12/06//2003
Women's
club ships gifts to U.S. troops
Soldiers in Iraq write they like group's monthly care packages
By Esther Suh, Correspondent
Ventura County Star
Daryl Reynolds of Thousand Oaks loves the fact that the troops stationed in the Middle East are enjoying the packages she and her women's club send monthly.
Reynolds, 59, belongs to the Conejo Valley Republican Women's group, and members have sent packages to the military since April.
The servicemen and women deployed in Iraq say the packages of chips, gum and toothbrushes make life in Iraq a little easier. They wrote thank-you letters expressing their gratitude.
"It's important that we support them at this time," Reynolds said.
The women's group is participating in Operation Interdependence™, which is one of several programs that send care packages to soldiers in duty. It was started by retired Chief Warrant Officer Albert R. Renteria, who wanted to find ways to support service men and women overseas.
Reynolds coordinates the operation for her group and sends the packages to Oceanside to be shipped overseas.
Justin Powell, a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps, described his fellow soldiers as "kids in a candy store" when they opened the bags. The packages are much appreciated, and they use the contents daily, he said in a letter.
Reynolds exchanges correspondence with Powell, and they write about their love for ice hockey. She is a Los Angeles Kings fan, while he is devoted to the Chicago Blackhawks.
"It's so fun to hear from them because we were sending these boxes," Reynolds said. "We don't do it to just hear from them, but it is rewarding to hear their responses."
Reynolds said she felt she had to be part of the effort because her son Wayne Reynolds, 29, has been in the Marine Reserves for 11 years. Fortunately, he has not been deployed, she said.
The group sent items to members of the 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines for six months.
The group is now assigned to send packages to the military police of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
Reynolds sends out a 30-pound box full of assorted items in 50 quart-sized bags each month.
They send only sealed items permitted by the program.
The troops have also received copies of Reader's Digest, Nerf footballs and Frisbees. They really like disposable cameras, she said.
She appreciates the enthusiastic response she received from everybody who donated.
"I was getting phone calls from all over the county wanting to donate," she said. "My dentist donated 50 toothbrushes."
Moorpark High School teacher Jeanine Alexander wanted to participate, and her class signed holiday cards to the soldiers.
People would rather spend time preparing these packages than sending out checks for postage, she said.
"There are nieces and nephews over there," Reynolds said. "We should support the troops no matter what party we're in. We're going to continue as long as we can."
Reynolds may be contacted at darylmreynolds@hotmail.com.