HELP SEND HOLIDAY CHEER TO TROOPS **updated 11/19**

[lovinclay]

Well, this just warms my heart!  Thank you, Michelle, for getting us involved!   

[Moonshot]

Give yourselves a big because y'al just DOUBLED the goal we had set. That's right. Claymaniacs donated $500 to help cover the cost of shipping gift-loaded stockings to Brett's Marine unit. The extra money will be used by the group doing the stockings to purchase more items for the stockings. Their goal was 60 stockings and anything more would be sent to another Marine unit. I'll find out this weekend how many stockings were actually put together and update this thread.

Again, thank you all so much.

[Pamela]

Wow!  You all are incredible! 

Thanks to everyone who contributed, and thanks to Michelle for bringing us this wonderful project.

Your thoughtfulness will make the season much more special for some very brave young men and women who can't be home with their families for the holidays. 

 

PS - If you have not yet received an acknowledgement of your gift, you will by tomorrow, unless I don't have your email or screen name.  If you don't hear from me by tomorrow night, please email me!

pamela@claymaniacs.com

[Pamela]

Here's a pic of the booty that was contributed by Marilyn, Micki, Lolita and Barb H.
Thank you ladies!



Thanks also to Tiffany, Barb P, Betty M, Barbara H, Shirley L, Maureen K, Becky O, Jill Q, Angela C, Debbie H, Barbara H, Micki I, Karen B, Frankie M, Gwenn H, Marion W, Karen G, Carol E, Joan B, and Nancy K!!



Thanks again to Michelle for bringing us this wonderful project!



I hope to have pics of the stocking stuffing later this afternoon!  Thank you all again so very much!



[attachment deleted by admin]

[Moonshot]

I will be passing along the $500 (I just love saying that! ) today to the people sending the stockings. I have included a short note with the money:

Faye,

Claymaniacs.com is honored to present you with $500 to assist with the cost of shipping Christmas stockings to Brett’s unit. Claymaniacs.com is a caring group of fans who have become a large family. We love every opportunity to reach out and help others. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of sending a little bit of home to the brave men and women serving far away. Our thoughts and prayers are with them and with you this holiday season.


The Members of Claymaniacs

Thank you all again for being the wonderful people you are.

ETA: Spoke to someone about the stockings. They managed to make and fill 70 stockings! They also said that they are going to start a little fund to be able to do this twice a year. They'll send boxes in Summer and again at Christmas. They are very appreciative of our support this time. When I hear more about the Summer collection I'll let y'all know! Thank you again for stepping up and blowing the doors off of our goal.

[Marilyn]

MICHELLE, THATS WONDERFUL!!!

I LOVE CLAYMANIACS!!

[Pamela]

As promised, here are a few pics from the stocking stuffing yesterday! The Raleigh Claymates and fans from other areas, including our Claymaniacs, provided tons of items for the stockings.  From socks and candy to stationary and batteries, peanut butter, pringles, coffee, crossword puzzle books.... tons of stuff to eat, drink and play with!

Getting organized...

Stuff!

More stuff!

Stockings! The stockings were all hand made and some of them were decorated by some local schoolkids as well.

Stuffed stockings!

Packing the boxes... this is Bob and Jan.  They are fans, and Bob is a Korean war veteran.

This isn't even half of it!


Faye and all the Raleigh fans that participated were very grateful for your contributions.  Especially because there were lots more boxes packed than were originally expected!

Lots of candy was packed; I mean...lots!  This is good, because the Marines and soldiers often give candy to the Iraqi children. 

I know how much the young men and women in the military appreciate these types of efforts, because my nephew was there for 18 months, and he shared with me how much it means.  I'm sure Brett and his unit will enjoy and appreciate everything that was done, and it was your contributions that will help get the booty to them!

It was very rewarding personally to be able to participate in this project, and again, I thank Michelle for bringing it to us, and ALL of you for the items you sent, your monetary donations, your good thoughts and well wishes.

[lovinclay]

OK, you knew this would make me cry, didn't you, Pamela. 

It was a real joy being able to participate in this project!  Who knows, maybe next time I'll fly down and join the fun! 

[Her]

I received this yesterday...

A Different Christmas Poem
>
>
>       The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
>       I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
>       My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
>       My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
>       Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
>       Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
>       The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
>       Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
>       My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
>       Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
>       In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
>       So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
>
>       The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
>       But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
>       Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
>       Sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
>       My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
>       And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
>       Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
>       A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
>
>       A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
>       Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
>       Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
>       Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
>       "What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
>       "Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
>       Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
>       You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
>
>       For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
>       Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
>       To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
>       Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
>       I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night." "It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
>       That separates you from the darkest of times.
>       No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
>       I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
>       My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,"
>       Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
>       My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
>       And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
>       I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
>       But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
>
>       Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
>       The red, white, and blue... An American flag.
>       I can live through the cold and the being alone,
>       Away from my family, my house and my home.
>       I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
>       I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
>       I can carry the weight of killing another,
>       Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
>       Who stand at the front against any and all,
>       To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."
>
>       "So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
>       Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
>       "But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
>       "Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
>       It seems all too little for all that you've done,
>       For being away from your wife and your son."
>       Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
>       "Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
>       To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
>       To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
>       For when we come home, either standing or dead,
>       To know you remember we fought and we bled.
>       Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
>       That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."
>