HUGS - Jan '10 (Part 2)
We received the two packages of goodies and we loved everything that was in there. We really appreciate the Holiday Wishes and support that you all have given and shown. It helps to keep our spirits up in this time of family separation. Thank you for the time, effort, and care that went into the boxes. It made our day and the rest of the week too.
Yours truly,
The 1ESPCS Airmen
Thank you for the package! Of course, it's always great to get food, but books and the homemade Mancala and Sequence boards help pass the time during our little bit of down time. We had a great New Years, grilled out and had some real food. The homemade cookies and candy you sent were our dessert. I hope you had a great New Years and best of luck to you in the new year. Thanks again, we all really appreciate your thoughts and support.
CPT Kenny O
I am SFC Kevin B. stationed in Bagram. This is my fourth deployment and hopefully my last as my retirement will be forthcoming in a couple of years. Over the past two months, many boxes have arrived from the HUGS Project. Although, you may only receive a few letters saying thank you, I want to let you know that there is not one soldier who is not appreciative. All that effort and hard work each and every one of you put in to make our lives just a bit easier is remarkable. It is ironic that the box, which was given to me, included a coffee mug with OU on it. No more plastic cups...LOL. Even though I am from PA I have always been an Oklahoma Sooner fan. This is for all sports including football. I know we did not have a great year since Sam Bradford was injured but I never lose faith in my team. Matter of fact I am drinking coffee from my mug right now. Even thought we're not allowed to wear civilian clothes over here I still brought my OU sweatshirt.
Thank you to all of you and the endless volunteer hours that many of you put in throughout the year. Believe me it does not go unnoticed and unappreciated. God bless all of you and may all of your dreams come true this new year.
Sincerely,
Kevin J. B.
***Note from Karen – We sent out almost 4,000 packages and we didn’t receive that many OU mugs in our donations this year. So the fact that this young man got a box that included one reminds me once again that God has a hand in this. We see Him at work so often in this project.
Hello. I am SPC Carl W. We are here in Afghanistan. Our job is route clearance. Six days a week we ride the road looking for IEDs. It's a dangerous job, but has to be done. I want to thank you for your gifts. It means a lot to us knowing that there are people like ya'll that care about and support us. Most especially around the holidays. It means alot to get things from home even if you are strangers to us. So for that I salute you and thank you from the bottom of my heart. God bless you and we love ya'll.
Forever grateful,
SPC Carl W.
The following are excerpts from cards and letters of thanks from troops who received Christmas boxes from The Hugs Project.
Thank you so much for taking the time to think of all of us protecting America and Afghanistan. I recently received a care package from you and was humbled by your support.
I'm currently deployed to Afghanistan until July 2010. I am with the Agri-business Development Team. We are here to help local farmers and introduce different crops and different ways to improve their yield of the crops that they are currently growing. Every day I get to see Afghanistan children going to school. The difference between our children and children here is that they wear the same clothes day after day, walk to school (some walk for over an hour), they all wear old sandals and their school is just an empty room with nothing on the walls and old metal desks. They do not go to school from November to early March because very few have electricity, which means no heat and it gets very cold here. We are blessed to live in America and blessed that our children are able to go to school every day and learn and to decide what they want to be when they grow up.
Right now the weather is cold. When the sun drops behind the mountains in the evening the temperature drops into the single digits and highs climb into the 30's during the day. I must admit that this is a beautiful country and it is often hard to realize that I am in a war zone when you look around at all the beauty.
Thanks again for your support...it means the world to us and gives us peace of mind that we are supported.
Your American Soldier Friend,
Catherine C.
Hello,
I wanted to thank you for your support. Please know that it means so much to the soldiers here in Iraq. All your efforts of support do not go unnoticed. Thanks!
Sgt. Mark H
Received the kind re-supply box from you today. Contents promptly shared with Marines and Sailors here. Thanks.
Stephen Mc, M.D. (Stephen's wife is a member of our project here in OKC)
Member of the Hugs Project,
I wanted to thank you for the packages that were sent to myself and the other members of the squadron! The gifts and cards were exactly the taste of home and pick-me-up that we needed. I hope you all know how much your time, efforts, and love are appreciated!
MSgt Derek B.
Thank you for the Christmas package. It was a very unexpected surprise. The packages all seemed to arrive on the same day and we sat in a circle opening the boxes. I was very excited about the marshmallows for hot cocoa. Most of the other stuff I shared with other soldiers on the FOB not getting packages.
God bless you.
Martha S.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful gifts to me and my fellow Airmen. It was such a blessing to know that people were thinking of us, particularly during Christmas time. I am humbled by the outpouring of thanks from the folks back home. While I have a wonderful and supportive family myself, not everyone is so lucky. We appreciate your involvement and graciousness to our troops, which goes beyond supportive words to tangible action. Your efforts are a blessing to many. Thank you very much.
Jason
Okay, me again. Do you all love reading the messages from our troops as much as I do? Well, give Daffy a {{{hug}}} the next time you see her and tell her thanks. I'm much better about sharing them with you since she's helping me get them off paper and in computer form.
We had a busy week and have had a lot of new volunteers find us because of the Disney Give a Day....Get a Disney Day promotion. I hope that those who have worked with us already and those who are scheduled for future times and days will discover how great it feels to care for those who defend America. Time will tell.
We're hard at work in OKC gearing up for summer. Yes, SUMMER...it will be here before you know it and we want to be ready. We're making cooling ties and you are welcome to join us any W (10-4), Th (9-3) or S (10-4) in Suite 1048. Our regular volunteers know that we're very come and go so you can come after your Dr's appt or leave in time to pick up your grandkids, etc. The only time we ask that people work a full day is if they are a Disney volunteer and want verification to earn a ticket to one of the theme parks.
Karen
Here are a few more of those letters that came in by email.....
We received your care package, the homemade candy was a huge hit!! I can’t tell you enough how much we appreciate your support. Please pass our thanks along to all who were involved in putting all the goodies together.
Greetings,
My name is SFC Joshua T and I recieved a care package from your organization from another Soldier. I myself am originally from Oklahoma and found it heartwarming to discover how small the world is. I wanted to personally extend to each and every one of you my thanks for the hard work and thought you put into what you do, in support of us over here. I wish I could send you some pictures but I don't have a digital camera right now. I can assure you however that I am enjoying the new pair of socks, will be reading the book soon and used the shampoo you sent about 15 minutes ago! Your package was further divided by three other Soldiers who got grins as big as mine as they looked thru it. Please feel free to respond back I can usually check my email every few days or so depending how busy I am.
With heartfelt thanks,
SFC T, Joshua
1st Brigade Combat Team 1st Armored Division
FOB Warrior, Iraq
PS I hung the felt ginger bread man on the wall for a little holiday cheer! Thanks!!!!
We all wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year. Without your help and generosity we would not have had a good Christmas. Jim
Dear Mrs. Stark,
As I get ready to head back to Little Rock AFB and I reflect on my deployment, one of the most memorable things from this deployment is the
overwhelming support of the American people. I am simply in awe of the care packages, the greeting cards from American children, thoughts and prayers
hat we have received in my time here. It is truly symbolic of the support of a grateful nation, which we are proud to serve.
On a personal note, I sincerely appreciated the Thank You LED flashlight and everything else you sent me. It is sterling reminder of why we serve; both our country and Patriotic Americans.
You have provided outstanding support during this rotation. Again, please convey my sincere gratitude to The Hugs Project We
are very appreciative of the support, thoughts, and prayers of our nation.
Most Respectfully,
Sean
I wanted to take a minute to thank you for the “hug” I acquired while in Iraq. It worked very well as a hand warmer on the colder mornings. This was a very useful item that was greatly appreciated. Thank you for your support of the military forces as well as for your thoughtful nature.
Best Wishes,
Russ
RUSSELL A. F, TSgt, USAF
Air Force Legal Operations
Just a brief note to say thank you for the care package. Since I have been here I have received a few care packages but receiving one from my home state was the best.
Thank you for all of your support.
Sincerely
MA2 Jared L.
Task Group Trident
OEF 09-10
MidwestCity, Oklahoma
Hello there to all you wonderful people of the Hugs Project. I am SGT G and I'm currently deployed to Afghanistan. I can only imagine the time and effort that you guys and gals put into it. On behalf of myself and all the Soldiers in my platoon i would like to say a big thank you to all of you for your dedication and time. It's really good to know that the people back at home care and are thinking of us from day to day. Hope everyone enjoyed the holidays and Happy New Year to all everyone at the Hugs Project.
Thanks again,
SGT G
Dear Project Members,
Over the holidays I received a wonderful package your organization
assembled for service members. Thank you so much for the box of items
that were obviously selected based on our needs, and for giving us a
taste of home while we are serving in Afghanistan.
Sincerely,
Capt Regina G
Hey Karen,
Thanks for getting back to me. I am sending some pics of the some of the soldiers having some of the things that were sent. Here are some of the soldiers who were able to share in what was sent, I hope you like the picture? Thanks again so much and as for what did I like - I loved anything you sent that was chocolate. If you have any ladies that likes to send baked goods - ;o) I would love to have some peanut butter cookies or peanut butter cookies with the Hersheys Kiss in the middle of it. I also like oatmeal cookies, no bake oat meal cookies, chocolate and peanut butter fudge, brownies and nuts are okay too. 7 Layer cookies are also good. Yes, I have a wicked sweet tooth.
You guys are so great for what you do. You brought a big smile to so many faces.
Sincerely,
Randy P
Dear Members of the Oklahoma City Chapter of the Hugs Project,
I would like to send you a quick THANK YOU from myself and my men for sending the wonderful goodies to us out here in Afghanistan. With no PX (store) within a hundred or so miles it is always great to receive packages...especially from citizens that we don't know. You see, we know our families support us 100%, but it is always great to hear from Americans who care enough to send us a package or even just a card saying thank you. It is Americans like you that keep us going when the times get tough, and believe me, there are plenty out here.
A little about my men and I. We are a small Reconnaissance Platoon (18 men) stationed out of Ft. Lewis Washington and have been deployed out here in Afghanistan for a little over 6 months. We spend half of our time (3 1/2 days at a time) on this desolate hill (see picture below - Morgan is lower left) overwatching the towns in the Maywand District which is half way between Kandahar and Helmand. We have our good days and our bad ones but for the most part the men are in high spirits and truly believe that they are making a difference not only in Afghanistan, but in the United States as well. When we are not on the hill, we spend our time on a small Combat Outpost conducting missions...not the type that you see in the movies or read about in the papers (although that kind of stuff does happen), instead we hand out school supplies, blankets, and provide other humanitarian aid to the people of Afghanistan. Our jobs are not glamorous and our days can be long and miserable but we know what we are doing is helping people.
Ok, well I should get going, thanks again for taking time out of your lifes to say thanks to a soldier and his men. If you have any more questions or would like to correspond, please feel free to write me back.
Sincerely,
1LT Morgan B
I just wanted to reiterate that I appreciate what you are doing for our Troops. I received both packages you sent. Many people were standing around to see what the boxes contained. Once we opened them it was like a bunch of sharks at a feeding frenzy. I kept the toiletries I needed, and the little LED solar flashlight (VERY useful, thanks). The rest of the gifts and food was shared with my staff section and several others. All expressed their gratitude to you and your organization.
Take care and God bless,
Emmanuel
I cannot thank you enough for everything. I am preparing to head home tomorrow after 6 months here at Mxxxx and have a new understanding of what the world is and how people make it better and worse. While I am a member of the armed forces, the most important lesson I learned out here, is that the children really are the future. I have had the opportunity to travel off base and meet the children here in this country just as I had the pleasure to meet many children speaking at schools back in the states.
I am a guardsmen so of course going home my first priority is to get a job, hopefully in my science specialties or the government. But I hope to mirror what you have done over here for the troops for the children of many of these central Asian and middle eastern countries. I know now what power they possess and even though a lot of time is necessary to see the benefit of our efforts, it is worth it. Because a day will come when I will be in some kind of important position in the government and these children will the leaders, ambassadors, and statesmen for their countries. And to see peace in the world, we have to all want it.
But the other side of the coin of peace is war. It is just as important to see through our soldiers until the very end because democracy is worth it. Everyone deserves the chance to see their voice heard and
their world change for the better. So thank you for everything you have done, are doing and will continue to do. Your work was an inspiration that I intend to follow. If you are ever in Virginia, look me up and
I’ll show you the sites. God bless you and the wonderful people of The Hugs Project.
Respectfully,
Christopher
I cannot thank you enough for the generosity you have shown with the care packages I have been receiving. I see the care and support you and the volunteers have towards myself and the rest of my comrades deployed here with me. There is so much I want to say, but in the end all that I can really think of is thank you. Thank you for the support and most of all thank you for not forgetting.
When first I received one of the packages, I was shocked because of the origin of the address. I’ve only been to Oklahoma twice in my life so seeing the address the packages were sent from was a real shock.
Thank you for thinking of us and keeping us in your prayers.
HUGS - Jan '10
Thank you so much for your thoughts and the boxes. The fact that so many of you took valuable time out of your schedule this holiday season to assemble, address and mail the boxes is not lost on the soldiers. Being away from loved ones during the holidays is never fun but the severity of it is magnified in a war zone. Your kind efforts helps ease the homesickness a soldier naturally feels this time of year. For many of the younger soldiers this is the first time they have not been with their families and the care packages help them cope with this fact. For the "older" more seasoned soldiers such as myself the care packages bring us joy as we watch the young soldiers eyes light up when they receive one. Thank you a thousand times over and God bless!
MAJ Steve E McC
Hello. I am serving in Afghanistan and I received a wool cap that you sent. Thank you very much for thinking of us and sending something useful. Seeing boxes of warm wool caps come in brightened everyone's day. These hats are warmer than anything that is issued, maybe because they are made with love.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Dave
Thank you for sending the hat. My Grandmother use to make all sorts of patterns like these all the time. She died 2 years ago at 94, I really miss her dearly. Thanks for bringing back my memories; she always is still in my heart.
Jonathan
It's Kevin again.
I got 4 boxes in the mail today (they were mailed on the 12th.... quick!).
THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!
Everything was appreciated so much by the guys and gals here.
It was all snapped up quickly. You and your network are truly amazing. The ornaments are already on the tree. I'll send a pic when I can.
I didn't have any left over for the other shift. So if you have anything
you want to get rid of, do send if possible. I didn't realize how many guys we had
here - there are about 50 on 2 twelve hour shifts.
It's a thank you to you for all that you do for us. Please use it for
people special to you or however you like.
Merry Christmas and Thanks Again from Afghanistan
-Kevin
Guess what? I really appreciate the time and effort you all put into all the stuff you sent in my Christmas box.
Yeah the christmas tree is really decorated now. You even sent us lights! WOW!!
I'll need to send a photo of it because it is mostly decorated with the decorations you sent to us.I gave them to our Intel Capt and she went wild with decorations all over the building.
Anyways, I am going to take a nap. We just landed and so I'm tired.
Joseph M.
I just got the boxes that you sent the other day. We loved the peanut candy and all the other goodies. Everything went FAST!! The Christmas ornaments were put on the tree by the girls so now we have true handmade Christmas ornaments. Everyone got excited knowing that we would have Christmas after all. The stores have been sold out of everything here so we thought our Christmas would be pretty bare.
Everything is going good out here just keeping busy. Hopefully everything is going good out your way. Thank you for everything from you and your volunteers. The generosity has been amazing.
Cpl Samuel W.
I saw a box of wool caps when I came into work today and couldn't resist! Along with many others here. Just want to say thank you for the wool caps and neck warmers. I’m so surprised that I managed to snag them because warm gear goes so fast around here. I especially liked the beanie that is green and grey. It matches my uniform. They are very warm and can not thank all of you with The Hugs Project enough for thinking about all of us over here. I saw your address on the stickers and felt the need to say thanks. That's when I noticed you were from Oklahoma! Which is funny because I am from Durant. Well, hope all is well there. I am really looking forward to visiting my family in Oklahoma again. Take care from a fellow Okie.
Jim S.
Hey Huggers,
You guys totally ROCK!!! Thanks from all of us in Southern Afghanistan. You make us realize that volunteering to fight for our country is the right thing to do. We're grateful for your support.
James T.
Karen and other members of HUGS,
I received an outstanding package from you the other day. It was great and the boys enjoyed it. Mail has been running slow around here. We have been pretty busy getting after it down here.
Respectfully,
Sam
Well, how about that? We got mail!!!
Out here you just don't find too much to make you really happy but getting a box from you all back in Oklahoma sure made me smile and lots of my friends too. I shared EVERYTHING with EVERYONE and because of you, we had a little tree, some decorations, homemade goodies and even some board games and little gifts that we could all admire. We spent the afternoon that day playing Macala and Sequence - we had a tournament. How cool is that?
Well, that's about all I have to say, just know that you all really hit the spot with everything you sent us. We really hope that we hear from you again whenever you can find time.
Romaro E.
The Hugs Project,
Thanks for making the difference in the lives of these fine Soldiers and Marines fighting overseas for and with the "Big Red One". I know they appreciated your kindness and thoughtfulness beyond measure, except for the Texas mug, of course. You are a great Americans! Thanks from an old Army Veteran.
"Combat Ed"
Hi Ya'll,
Lucky us, we just got a Christmas box! Sgt Callen is really appreciative of the snuff... he says he keeps meaning to e-mail you but just doesn't follow through... he is a busy guy - as with any good Sgt, he holds down about three or four jobs and we have been running him and Sgt Uselton ragged with the Mountain Lions. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about! In fact both of them are out today, so I decided to write you a thank you. I don't think they'll mind. We are getting down to the end here, so we probably only have enough time for one more box. Of course I want to go home, but this is also a GREAT mission and I know I will miss my Afghan National Army brothers. Again, thanks for all your support.
With great respect,
Dan
To Whom It May Concern,
My name is Kristopher W and I am a U.S. Marine stationed in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. I recently received a series of 3 care packages. I just wanted to write a short email to show my appreciation. There was a lot of useful things in these packages that are very sparse in this part of the world. I think its great that people like you care enough to raise the funds and help us out whenever we don't always have the means to help ourselves. Once again thank you and I hope to hear back.
R/S ,
Kristopher W
CCFI - June '09
The Center for Children and Families would like to thank you for your recent
donation of baby items and diapers.
As a non-profit agency, we depend on donors like you to help fulfill our
programs needs through monetary contributions and donations of goods and
services. Your gift contributes greatly to children and families in need, as
well as the overall quality of provided services.
Our mission is to improve the lives of children through partnerships with
families and communities, because every boy and girl deserves to grow up safe,
nurtured, and loved. We are grateful for you support of this important effort.
Linda Terrell, MHR
Executive Director
Parent - April '09
Ms Donna,
Erin really did well in the Showcase at Sooner Theater. Her voice filled the
theater and everyone commented to me what a joy she was and how well she did.
When her part was over, the theater screamed for her. It was almost
overwhelming. Most of the people know how far she has come and really support
her. I am so very proud of her for being so brave. Your organization has really
helped her realize she is a person on her own right and not the reputation of
her biological mother. That she is someone worth loving and deserves respect. I
can never tell you how much you and CAM means to me for working with me to help
her grow into the young woman she has become.
hugggggggs
Mary Jane
A Parent
Bridges - April '09
Dear Donna and CAM Team,
What a blessing your $1,500 donation is! We found out this week that we don't
have the funds to award college scholarships to two of the students who qualify.
We've been working to raise $4,000.00, and your check will bring us very close
to funding one of the $2,000.00 scholarships!. We're so thrilled. Thank you
both for your gift to Bridges and for the lessons you teach thru "One Night in
a Box."
Best,
Debra
Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma - Jan '09
CAM was awesome on Jan. 10th 2009. There were 28 people who signed in with them.
They worked on Food 4 Kids, Food 4 Kids prep and Senior feeding. We estimated
about 12,000 pounds of product was worked, which is equivalent to 9,230 meals.
We look forward to you scheduling another Saturday with us.
Thanks, Liz
Liz Brandon
Volunteer Supervisor
Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma
Baptist Children's Home - December '08
Dear Donna,
We would like to express our appreciation to you and the Community Action
Missions for providing the bowling activity for our children. The timing was
perfect because we are super busy during the holidays and this gave the children
an activity to look forward to while school was out. I am attaching the thank
you notes from the children and they talk about how much fun they had. Again,
thank you for providing a special activity for our children.
See Thank You Notes
In appreciation,
David G. Peck, Assistant Administrator
Baptist Children's Home
The #14 Foundation - November '08
WOW!!! Donna, I am so impressed by your group's desire to help others! Thank
you for being such great volunteers and people. We are really proud to have
groups (individuals) like CAM involved in The #14 Foundation. We pride
ourselves on operating in the spirit of giving - whether that be to children,
families or a senior citizen, and your efforts only serve to inspire us
further.
Thanks and God Bless!
Dawn Heupel
Feed the Children - November '08
Dear Donna,
Please accept my appreciation on behalf of Feed The Children, Inc. for your
volunteer work done on November 15, 2008. Your group worked with enthusiasm and
a great attitude. We appreciate your willingness to give the gift of time.
Thank you for coming to Feed The Children, Inc. The following are the totals
for work done on November 15th. 10 Pallets of Food Boxes = 400 Boxes = 9,125
lbs. 12 Pallet of Hygiene/Personal Care Boxes = 480 Boxes = 4,190 lbs. Plus the
work your group did in the Kid's Stuff area. The result of your groups work
will make a difference in the lives of 880 hurting children and their families!
Thank you for your help.
God Bless You.
Thank you for thinking of Feed The Children!!
Sincerely,
Veda Griffin
Volunteer Coordinator
NAIC - Sept '08
Dear Ms. Hooper:
I want to thank you and your crew for the great work you did last weekend. Your
assistance is greatly appreciated. NAIC is a nonprofit agency and cannot afford
to hire anyone to do the gardening that is needed. I have tried to do most of
the work myself but for health reasons I have not been able to keep up with it.
All of you did a marvelous job of weeding the beds, trimming the shrubs, and
tearing down the vines. Thank you so much for your help.
May God bless each of you for the work you do.
Sincerely,
H. N. "Sonny" Scott, Executive Director
NAIC - Norman Addiction Information & Counseling
view letter as pdf
Feed the Children - August '08
Dear Donna,
Please accept my appreciation on behalf of Feed The Children for your
volunteer work on Friday, August 1, 2008. Your group worked with enthusiasm
and a great attitude. We appreciate their willingness to give the gift of
time.
Thank you for coming to Feed The Children. The following are the totals for
work done on Friday: 9 Pallets of Hygiene Boxes = 360Boxes = 2,045lbs.
5 Pallets of Food for HELP Back Packs= 120 Boxes = 1,200 Bags of Food =
3,400lbs. The result of your groups work will make a difference in the lives
of 1,560 hurting children!
God Bless You.
Thank you for thinking of Feed The Children!!
Sincerely,
Veda Griffin
Volunteer Coordinator
Full Circle - August '08
Donna & CAM Volunteers,
It is just a delight to have your group come join us here at
Full Circle! They always are so kind and willing to do whatever is asked. Our
participants love having young people in the building, and it's a privilege to
partner with CAM each year.
Sincerely,
Full Circle
Jennifer Voss
Cornerstone Kids Ranch - July '08
Dear CAM,
Camp was tremendous! 125 kids the first week and 129 the 2nd. Had to turn
kids away both weeks. The ropes course was a success. Two great weeks!
Thank you again for everything CAM has done to help us reach and minister to
children. Just another huge step in getting Cornerstone up and running. I
really believe we'll have that lodge by next year and our whole ministry
thrust will take on a new level.
Dean Stone
Feed the Children - June '08
Dear Donna,
Please accept my appreciation on behalf of Feed The Children for your
volunteer work on June 19, 2008.
Your group worked with enthusiasm and a great attitude. We appreciate their
willingness to give the gift of time.
Thank you for coming to Feed The Children. We look forward to seeing you
again soon. The following are the totals for work on Thursday; 30 Pallets
of Hygiene/Personal Care Boxes = 1,200 Boxes = 12,045 lbs. The result of your
team's work will help make a difference in the lives of 1,200 hurting children
and their families!
God bless you and your youth.
Thank you for thinking of Feed The Children!!
Sincerely,
Veda Griffin
Volunteer Coordinator
Little River Zoo - June '08
Donna,
Thank you so much for your visit on Friday!!!! We appreciate you and your
wonderful group of volunteers, they were so awesome and the helped out so
much!!!!
Again Thank You,
Little River Zoo
Jennifer Mormann
Child SHARE - June '08
Donna,
Please pass my THANKS on to Patty Mills and her crew: Christy, Abi, Faith &
Mary. Not only were they a great work group, but they also got a lot done. I
usually take a picture, but forgot today. Anyway, please let them know how
thankful I am for their good work. Also, please remember us for a future work
site.
I appreciate all you've done for us and are doing for the community. It's a
wonderful ministry.
Take care,
Bob Brooke
Circle of Care
Child SHARE Coordinator
Bryan and Alecia Horner - June '08
WOW Donna – that is amazing! Such great leadership and devotion from such
young people is an inspiration to us all. And yours and Jerry's dedication to
making this possible is admirable in the least! Thank you for sharing these GOD
stories with us! Love and prayers,
Bryan and Alecia Horner
Christmas Meal - December '07
Donna,
Long story short (maybe!).....
Since we had already delivered all the Christmas presents by the last day of
school & I got the meal from you the first day of Christmas break, I had to
call & make plans to deliver the food.
The family that it was intended for had already left to go out of town, so I
just started calling other families that I knew would need good meal! Several
did not answer the phone, 2 actually had food coming from other agencies,
etc....
I was in the process of calling you & our custodian came into the office.
He asked why I was back, so I explained what I was doing. I asked if he would
help me carry the 'cold' food to the fridge. As we got to the lounge, I thanked
him for helping. When I turned to walk away, I noticed HUGE tears falling down
his cheek. I asked him if he was ok. He said that his family did not have much
$$$ for Christmas, much less dinner. He said if I didn't find a
family.............
Of course I gave him all the food. He was so excited! As I left, I heard him
in the lounge talking to his wife, crying. He could hardly even talk.
Normally I am not on the end of these transactions to see this kind of reaction.
Please thank everyone from CAM that made this possible as well as all the
toys/gifts you were able to provide.
I hope you have a great 2008!
THANKS!
stef
P.S. I see where you are going to the food bank...we have 40 families that
benefit from this!
You are awesome!
Box Tops for Education - October '07
Dear CAM,
Thank you! On Oct. 31 I mailed 6000 Box Tops for Education. While my
classes had collected a few, Donna brought me 5,657 as a contribution from
you all (CAM)! This $600 will be used for the Family and Consumer Science
program at Alcott Middle School. I have long wanted to do more enrichment
and service projects with my students, but you all know the schools have
been under budget constraints. I had been looking for a low-stress way to
put money into the FACS program, without doing a conventional fundraiser. I
received approval to collect the BoxTops from the administration last year,
and at the beginning of this fall, I had a HUGE surprise. Donna gave me an
enormous box of BoxTops!
Our first project will be to participate in the Hugs for Soldiers project.
As you know, it is very hot in the Middle East where our soldiers are. Hugs
is a project to give everyone of them a cool wrap that when soaked in cool
water, it will help them stand the heat. I am excited to say that this
project has been approved by Alcott's administration. I am not sure what
the extra funding will benefit, but whatever the organizations, I know our
students benefit from the realization that the skiils they learn in FACS
class assists others.
As we near the time to count the things we are thankful for in our lives, I
am thankful to a group I've never met. Thank you!
Mrs. Yvonda Sieber
Family & Consumer Science
Alcott Middle School
Feed the Children - August '07
Good Morning Donna,
On August 3rd CAM prepared 30 pallets totaling 2400 H.E.L.P.
Backpacks for homeless children throughout the USA.
Thank you for all you do...
"The Best Exercise for the Heart is Lifting Others Up"
Lynda Merchant
Volunteer Coordinator
Feed The Children, Inc.
Mark Berrier - August '07
I am great! We had a ball. I loved CAM. It was better than last time.
It was great to see you and Jerry. You guys look good, and tired, and joyful.
It's really awesome to see what CAM is becoming and how great a reputation it
has. I have to say that you are somewhat of an inspiration in that I have never
quite grasped how important organization is to a ministry until recently, and
I've seen somewhat of a pinnacle in your handling of CAM.
God bless,
Mark Berrier
McKinney, TX
Parent - August '08
I just wanted to send a thank you for the program my daughter, Desiree,
participated in this last week. I always ask after camps or outings what
was her favorite part and what was her least favorite. Her favorite part was
packing the boxes with the food and conquering the tape contraption and she
did not find anything to be least. She is excited to return to school and
let her NHS coordinator know about the voluteer opportunities as they are
required to provide community services as members. Again I thank you because
I know that it takes much coordination and effort for these events.
God bless,
Jamie
A Parent
Child SHARE - August '07
Thanks, Donna, for the wonderful group. Melissa was a good leader and the kids
worked together better than some adult groups I've had out. Please forward my
gratitude for a job-well-done.
Bob, Child SHARE Coordinator
Mary Abbott Children's House - July '07
I want to thank you for taking time out of your summer to volunteer at the
Abbott House. You all did an amazing job and we couldn't make it without our
volunteers. We try to create a home-like environment for the children and
families who have to come here. And a big part of that is their first
impression of the house, which is why what you guys did is so important. You
five helped create that homey feeling that people get when they first see our
facility. Thank you again for making our job easier. I pray that God will bless
each one of you for your service to others.
Sincerely,
Sabrina Yaw
Family Advocate/Volunteer Coordinator
Mary Abbott Children's House
Parent - July '07
Just wanted to thank you again for having Sydney. She had a great time at
the CAMp and went on and on about it. She was really trying to figure out
a way to get back there on Saturday!
Take care,
Laura
A Parent
Parent - July '07
Donna and Jerry...thank you so much for sharing God's love with Tabi this week.
I can see that she had a really great time as she shared some stuff on our ride
home. .... I think the Lord did something in her heart this week as she asked
if she could sign up for the August CAM before we even got home.
Ratu
A Parent
Parent - July '07
Donna,
Raymond loved the CAM Camp. He thanked me four times on the way home for
letting him go. He talked about how everyone's eyes seemed to shine with the
love of Christ and how he wanted that as well. He talked about true
Christianity and how he thinks he would like to be baptized again (maybe)
because it would mean more to him now. Your camps have played an amazing part
in his spiritual growth. It was wonderful to hear him talk all the way home.
I wish I had a tape recorder so that you could hear the excitement and awe in
his voice. Thank you so much.
Renee
A Parent
Reynolds Whalen
I have been involved with Community Action Missions (CAM) for four years now.
From the moment I began participating, I knew I had entered something special.
CAM provides a wonderful atmosphere for young people to interact and learn more
about themselves and each other through God.
At my first CAM summer camp, I discovered a whole new way to worship God.
Coming from a traditional Episcopalian background, I had never been exposed to
praise and worship or evangelism. Needless to say, this style of worship
surprised and excited me. This part of CAM has always inspired me and remains
one of my favorite aspects of the organization. CAM provides a place for people
of all denominations to join and work together for one common goal: to glorify
God through service in our community. Service is a fundamental part of all
Christian churches.
Since my involvement with CAM, I have obtained over one hundred hours of
community service, working for over twenty agencies across our region. I have
also grown as a leader. The Youth Advisory Council (YAC) has challenged me with
numerous obligations, such as preparing four-day service camps, leading music
for worship, and presenting organized devotions that inspire thoughtful
discussion. CAM and YAC have enhanced my talents and organizational strategies,
giving me an ideal opportunity to channel these into my community.
The lessons I have learned from CAM will stay with me for the rest of my life.
The worth of my appreciation for human suffering and basic aspects of the human
condition cannot be described in words. Only God truly understands. The only
word we have is “love.”
Danielle Tipton
Community Action Missions is a great organization that God is using to help
people in this area. I first learned of CAM when Donna came to an on-campus
Bible study my sophomore year in High School. I attended my first CAMp the next
August, and it was an awesome experience. It was great getting out of the four
walls of a church and actually ministering to and helping others.
This past August 2003 I wanted to be even more involved in what God is doing
through CAM, so I joined the Youth Advisory Council. We help to plan the CAMps
as well as the year-round services, lead the monthly meetings, and give input to
the board about where CAM is heading.
CAM has helped me grow greatly. The CAM slogan, “Putting skin on the gospel,”
has made me see the impact that service has on people. Before my involvement in
YAC, I had a tendency to be the responsible person thrown into leadership roles
with no real power to make decisions. My involvement in YAC has helped me
become someone who likes to help with making decisions that actually affect
people.
The organization has also made me much more aware of how many people are under
hardships in my hometown. If I had never had the chance to help serve them,
I wouldn’t even know that there were people who needed help. I would have
never been exposed to them at all. I always envisioned the only people in need
as living overseas and dying physically. Although those people need help as
well, we cannot ignore the people who are spiritually and emotionally dying
around us because of their hardships concerning food, pregnancy, homes, health,
and many others every day issues most of us take for granted. Helping revive
these people is the mission of Community Action Missions, and I now see it
as one of the most needed missions today.
Welcome
Another Youth Group trip to Mexico? Hardly.
Community Action Missions focuses on helping young people minister to others
in their own community. We currently sponsor local Summer Mission CAMps
in the Oklahoma City area as well as service activities and get-togethers during
the schoolyear. It's an awesome way to help those in need alongside young
people from many churches and without breaking parents' bank accounts.
Our Vision
CAM is a ministry providing the Body of Christ with
ways to serve the community.
We strive to:
- teach young people the importance of helping in their communities
- build unity in the Body of Christ by giving young people of all denominations
an opportunity to serve God together
- challenge participants to step up to leadership roles in their churches and
communities
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