03/27/03
Troops get comfort from home in baggies
Marine Corps. vet makes sure that every soldier gets a note, goodies
By DIANA SHOLLEY
STAFF WRITER
DailyBulletin.com
One man can make a difference. And for thousands of American troops far from home, Albert R. Renteria is that man.
Renteria is national director for the Navy League of the United States and a 26-year veteran of the Marine Corps. In December 2001 he launched Operation Interdependence™, a unique way of connecting civilians and military personal.
Through Operation Interdependence™, civilians everywhere fill quart-size Ziploc bags with small tokens of support. The inexpensive items can include candy, playing cards, gum, pens, dental floss, disposable razors and disposable cameras.
For those having trouble knowing what to put in a bag, Renteria has a suggestion.
"Imagine you were on the worst backpacking trip of your life that would last six months and there were no stores around and ask yourself, "What would I like to fall out of the sky,' " he said.
Also included in each bag should be $1 for postage and a personal note from the sender, the most crucial addition, Renteria said.
"I'm lucky I have a wife and family, but there were times when I was far from home it felt like a long time would go by without a word from home and I would get lonely," Renteria said.
"But then I would hear from my family and feel better. You can't imagine what that letter would mean to me. I can only imagine how hard it is for some of these people who have no one and receive nothing. It makes such a difference for them to know that somebody cares, that they're not forgotten."
The bags are then gathered in groups of 50 bags or 30 pounds, packed in boxes and shipped to the troops. The packages are restricted to this size to make delivery and distribution simple. Troops can grab a bag while training and there is no organization needed as to who gets what. Each person gets one.
Renteria, of Fallbrook, was in Upland last month speaking to the Chaffey Community Republican Women, Federated. In January the group adopted Operation Interdependence™ as its personal mission and also has been coordinating other organizations that choose to get involved.
In charge of the Inland Valley effort is Diane Fedele, member of the Chaffey Republican group. Fedele had read about Renteria's movement in January and immediately wanted to get involved. She brought the idea to her club and the support was overwhelming.
Her commitment is to send 50 bags a month for six months, but she has blown that figure out of the water.
"Last month we sent 350 bags and this month it will be over 750," Fedele said.
Included in that number is the 500 bags donated from Upland Christian School, whose students have joined the mission.
Fedele said word of mouth is spreading the cause far and wide and several other groups including the Rancho Cucamonga Women's Club are anxious to get involved and have already contacted her.
"Picking up baggies has almost become a daily event," she said. "But I don't mind, not at all."
Being a part of Operation Interdependence™ gives people a way to show their support and gratitude to the troops, Fedele said.
"Many of us have a need to get involved, this meets that need," she said. "It's a way to say thank you and that we appreciate you and what you're doing to protect our freedom."
Sharon Varga, also a federation member, got her Rancho Cucamonga Kiwanis club involved.
"It's just so neat and such a little and easy thing to do that means so much," Varga said.
Operation Interdependence™ is now in 45 states and 450 cities with new cities joining every day, Renteria said.
"I hope everyone gets involved," he said. "This is something that has nothing to do with war, politics, religion - it's just people reaching out to people, that's what interdependence is all about."
Renteria showed the gathering of about 100 people photos of service men and women receiving the baggies.
"They're like kids in a candy store," he said. "They're all smiles and are so excited. They didn't expect it and are so thankful for it."
@tag:Diana Sholley
can be reached at (909) 483-8542 or by e-mail at d_sholley@dailybulletin.com.