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Desk of Ruth Ann Young

Saturday, September 29, 2007

Thor Tolo has agreed to read the winners of this year's "Letter of Appreciation contest" on the air over the 12 days of Christmas and some will be read on December 24th. What a wonderful way to celebrate our winners, and do it together with own Thor Tolo on (http://www.kgnw.com/)

Desk of Ruth Ann Young

Thursday, September 27, 2007

We welcome Art once again back to our project! Art has been with us for a few years now and really has done a wonderful job! So dependable! In the last two years he has taken over the entire responsibility of preparing all forms for the shipping of our Christmas packages. We are talking the address labels , and this is quite a process. Chris and he will be working together this year, and we are so glad to have them both on board with Operation Iraq: The Spirit of Christmas 2007.
Thanks guys!

Desk of Ruth Ann Young

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

We would like to welcome Rev. Andrew Culver to Operation Iraq once again this year. Andrew is son of Dr. Mac Culver who heads Cedar Park Christian Elementary education. I am very touched by his offering to continue hosting of our web-site. Andrew has recently lost a family member, and our prayers are with him and his family. We appreciate his talents and contribution all the way from Spokane! Yes, he is very determined to continue his service to our project another year and we appreciate him and his wife’s help very much!

Blessings from us all,
Ruth Ann Young

Desk of Ruth Ann Young

Monday, September 24, 2007

Last night we had a very productive meeting.

A Warm Welcome;

Nicole Alouf is back assisting me with our correspondence and my computer challenges!
Bless her heart!! My 2nd daughter continues to be a wonderful help, and always so patient! Her involvement goes back to the first year Operation Iraq: The Spirit of Christmas started!

Mary Maas a fellow Kiwanis member is already hard at it and working in several areas of our project! Today she was able to find a volunteer, who would pick up donations at Cedar Park Christian School Campus weekly, And deliver it to the University! Go Girl! It is nice to have her in our corner for sure!

Ginger Russ has offered her help with collecting items and procurement! She did this so well last year, and was a real trooper! And I have no doubt will do a great job!
Thank you so much! It is nice to have her on board again this year!

Michael Thompson has secured some absolutely beautiful metallic paper that will be used for our annual Christmasletters to our Military Men and Women serving our Country. He will be contacting some of our retirement communities, as they have been writing heartfelt letters and making Christmas cards for our troops since we started this project. Michael’s paper will be put to good use for sure!

Chris lacey is also a fellow Kiwanis member, and will be working very hard at getting the postage end of things taken care of. This is a very big job, and we appreciate his help in this very vital area! And has offered to make contacts regarding donations for our much needed items as well! Awesome Chris!

Luanne Erickson from our own Howard/Mandville Gallery in downtown Kirkland has recently written a wonderful article on our project, and sent it to many media contacts. She has asked all our local art galleries to place a large box for our Christmas package donations during the month of October. All of the downtown galleries will be drop-off points. Her article was a good one, and we appreciate her support so very much! For Immediate Release Iraq.doc

Today we got a call that our beautiful banners for Operation Iraq: The Spirit of Christmas will be ready by Wednesday of this week! Yes, Greg Shugarts owner of Fast Signs of Kirkland has donated these red and white twenty foot “Banners for our project 2007”!

Thank you so much, and to Jessie there for her design work and support!

Blessings,

Ruth Ann Young

Desk of Ruth Ann Young

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Operation Iraq : The Spirit of Christmas 2007
Ruth Ann Young
P.O.B. 646
Kirkland WA 98083

To Everyone,
As I begin the 5th year as Founder and Director of Operation Iraq: The Spirit of Christmas (Operationiraq.org), I can feel the energy starting to build. Northwest University has once again provided us a home to pack the Christmas Packages for our military men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Seneca has also committed their famous apple chips, with Tim’s Cascade supplying the wonderful potato chips, thanks to our very special Mike Foey. Kiwanis of Kirkland has stepped up early with their support in this project 2007.
Our goals are to send between 5,000 and 10,000 Christmas Packages 2007.
Here’s how you can help-
Invite other business leaders around you to get involved. We have a web-site for them to get familiar with all we have accomplished throughout these last 4 years. To date, together we have sent over 36,000 Christmas Packages to our troops serving. Please let them know this has always been and remains a 100% donated, and non-profit organization. This I say with much pride. Our “Raytheon Awarded” project has continued to send quality Christmas packages to our front lines for four years, with year five even better!
My only request is as follows and has continued to be the same;
1)They be sent to the front lines and equally distributed to all five of our military branches. 2) Be given on Christmas morning to those who have NOT received a Christmas package from home. Help us get this started!
Items needed; Lip Balm, Eye Wash, Toiletries, Chocolate snacks, Peanuts, Crackers with cheese or peanut butter centers, Trail mix, These must be SMALL packages, remember we are sending individual Christmas packages, and Letters of Appreciation, from your children! They are always placed on top so it is the first thing they see when opening up their Christmas Package from The Pacific Northwest! Join us in making this the best!

Sincerely, Ruth Ann Young

P.S. Pay pal is available on web site as well @operationiraq.org

Kirkland Kiwanis Club

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

The Kirkland Kiwanis Club has very generously made the first donation of money to Operation Iraq 2007. Thanks to my fellow Kiwanis members!!

Northwest University

Northwest University has once again opened their doors and offered their Chapel to us for packing all of the precious packages to our troops. We are so happy to be there once again, as they are the heart of Kirkland!

Tim’s Cascade Potato Chips

Tim’s Cascade Potato Chips has offered to be a contributor once again. They have been a part of this since the beginning!

2007 Year Starts

Thank you for your continuing support. Blessings to you and your loved ones this upcoming Christmas season.

Ruth Ann Young