Operation Write Home **Address!**

[Basketlady]

I posted this under the swaps, but thought I would add a note here as well...

My daughter's Girl Scout troop is doing a card drive for Operation Write Home, an organization that sends handmade cards overseas to deployed troops. They in turn use the cards to send to their loved ones. (They don't keep the cards, they send them to kids, spouses, parents, etc.)

If you would be interested in making a card (or two) for this project, check out the other thread. It's a great project!

Michelle

[Cat]

Ladies be sure to visit swaps....this is a great program !!!

Hugs & Prayers
Cat

[Karen W]

I challenge the SL Divas to make 5 or more for this cause.

I know you all can do it.

Karen

[AnnaMatrix]

Great idea, Karen! I'm in for five. Who else will take the challenge?? Gail

[Cat]

I'll take up Karen's challenge....



Cat

[Basketlady]

I'll do five! This will be fun!

Michelle

[actos]

I am getting a stack ready for you. Deborah

[Basketlady]

Thanks Deborah!

We are getting a PO box so that the girls aren't giving out their address to receive the cards. The lady I need to talk to wasn't in on Monday and I'm on some muscle relaxers now and can't drive. So I need to go back next week and get the PO box straightened out.

Michelle

[Cat]

I'll be working on my cards this coming Saturday all day & on Sunday afternoon. I can hardly wait to get started. I have several ideas floating around in my head waiting to be put to paper.


Cat

[Basketlady]

Thanks everyone!

Just remember not to make Christmas cards! The deadline for sending holiday cards overseas has already passed. But you know there is a huge need for any other kind of card!

Michelle

[milamemories]

Michelle, when do they have to be in by?

Thanks,

Mila

[Basketlady]

I would like the cards by December 1. That way, the girls can work on packaging the cards up at their December meeting and we can meet the deadline for Valentine's Day cards.

Michelle

[AnnaMatrix]

Michelle, I've finished my cards... Do you have the address to send them to?

I really had a great time making them! Used the Special Delivery Set, cutting front panels from my stash of print scraps, then cut a bunch of cards from solids, matched them up, and used my collection of extra embellies/die cuts to decorate. Since no glitter is allowed, of course I had to bling with some stick-on gems! I wound up with 30 cards in no time at all.

Hope you and the scouts decide to do this project a few times a year. It's a great way to do a good deed and use up extras at the same time. Thanks for doing this, Michelle! Gail

[Basketlady]

Gail, I will send you the address.

Today was the Fall Festival here in town for the Girl Scouts. We collected over 50 letters that the younger scouts wrote for the Any Hero letters. They were really sweet about it and several girls wrote multiple letters.

This is a fun project and I can't wait to see all the cards that everyone is making!

Michelle

[Cat]

Oh My Goodness, Gail!!! I'm still working on my first 10 cards. You are super fast at making cards.
I can't wait to see your cards.......I love your work; especially the scrapbook page with the deer on Susan's blog.

Hugs
Cat

[AnnaMatrix]

Cat, thanks, and right back at ya'! I still love to look at the hat card you made for one of the contests - it is beautiful, and so imaginative. Gail

[Cat]

Thank you Gail, I had forgotten you ended up with that card. I'm glad you are enjoying it.

Michelle, I agree with Gail. I hope you and the Girl Scouts decide to do this several times a year. It's a great project. I enjoy making cards especially for a great cause.


Cat

[Basketlady]

I just got my first batch of cards today from That Lynne. And she sent some AnyHero letters from her boys. Thanks Lynne! She's my BFF for years and years now and lives in Albuquerque. We knew each other when our babies were just that--babies! And now we have teen aged boys!

If I see the sun tomorrow, I'll post some pictures of her work. Lynne, you did a great job--I love them!

Michelle

[Cat]

Michelle, I'm almost finished with my cards, and will need to mail them out this next week. Please send me the address.


Cat

[Karen W]

Michelle - just checking if you received my cards?

Karen

[Basketlady]

Not yet, Karen. Maybe tomorrow. I've gotten cards from several Divas. I'm hoping to get them photographed tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed that the sun is shining!

Michelle

[Deleted]

Michelle, you have a PM from me (needing the address).

[Cat]

Michelle, I sent you a PM

[Basketlady]

Thanks guys!

Michelle

[Karen W]

Hope my cards have made it there by now.

Karen

[Basketlady]

Karen, I'm such a goof. I need bifocals--I read those cards as coming from another Diva! DOH!

And for those of you who are waiting on an address. Well, here is the problem when you put 11 & 12 year old girls on a project and you have to deal with workers who aren't being helpful. I've stepped in and hopefully I can get this resolved.

We are trying to get a PO box on base. Because Girl Scout policy says that the girls shouldn't give out last names or where they live. (Makes sense, right?) But they are having issues with getting the PO box, which are normally only given to dorm dwellers. They had to write a letter asking special permission and we still haven't heard back. I intervened last week, but either with the holiday or someone dragging their feet, we haven't heard back. So now I'll make some calls today.

Please know that I absolutely appreciate you making the cards. I'm so impressed with the cards that I've seen so far. The Divas Rock! But I'm trying hard to let the girls run this. A big part of Girl Scouting is "growing strong leaders." And a good leader knows not just how to write a letter asking for the PO box, but also how to fix things when they aren't going according to plan!

So I'm asking again for your patience. I know you want to send them off before you forget about them! I absolutely understand! And I appreciate you continuing to follow up on this. And I will have some sort of answer by Friday--hold me to it!

Michelle

[Karen W]

Glad they arrived.

This project will be a great experience for them, even with the ups and downs

Karen

[Basketlady]

To those of you who have been waiting so patiently, THANK YOU! You guys are just angels. You not only made the cards, patiently reminded me that you wanted to send them, but then let the girls work through this. THANK YOU!

We ended up getting a PO box in a neighboring town. Lots of work trying to decide where to get the box, who had the extra box, who was willing to work with us. Sheesh, you would have thought that we were trying to move explosives or something. They are 6th grade girls in scout uniforms--do you really think they are up to something???

So the address is:

Basketlady Michelle
PO Box 5250
Wayland, MA 01778

If you get cards to me by January 1 (a Saturday), they will go out on January 3 (Monday) to Operation Write Home. This is important if you are making Valentine's cards, as they need to be to OWH by mid month.

So if you are looking for something creative to do when the madness has passed, send a soldier a special gift of your cards!

And if you didn't have a chance to make any cards for this mailing, I will be doing this again in late winter. Maybe we can do some Mother's Day cards then. You know lots of those cards are needed!

Be sure to let me know if you are sending cards, so that I can watch for them. I'd hate for them to go missing!

A huge thanks to those of you who stuck by me and this project. I think we will have smooth sailing ahead!

Michelle

[Cat]

Thank You Michelle for all of your hard work.
Sometimes it's easier to just do things ourselves, but if we do how are young people suppose to learn anything. Thank you for teaching these girls to be responsible young ladies.

Lately I have seen some really immature college students and young people in their late 20's and it's kinda disturbing. They seem to think they are owed, the best of everything, cars, vacations,and apartments even top wages without any work on their part.


Cat

[Basketlady]

Cat,

EXACTLY! That is exactly what I'm trying to do. To teach the girls to do for themselves. Most come from incredibly priveledged families, with "Help" and more money than God. But if you can't figure out the little blips in life, you will never get the big stuff.

So they researched PO boxes, what sorts of ID you need, how to get mail without giving your last name, budgeting the cost, etc. A good little lesson, but tough to iron out when they don't see each other every day. In the end it worked, but I admit I was mightily tempted to just do it myself. A half hour and I would have been done!

Michelle