03/24/03
Students gathering supplies for Marines overseas
TOM MORROW
Staff Writer
North County Times
Teachers James Harris and Collette Maranda, student council advisors at Oceanside's Nichols Elementary School, are teaching their students respect and compassion for others through acts of kindness by collecting items that can be sent overseas to military personnel in war zones.
"We are in the process of starting an effort through the Operation Interdependence™ organization to show our appreciation for all they (military) do, and to do what we can to make their lives a little more bearable while on a difficult deployment," says James.
"The organization is called 'Operation Interdependence™' because we depend on them, and they depend on us," Collette added. "For this to be a successful service-learning project we will need your (parents' and community's) help. We will be sending letters and care packages to troops serving in a very tough environment. We are in the process of adopting Marine platoons, and all donations will go directly to them."
The kids are collecting all sorts of items most of us take for granted.
"Think about it from their (military personnel's) point of view," says James. "If you were on the worst backpacking trip of your life, with no stores around for six months, what would you want to drop out of the sky?"
Some of the suggested items include: cookies, Q-tips, toilet paper, snacks, body powder, baby wipes, dental supplies, skin lotion, hard candy, beef jerky, Neosporum, medicated chap stick, phone cards, sunflower seeds, powdered drinks, dried fruit, sun screen, eye drops, playing cards, writing tablets, pens, wooden pencils, shaving supplies, mini-flashlights, batteries (AA, AAA, C, and D), quart-sized Ziploc bags, gum, crossword puzzles, and comic books.
Operation Interdependence™ officials emphasize that all foods and personal items must be sealed in the manufacturers' wrappers.
Call James and Collette at (760) 435-7400.
S'GHETTI TIME ---- The Oceanside Kiwanis Club will host an "all you can eat" spaghetti and meatball dinner from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Flying Bridge Restaurant. All proceeds will benefit the youth charities of the club. Cost: $8.50 per person. Tickets available from all Oceanside Kiwanis members or at the door. Call (760) 966-0767 or (760) 433-2833.
DATE SAVER ---- The Women's Resource Center will host a black-tie (optional) dinner dance June 28 at Pala Mesa Resort Cliff Terrace in Fallbrook. The Chuck Hahn Quartet will provide jazz background music. Then at 7:30, a three-course dinner will be served under the shelter. After dinner, The A Team will provide music to dance until 11. Cost: $125 per person, with tables of eight: $1,000. Call (760) 757-3500.
Notes for Tom Morrow can be e-mailed to tmorrow@nctimes.com, faxed to (760) 757-2072, or call (760) 901-4074. Find his previous columns on the Internet at www.nctimes.net.