Operation Write Home

As a cardmaker who send cards to OWH I wanted to share an e-mail I received from Sandy. If you are a cardmaker living in Texas in or near Mineral Wells or Austin, you may be interested in the following. Thanks, Betty aka ZacksNana

Greetings! I wanted to get the word out to you all about a couple Texas events coming up! Some events are helping us get a great start on our SECOND million cards to send to heroes! NOTE: I've pulled this email list from all Texas OWHers; if you've moved, or if you are no longer participating with OWH, my apologies. Let me know if you would prefer to be on a do-not-email list; but if you'd like to be back on the official eNews list, you can sign up here. We R Memory Keepers has challenged their retailers to have cardmaking parties this summer - and two are in Texas so far. I have no idea who's close and who's not, so I'm sending a shout-out across the state! Here's where you come in: volunteer to help out if you're in the area! Attend the event, ask if you can help them make kits, cut paper, stamp and tuck, do triage...whatever's needed. We know our OWHers love to lend a hand...contact them for info: Cat's Creations Scrapbooks 2801 HWY 180E, Suite 13 Mineral Wells, TX 76067 Make & Give Class: July 7th & 28th 940-327-0713 This one might be a Drop Zone (meaning you can drop your cards off there - no shipping cost to you!). The site doesn't have more info yet, but if you're in the Austin region, look them up: Felicia's Scrapbooks 6340 Hwy 290 W, Austin, TX One other thing - cardmaker Allison G wants to connect with more folks in the Fort Worth area...if you're nearby and interested, send her a note! You can watch the Operation We R Grateful page to see if other stores near you join in! Thanks...hope you can help with one of these great events! Sandy Allnock President, Operation Write Home

Operation Write Home 35205 13th Pl SW Federal Way, Washington 98023 info@operationwritehome.org

OWH --- SPECIAL REQUEST

Special Request for a Special Unit: Mail!
Cardmakers....we have some sad news for you, and yet an opportunity that we can't pass up!

Captain Dale Goetz, Chaplain, was killed in action just weeks ago, August 30, 2010, in Afghanistan. He is the first Chaplain to die in combat since the Vietnam War - almost exactly 40 years ago. Chaplain Goetz leaves behind a wife and three boys, ages 10, 8, and 13 months.

The Chaplain and his unit had not even been in-country for a month when he and four other Soldiers were lost when their Humvee was hit by an IED. In all, this unit lost 10 Soldiers in their first month - and are dealing with deployment without the one whose job it is to keep up morale: their Chaplain.

OWH is taking on Chaplain Goetz's unit to receive cards, and a box is going out to his Chaplain's Assistant immediately - packed with the best of the best for them!


Ways YOU can help:


1.AnyHero mail. We'd love to shower them with mail from home after all they've been through in such a short time. If you'd like to send a note of encouragement, please send it to our Federal Way location - please do not mention the tragic loss, they need uplifting messages and not reminders of their unit's angst. Mark your letters "GOETZ" on the outside envelope or with a stickynote and we'll make sure that card or letter makes it into one of the boxes upcoming for that unit.
Operation Write Home
35205 13th Pl SW
Federal Way WA 98023
Cards will be sent in each of their boxes for months to come, so please continue sending mail. All our shippers need more letters, but the Washington address will be the one taking on Goetz's unit.

2.Make a donation. The Goetz family has set up a memorial fund. Dale often purchased materials with his own money in order to have up-to-date, relevant information for his soldiers. This fund will allow chaplains to access money without having to dig into their own wallets.
Checks should be made out to the "Dale A. Goetz Memorial Fund" and sent to:
The Bank at Broadmoor
155 Lake Ave.
Colorado Springs, CO 80906

3.Make more cards! OWH is able to support units like this because of wonderful, generous crafters like you. Your donations of cards and finances help us continue supporting those standing in harm's way - and encouraging those going through severe trials as this unit is suffering. Thank you for your continuing support!
Many thanks to Becca, a cardmaker and a member of a Chaplain's Spouses group, who made us aware of this special need and is connecting us with the unit on the ground.

Thinking of You - Card for Our Troops

Thinking of You - Cards for Our Troops Operation Write Home. Recently I joined a group of crafters from all over the country in creating cards for our troops to use to send to their loved ones back home. Part of my honor in being a member of this organization is to send a letter from home to any soldier. So I decided to add this card with my letter. I don't know who that soldier will be, but I am hoping my little digital image will make them smile knowing that we folks back home are thinking of them and wishing them a successful mission and a safe and speedy return home.
My image for this card was created by me, ZacksNana. I colored the image using PaintShopPro. I punched holes on either side of my tree and added eyelets to run my yellow ribbon through. There are stickers used to decorate my card from Pink Paislee's Made in the USA collection.
I am entering this in The Spotted Chick's That's Krafty Thursday #29 challenge to use kraft paper.

TFL
T%dles Peeps!