Steve and I wanted to provide you with an update on the holiday care packages sent to the soldiers at the forward deployed unit in Iraq .  We mailed the packages on Monday, November 16, 2009, and believe it or not, some of the packages had arrived by the end of that week.  The unit set up a big container to hold all of the boxes sent and will be holding them for the soldiers until a little closer to Christmas.  Because they received more than they ever anticipated, they are sharing some of the care packages with a nearby MP unit.  The unit was amazed and sincerely appreciative of all of your efforts.  They said it was nice to be reminded that there is support for them back home.

Yesterday some members of the unit handed out the school supplies to the children.  Attached are photographs of the school supplies being handed out.  If you notice in the photographs, the children are only receiving two pencils or two crayons (not the whole box).  There are so many children without school supplies that the supplies they have received must be rationed.  I look at those smiles and the eagerness on those children’s faces and realize that even a couple of crayons from an entire box means the world to them.

Steve and I will be making this an annual event as long as we have soldiers who need care packages and we have a contact person who can accept them in an overseas unit, and we hope that you will join us.   We learned a great deal about an endeavor like this and plan to start earlier next year, so please be on the lookout for information late next summer.   

Thank you for making this possible and bringing so much joy and happiness to our U.S. soldiers and the school children in Iraq .

We hope that you have a blessed and wonderful holiday season as we celebrate the birth of our Savior.   

Steve & Teresa Staton