Sending Christmas Cheer
Wendy Johnson
The Pine Journal

While folks in our part of the world are dreaming of a white Christmas, many of our native sons and daughters serving in the Middle East are as far-removed from snow as they are from home. One thing is for certain, however – they will be receiving a small slice of home at Christmastime nonetheless.

Students in the Kids Corner School Age Child Care Program at Churchill and Washington elementary schools in Cloquet gathered on Monday afternoon to assemble special care packages for local troops serving overseas in the Middle East. The project comes as the result of a year-long initiative to support Operation Interdependence, a nonprofit organization that allows people at home to say thank you to the soldiers who are defending our country.

The local group of young people held numerous fund raisers last summer, such as lemonade stands and rummage sales, placing collection cans at area businesses and selling popcorn to raise money for supplies to send to the local troops. They have also written letters and drawn pictures for the servicemen, both at Halloween and now again for Christmas.

Along the way, the Kids Corner program has received tremendous support from the community, area businesses and groups such as the Women of Today.
“We are grateful for all the wonderful donations and support from area businesses, groups and individuals,” said Kids Corner’s Sandy Franke.

Donations for the Christmas care packages for the troops included candy, Slim Jims, toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, pens, snacks, playing cards, Wet Wipes, eye drops and cash. Frankie said funds raised or donated were also used to purchase additional items and to defray the cost of shipping charges.

During Monday’s packaging sessions at both schools, some 120 gift bags were assembled – one for every member of the Cloquet-based National Guard unit.
Overall, Operation Interdependence sends cards, letters and treats to some 200,000 soldiers throughout the world.