our troops a Merry Christmas! Thank you for all that you do for us everyday. We are proud of you and thankful to have you serving our country. We hope that the Christmas boxes are an encouragement and a reminder of home. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year! -Student Council at SCES”
Desk of Ruth Ann Young
November 11, 2009
Good Morning Connie,
Just wanted to take a moment and say “thank you so much to Komo Television “…
It was a privilege to meet with you this last Monday before “Veterans Day .
We connected again with your viewers about Operation Iraq: The Spirit of Christmas.
All of you at Komo over the years have have been so supportive and understanding as to what this is all about. “Merely touching the hearts of our men and women on the front lines in Afghanistan this Christmas”.
We would love to have you all come and join in the festivities on the 20th of November at 6:00 to see first hand what this is really all about. At least 200-300 people (and probably more) will gather to pack these wonderful packages for our heroes… It is like decorating your home for days and finally being able to plug in the lights and see the beauty you have created! All kidding aside, it is an experience that you will certainly carry with you for many years to come, that I can promise! And bring the children, it is all about building futures as well, and we focus on that!
Thank you once again Connie and everyone at Komo, and we appreciate you continued support. It was a pleasure meeting our early morning hosts as well. We tune into Komo each morning at 5:00 and enjoy our coffee together. You all rock, and together we will get this job done.
Hope to see you on the 20th!
Blessings,
Ruth Ann Young
Operation Iraq
Desk of Ruth Ann Young
November 10, 2009
Lisa Brooks and Brian Calvert,
Just wanted to take a moment and give you both a sincere “thanks”.
It has been seven years since we started sending packages to the front lines.
Quite honestly I know KOMO Radio listeners have played an important part of this success. Together we have sent over 50,000 individual Christmas Packages…and from the beginning you have been there…
Thank you for your support, and hopefully we will get the job done one more time (8,000 a big goal)!
Please come and join us at the Butterfield Chapel on November 20th(the Friday before Thanksgiving). It is located within the Northwest University Campus. The packing for the students is in the morning, however my friends and family night is at 6:00 pm that same day! It would be an honor to have you both there!
It is simply a magnificent experience that I can assure you will be treasured for many years to come. Children are welcomed…We are planting wonderful seeds for the future, and the excitement is extraordinary for them as well… A couple hundred people I am quite sure will gather for this special event in support of our men and women so far from home this Christmas… Think about joining in the fun….
Once again a heartfelt “Thanks from our military” . These Christmas packages are going to be the best yet from our very Patriotic Northwest. And the volunteers working so hard behind the scenes here at home really appreciate your encouraging our listeners to take a look at the website when possible. Good things are happening, however the challenges are great in this area of donations as you might imagine.
P.S. We are still a 100% volunteer organization with no administration costs paid out to date…I share this with a lot of pride…. Have a great rest of the week my friends! You guys rock, and we love listening to the best!
Sincerely,
Operation Iraq Volunteers
Desk of Ruth Ann Young
November 09, 2009
Our Christmas card for the front lines was just completed last week by Deb and Ken Rice Direct Mailing Solutions here in Kirkland. They did a great job and I feel blessed to have been given one of their best designers (Julie, who truly understands the sacrifices our vets make, being a daughter of one). This 2009 Christmas card has just gone to print, and we should have them by the end of this week… A Christmas tree in an indoor Northwest rustic setting with a cozy fireplace burning seemed appropriate for this years card for our heroes. The flags were placed perfectly throughout this special tree and added the”Patriotism” we all feel here at home. She worked hard on this. Her efforts, with Ken and Deb’s generously will be appreciated in Afghanistan for sure in December. Direct Mailing solutions has really provided us with such a generous donation this year that will be placed in each and every box to the front lines….On behalf of all the men and women on the front lines this Christmas “THANK YOU SO MUCH”! Members of Kiwanis Kirkland, and friends of mine “Thank you so much”!
Desk of Ruth Ann Young
November 03, 2009
We would like to thank John and Mary Robinson from California. They packed with us the first year we sent out 6,700 individual boxes from The Spirit of Christmas shop in Kirkland. Wow Mary, that was 7 years ago…So good to have you on board from so far away… We miss you both, and I can picture you and our precious Dorothy Daily packing your hearts out during those first days. Wonderful memories for sure. Thanks so much for your continued support my friends.
Desk of Ruth Ann Young
November 02, 2009
A few of us gathered early this morning to promote Operation Iraq for our troops..
Our Kiwanis members Don Ross, Matt Gregory, Nancy Smithson, Darcie Gay,and Ed Irwin were all
able to rustle themselves out of bed to show support for our military men and women on the front lines
again this year.
Of course our Roxetta Groenen, Christopher Martin, daughter Nicole Alouf and(new friend Charles),
and our wonderful family from Tim’s all there to lend a helping hand.
King 5 News finally arrived to do their short taping for the evening news to be aired tonight..
We showed our determination to get the word out and everyone got busy unloading boxes of chips from our wonderful Tim’s Cascade chip company that has been with us for now 7 years….
Thanks, we could not have done this without all of you …An extra thanks to Matt for taking and sharing these photos.. Have a great rest of the day gang, and a heartfelt “thanks” from our young men and women that will receive these wonderful packages this Christmas….Together we will make this happen one more time for THEM….
Desk of Ruth Ann Young
November 01, 2009
We are so lucky to have some wonderful people on board once again this year.
First I would like to welcome back to Operation Iraq: The Spirit of Christmas, Roxetta Groenen (aka: Angel of Warehouse Management).
It is a real pleasure and privilege to have her in the ranks for 6 out of the 7 years that we have packed for our military men and women on the front lines. The warehouse could not run without our Roxetta for sure. People always look forward to bringing their donated goods because they know Roxetta is there to greet them with opens arms and a warm heart. What’s not love?
She and husband Gary both have a special place in their hearts for our troops, especially while they are so far from home at this challenging time in their lives.
On behalf of all the military located in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Thank you so much”, for helping us touch their hearts these last 6 Christmas’. We could not have done it without you….
Desk of Ruth Ann Young
November 01, 2009
Cindy Canavera (aka: Queen of Procurement) has been with Operation Iraq, as well, 6 out of the 7 years that we have sent our special Christmas packages to the front lines. Her donation of procurement throughout our local area has been nothing short of amazing. From lotions to sun block, to eye drops to magazines to dental supplies to lip balm to notepads and pens…you name it…our Cindy is on the front lines, here at home, keeping the wheel turning to make sure these boxes are packed full with the very best for our troops.
Desk of Ruth Ann Young
November 01, 2009
Our Thanksgiving moment came early this year! Ruth Ann and Nicole traveled down to Fife and experienced a moment that we will always hold memorable in our hearts. MEGA Brands has stepped up to the plate now, for 3 years, but this year by far has been the most giving of all. We stood there in amazement, as Bernard showed us the many pallets of Christmas toys that MEGA Brands had so generously set aside for this year’s donation. It became very apparent that there was a possibility that most of our 8,000 individual care packages would include a seed of hope in promoting peace on the front lines. A heartfelt thanks to MEGA Brands!!
A brief recap of how our relationship with MEGA Brands began: We received an email, 3 years ago, from one of our soldiers on the front lines, in Iraq. He requested a toy that might be included in each Christmas package to promote peace through an Iraqi or Afghan child on Christmas morning. Please see this full story further down on this page, which was truly a Christmas miracle.
Desk of Ruth Ann Young
November 01, 2009
We would like to thank John and Mary Robinson from California. They packed with us the first year we sent out 6,700 individual boxes from The Spirit of Christmas shop in Kirkland. Wow Mary, that was 7 years ago…So good to have you on board from so far away… We miss you both, and I can picture you and our precious Dorothy Daily packing our hearts out during those first days. Wonderful memories for sure. Thanks so much for your continued support my friends.