09/18/04
Rally today will collect items to be sent to troops
By Jessie
Halladay
jhalladay@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal
Lynn Romans routinely packed up boxes of treats, toiletries and games to send
her son, Sgt. Darrin Potter of Louisville, while he was serving in Iraq.
Since Potter's death, Romans continues to help send care packages to other
troops stationed in Iraq through Operation Interdependence, a nonprofit
organization that operates nationwide.
Potter, a member of the Kentucky Army National Guard, died nearly a year ago
while serving in Baghdad.
"This is kind of a way of healing and kind of remembering him," Romans said.
"This is something he would want me to do for others."
Operation Interdependence launches its first official Kentucky chapter today
with a rally in Louisville to support the troops at 1 p.m. at 801 Barret Ave.,
in the parking lot at Kindred Hospital.
During the rally, which should last about an hour, people can drop off items
that can be sent to the troops. Items should be small enough to fit in a small,
zippered plastic bag — such as lip balm and sample sizes of shampoo and other
toiletries.
Though she didn't know Potter personally, Jessica Parrish, the Kentucky
manager for the organization, said she got more inspired after hearing how much
getting care packages meant to him.
"I felt that I wanted to and needed to let them know we support them,"
Parrish said.
More information on how to get involved with Operation Interdependence is
available at www.oidelivers.org, or you can e-mail Parrish at
jparrish@oidelivers.org.