The Folsom Telegraph
reviews Operation Mom
Operation: MOM member Carole Park surveys the empty boxes of supplies at the group's storage space. The group sends more than 100 care packages to soldiers overseas each month. This month, organizers worry they won't have enough supply to meet demand.
Operation: MOM is in crisis mode.
Group members are furrowing their brows at the drastic shortage of supplies they are preparing to send to local soldiers stationed overseas.
Dee Rein, group leader for Operation: MOM Placer County, said one of the main reasons for the lack of items is the demand has surpassed the supply.
When the group originally formed in 2003, it sent about 20 packages a month.
Today, the 30 or so volunteers who assemble at monthly packing meetings are producing more than 100 packages. On top of that, last month’s shipping bill was $1,700, Rein said.
Group members are furrowing their brows at the drastic shortage of supplies they are preparing to send to local soldiers stationed overseas.
Dee Rein, group leader for Operation: MOM Placer County, said one of the main reasons for the lack of items is the demand has surpassed the supply.
When the group originally formed in 2003, it sent about 20 packages a month.
Today, the 30 or so volunteers who assemble at monthly packing meetings are producing more than 100 packages. On top of that, last month’s shipping bill was $1,700, Rein said.
Rein said when she heard not every soldier was receiving mail from home, she wanted to reach out to them.
“We found when we sent packages to one, there were a lot more in the unit who got nothing from home,” Rein said. “We took it upon ourselves to not only support our local kids, but we wanted to support their comrades.”
So now, when a local soldier receives a package from home, so do all of the soldiers in his unit.
Fellow Operation: MOM supporter Carole Park was taking inventory of the group’s stock Monday afternoon in the basement of the Colfax Veterans Memorial Hall. She shook almost empty boxes of razors, toothpaste, deodorant and more.
Soap bars and bags of coffee are about the only items the group has a surplus of, Park said.
The group has a list of donation suggestions on its Web site, www.operationmom.org. Rein said some of the soldiers’ favorite items are beef jerky, protein bars, toothbrushes, toothpaste and face wipes.
“Just about anything anyone wants to donate on that list we appreciate,” Rein said.
Both Rein and Park said the group doesn’t want to politicize their cause. Rein said she has encountered some people who decline to donate because they don’t want to give money to a cause they believe supports the war.
“When we have our meetings, we check religion, politics and especially our egos at the door,” Rein said. “When we come in we are focused on what can we do for the troops today — we’re supporting our kids.”
Park also added that whether or not the U.S. government should be providing these items to troops doesn’t matter to the group.
“We’ve asked that same question, but if it doesn’t, we will,” Park said. “Even if they did we’d probably still send them things because they need to know we’re rooting for them.”
Rein said she is looking for help from any venue. She said she is grateful to those community members and organizations to have supported the group, and hopes they can continue.
The group recently received some unexpected help from Colfax High School senior Megan Guyan. The 18-year-old decided last year for her senior project to focus on something that would help soldiers.
Her mother is in the Army reserves, and she also said there is strong family tradition of supporting the military.
“I’ve got a really strong Republican family,” Guyan said. “We really believe in what this country stands for and I just really believe in what we’re fighting for.”
Throughout the school year, Guyan has held several fundraisers for the group including selling Valentine grams and holding a bake sale. This Saturday a pasta dinner is the culminating fundraising event, she said.
To date, Guyan has $400 saved to donate to Operation: MOM. She hopes to be able to donate more than $1,000 after the dinner this weekend.
Putting the dinner together was no easy task, Guyan said. She estimates that she’s spent at least 50 hours talking to various businesses and asking for help.
“It’s been a struggle and it’s been hard work but I’m really glad I did it,” she said.
She called multiple businesses to look for donations for the silent auction and raffle. She also worked with other area business to help supply the food. Longhorn Meat Company gave her the meat for spaghetti sauce and Marie Callender’s donated six pies.
Raffle prizes include two tickets to The Ridge, a night’s stay at the Jackson Rancheria Casino, Hotel and Conference Center, two hours of limousine service and more.
She said she is excited to see the end of her hard work this weekend.
“The senior project is a great opportunity to not only serve the community but to serve the country,” Guyan said. “I wanted to do something to make a difference and actually have an impact.”
Rein said the group is immensely appreciative of Guyan’s efforts. She said people could also make food or toiletry donations at the dinner.
“This couldn’t have come at a better time because obviously we don’t have enough to put in our care packages,” Rein said.
The pasta dinner to support the troops will start with 6 p.m. cocktails with dinner at 7 p.m. The dinner is held at Sierra Vista Community Center on School Street in Colfax. Tickets are $15 and proceeds benefit Operation: MOM. E-mail Guyan at support4troops@hotmail.com for information.
For more information about what items you can donate to Operation:MOM, visit www.operationmom.org, e-mail Dee Rein at operationmompc@colfax.net or call (530) 320-4954.
The Journal’s Jenifer Gee can be reached at jeniferg@goldcountrymedia.com or post a comment at auburnjournal.com.
This editorial is no longer available on this website due to the age of the document
“We found when we sent packages to one, there were a lot more in the unit who got nothing from home,” Rein said. “We took it upon ourselves to not only support our local kids, but we wanted to support their comrades.”
So now, when a local soldier receives a package from home, so do all of the soldiers in his unit.
Fellow Operation: MOM supporter Carole Park was taking inventory of the group’s stock Monday afternoon in the basement of the Colfax Veterans Memorial Hall. She shook almost empty boxes of razors, toothpaste, deodorant and more.
Soap bars and bags of coffee are about the only items the group has a surplus of, Park said.
The group has a list of donation suggestions on its Web site, www.operationmom.org. Rein said some of the soldiers’ favorite items are beef jerky, protein bars, toothbrushes, toothpaste and face wipes.
“Just about anything anyone wants to donate on that list we appreciate,” Rein said.
Both Rein and Park said the group doesn’t want to politicize their cause. Rein said she has encountered some people who decline to donate because they don’t want to give money to a cause they believe supports the war.
“When we have our meetings, we check religion, politics and especially our egos at the door,” Rein said. “When we come in we are focused on what can we do for the troops today — we’re supporting our kids.”
Park also added that whether or not the U.S. government should be providing these items to troops doesn’t matter to the group.
“We’ve asked that same question, but if it doesn’t, we will,” Park said. “Even if they did we’d probably still send them things because they need to know we’re rooting for them.”
Rein said she is looking for help from any venue. She said she is grateful to those community members and organizations to have supported the group, and hopes they can continue.
The group recently received some unexpected help from Colfax High School senior Megan Guyan. The 18-year-old decided last year for her senior project to focus on something that would help soldiers.
Her mother is in the Army reserves, and she also said there is strong family tradition of supporting the military.
“I’ve got a really strong Republican family,” Guyan said. “We really believe in what this country stands for and I just really believe in what we’re fighting for.”
Throughout the school year, Guyan has held several fundraisers for the group including selling Valentine grams and holding a bake sale. This Saturday a pasta dinner is the culminating fundraising event, she said.
To date, Guyan has $400 saved to donate to Operation: MOM. She hopes to be able to donate more than $1,000 after the dinner this weekend.
Putting the dinner together was no easy task, Guyan said. She estimates that she’s spent at least 50 hours talking to various businesses and asking for help.
“It’s been a struggle and it’s been hard work but I’m really glad I did it,” she said.
She called multiple businesses to look for donations for the silent auction and raffle. She also worked with other area business to help supply the food. Longhorn Meat Company gave her the meat for spaghetti sauce and Marie Callender’s donated six pies.
Raffle prizes include two tickets to The Ridge, a night’s stay at the Jackson Rancheria Casino, Hotel and Conference Center, two hours of limousine service and more.
She said she is excited to see the end of her hard work this weekend.
“The senior project is a great opportunity to not only serve the community but to serve the country,” Guyan said. “I wanted to do something to make a difference and actually have an impact.”
Rein said the group is immensely appreciative of Guyan’s efforts. She said people could also make food or toiletry donations at the dinner.
“This couldn’t have come at a better time because obviously we don’t have enough to put in our care packages,” Rein said.
The pasta dinner to support the troops will start with 6 p.m. cocktails with dinner at 7 p.m. The dinner is held at Sierra Vista Community Center on School Street in Colfax. Tickets are $15 and proceeds benefit Operation: MOM. E-mail Guyan at support4troops@hotmail.com for information.
For more information about what items you can donate to Operation:MOM, visit www.operationmom.org, e-mail Dee Rein at operationmompc@colfax.net or call (530) 320-4954.
The Journal’s Jenifer Gee can be reached at jeniferg@goldcountrymedia.com or post a comment at auburnjournal.com.
This editorial is no longer available on this website due to the age of the document