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Desk of Ruth Ann Young

Friday, November 23, 2007

Last Wednesday evening my Kiwanis Club of Kirkland showed up and packed with flying colors! Not only did they come bearing many cases of chocolate truffles, magazines, our newly famous Bellevue Reporter newspaper, and hundreds of books, all to be included in these individual boxes. They brought an enthusiasm that rocked the room! Even our precious Sue Carter came to lend a helping hand, writing letters to the troops!
From Susan and Elizabeth handling the preparations with getting those boxes ready to be filled, to Bob, Mary, Bob, Ron, Jim, Brett, Bill and Helen packing them up, it was amazing for sure! Our new member Ralph worked with Art in getting all the Pastor and Chaplains completed! And because of their diligence they all went out the following morning and on TIME for Christmas!! Yeah! Together we put out some magnificent Christmas Packages to the troops! Hey, Kiwanis Club Members of Kirkland, on behalf of all the Military Men and Women serving “Thank you” so much for your efforts and support on Wednesday night! You were all awesome and my friends!
Blessings,
Ruth Ann

Desk of Ruth Ann Young

Today I would like to take a moment and say thank you to a couple of fine ladies here in Washington. Sherry Grindeland of the Seattle Times, and Cheri Brennan of Alliance Communications, have over the last five years continued to lend a helping hand at various times with Operation Iraq: The Spirit of Christmas. Without their support and efforts our organization would not be where it is today. They are ladies that have volunteered as well, and made a difference in the level of success we continue to achieve. Sherry and Cheri have stepped up and encouraged the media to recognize what we are all about! The Men and Women serving our country in Afghanistan and Iraq thank you so much ladies. Together we will once again place some beautiful Christmas Packages in their hands this year!
Blessings my friends, and Thank you so very much,
Ruth Ann Young

Desk of Ruth Ann Young

The thing that comes to mind with Tim’s that will always stick out in my mind
is the following: (By the way, it was Mike Foey once again that notified his friends at Tim’s). This is the first year once again, and we are all packing away, my son Tor, Dorothy Daily, Mary Robinson, many of the Kiwanis members. And in walks this man, he says he is with Tim’s Cascade. He proceeds checking out the whole project, and looks at me with a very serious look on his face… I am trying to figure out what is wrong here? Then he smiles and says, “This is an awesome charity Ruth Ann, and the best I have ever contributed to I’m sure”. His face lit up the room, and he allowed a picture of the two of us to be taken. Yes, this was Tim, and we all were very happy to have him come to deliver those wonderful chips personally! Blessings to Everyone there at Tim’s, and keep those great chips coming for our military! Hugs from the gang at Operation Iraq: The Spirit of Christmas, we are still at it as you know and unpacking your delivery for 2007!

Desk of Ruth Ann Young

I would like to express a special thanks to David Summers with Salem Communications in Seattle. Last week on Wednesday, he invited Operation Iraq:
The Spirit of Christmas to an ascertainment meeting with following people present;
Martin Gustafson of FOX 13, Maria Anderson of KIRO 7, George Pettingel of Trinity Broadcasting Network, Greg Neilson of C89.5FM, Jimm Brown of KOMO 4, Gary Shipe of KKNW 92.5FM, Kate Daniels of WARM 106.9, and Erin Larson of Ion Media Channel 3.
Salem had a delightful continental breakfast waiting, as friend Jim Balkman from Kiwanis of Kirkland, and student Danny Banke from Northwest University in Kirkland entered the meeting. Honestly, a speaker I am not, but armed with passion of our organization in my heart it went fine. They all were very supportive, and receptive of what we were all about. We know that many have stepped up the process to put us out there with your media associates. On behalf of our Military men and women serving, we all “Thank you”.

Desk of Ruth Ann Young

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

It was an honor for me, and Roxetta (our special volunteer) to have the opportunity to share our project with the entire student body in Butterfield Chapel at Northwest University yesterday. They are the best University in America in many ways because of their determination to make a difference in the world. They set a real example for all of us to admire. The atmosphere on campus is filled with this kind of mind set, and it rings throughout their grounds no matter where one goes.
Pastor Phil’s heartfelt prayers for our Operation Iraq in both services was awesome, and with the long road ahead of us we certainly appreciate them. A monetary offering was taken to benefit our project, another outreach of support. This University student body will undoubtedly pack at least 2-3,000 of our Christmas Packages this year at 10:00am on November 28 themselves, perhaps even more
They too have been with us since day one, and we are blessed to have their continued support. Kelly Weinberg is with us for a second year now, and Ashleigh Smart is her new energetic assistant. We all appreciate your stepping up to the plate ladies in so many areas, and continuing to see things through. This project became a better one the day Pastor Phil said “You have a home here for as long as you need it”. Thank you for that new home, and thank you students! On behalf of all the young men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan they are grateful for your efforts. You probably understand what sending these Christmas Packages to them so far from home this year means more than any of us! You are the best!
Blessings Northwest University & Students,
Ruth Ann Young

Desk of Ruth Ann Young

OVERLAKE TERRACE ASSISTED LIVING AND MEMORY ARE RESIDENTS RECRUITED
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, Overlake Terrace residents are joining Operation Iraq: The Spirit of Christmas! Ruth Ann Young, owner of The Spirit of Christmas Shop in downtown Kirkland, spearheaded the project in 2003. After a devastating fire in her store, Ruth Ann acted on an idea that emerged after exchanging emails with a high
school classmate who was serving in Iraq. Contact with other military personnel led to “wish lists” for goody boxes. through word of mouth efforts, contributions and volunteers began arriving and momentum started to build for this heartwarming endeavor.
Ruth’s store was converted to the “nerve center” for Operation Iraq: The Spirit of Christmas. In the span of about 10 weeks, volunteers had procured items, organized work parties, packed more than 6,000 care packages, and loaded them into trucks. Every year they have found a location to headquarter Operation Iraq and the excitement continues to build in outlying communities.
This year, residents and staff of Overlake Terrace are offering their support. Starting Nov. 1, a card signing area will be available for residents, staff, families and friends to sign anytime. For the goody bags, they are accepting donations of individually wrapped hot chocolate, apple cider packets, individual cheese and cracker or peanut butter and cracker packets. There will be a basket in the lobby of Overlake Terrace for collection. Five dollar tax deductible cash donations will also be accepted and residents will present donations to Ruth Ann Young on Tues. Nov. 6th at 2:00pm in the activity room at Overlake Terrace, 2956 152nd Ave. N.E. Redmond.
Residents will also participate in packaging the items brought to this year’s headquarters at Northwest University Campus 5520 108th Ave. N.E., an activity spearheaded at Overlake Terrace Assisted Living and Memory Care by Cheryl Hamilton, Activity Director.

Desk of Ruth Ann Young

Luanne Erickson stepped up to the plate early this fall. Her wonderful article about us she sent to the Eastside Sun, located right here in Kirkland WA. A specail thanks to John Gilday of the Eastside Sun and Luanne Erickson for their joint effort in
releasing an entire page for our Operation Iraq : The Spirit of Christmas 2007 project. John, Gordon, Michael, Ben, Jessica, Laura, and Luanne, thank you for making us "Kirkland’s Charity of the Month". Your support has been wonderful, and our enthusiastic gallery owners have been generous about encouraging our townspeople to drop off these needed items there. Your are an awesome group!!! And everyone knows our military really appreciate these boxes we are all contributing to… Together, we will send the best packages yet from the Pacific Northwest!
Blessings & Thank you,
Ruth Ann Young
Operationiraq.org

Desk of Ruth Ann Young

Pascale is a friend of mine, and she actually wrote with me the letter “To Our Real American Hero”. Not only a gifted calligrapher, (and honestly the best) but someone that understands the heartbeat of our Operation Iraq: The Spirit of Christmas. Thank you Pascale, together our words will travel again to Iraq and Afghanistan,
on behalf of all of us back home.
Blessings my friend, and I hope you are feeling better soon.
Ruth Ann

Desk of Ruth Ann Young

We would like to say “thank you” to St. Thomas Parish for the many items they have purchased this week for us. St. Thomas has been with us for a long time as well.
Hi Father Bernie! I remember all of you at Totem Lake a few years ago! We had a great time that evening! We have a very long difficult road ahead of us Father, so please keep those prayers coming!!
Blessings to everyone there,
Ruth Ann

Desk of Ruth Ann Young

Saturday, November 03, 2007

Gunnar Nordstrom has stepped up to the plate in Kirkland. WA. He is collecting for us too! Please feel free to drop off items there at his beautiful gallery. Thanks Gunnar! We enjoy your gallery so much! Stop by soon everyone! 127 lake Street South No. B
Kirkland, WA 98033 425-444-8241 mobile

Desk of Ruth Ann Young

Well everyone we are just about to start the massive packing for Operation Iraq: The spirit of Christmas 2007.
Today Roxetta Groenen, Ginger Russ, Tabby from the University, and I got real busy with the preparation end of things. This requires a lot of work, so the packing can commence on Monday night.These girls packed some of the first boxes today too, and signed the first cards designed specifically for us. I will tell you more about that soon. Thanks girls, you are all awesome, and we appreciate your hard work today, and the many days that will follow. Without all of you “the volunteers, companies, clubs, and organizations”, that have stepped up, believe me there would not be the number of Christmas packages going to our men and women serving this Christmas! For sure! Please keep this year’s project in your prayers! We all know there is a very long road ahead of us yet. However, more people coming forward almost everyday to assist us with their given areas of talent.


And Guess what, they will not!!!! This year we will send the very best from the Pacific Northwest! You can bet on it! Just thought I would let you know! Have a great week-end, and stop by soon and pack a few! It’s contagious, honestly!
Blessings Everyone,
Ruth Ann Young, founder and director.

Desk of Ruth Ann Young

We thank Cedar Park Assembly of God for taking an offering to benefit our Operation Iraq. This generous donation will once again help strengthen our base as we begin packing these precious packages to our men and women for this Christmas 2007.
Thank you” Everyone”, I will respect your anonymity. They appreciate your support, and there will be more packages to open on Christmas morning because of your contribution.

Desk of Ruth Ann Young

Friday, November 02, 2007

WE would like to give a special thanks to Jennifer Heuer owner of Curves in Redmond, WA. She has RALLIED the girls and made them a donation spot throughout the Kirkland and Redmond area! Go girls, I will see you soon! We thank all the “ladies” at Curves in Redmond, Houghton and Kirkland! We really appreciate your support!

Desk of Ruth Ann Young

Operation Iraq would like to take a moment and welcome Miho Reed and Gary at KQMV KIXI KWJZ KKNW KRWM Sandusky! Thank you so much for kicking things in! This Christmas in Iraq and Afghanistan for our Americans will be a better one because of your efforts!
Blessings from us all,
Ruth Ann Young

Desk of Ruth Ann Young

Here’s the real rest of the story everyone, about our rockin’ Seneca Foods out of Yakima WA.!

When my little Christmas shop out of Kirkland became the nerve center for "Operation Iraq: The Spirit of Christmas" that first year, it was Seneca who stepped up to the plate and sent the very first and I might add that very large donation. Yes, my first donation after hanging the banners just a few short days before, came out of Yakima WA. Remember, I was hoping to do at least 1,000 packages to our soldiers, but in my heart I wanted to really send 5,000 if at all possible. Anyway, a friend Debi Black had passed along the story of what I was doing to another friend of hers Mike Foey. Mike Foey decides he is going to get the word out to his friends at Seneca about this lady in Kirkland who is determined to send out Christmas Packages to our soldiers in Iraq, because she couldn’t open her shop that year…The fire from next door… (read that in website operationiraq.org) Anyway, before I knew it this very large container pulls up in front of the little shop, and announces that he has a donation for Operation Iraq: The Spirit of Christmas. Excitedly I tell him that was us, and totally wondering what was happening? I had no idea what we were in store for, but it had to be something good for sure! Yes, it was wonderful, no it was fantastic! These young drivers excitedly shared with me they would need some help, because there were 37,000 yes, I said 37,000 bags of Apple Chips to get unloaded! I remember being awestruck, and trying to hold back my emotions, as my husband wrapped his arms around me…then smiled and said “We had better get some help for these guys.” Eventually we all laughed together, and I just felt that this was another moment I had to share with you all. Seneca holds a very dear spot in our hearts in the Pacific Northwest, and here at Operation Iraq: The Spirit of Christmas understandably. But what you did NOT know is Seneca was the #1 food item they received that first year says Ted Hayden out of Fort Riley Kansas.! Yes Seneca Rocks!

Blessings to Seneca, and thank you for your continued support! We all love your products, and because of your generosity our young military men and women can enjoy their favorite snack this Christmas!
Blessings to All,
Ruth Ann Young
Sending "The Spirit of Christmas".

Desk of Ruth Ann Young

A couple of weeks ago I was introduced to the PangBorn family through my close friend Jan Minar. They wanted to know all about Operation Iraq, as we shared a glass of wine together in their home. Of course I proudly told them about our precious organization. Russell and Linda have donated and continue to be supportive. Their family will all join us packing one night in November. Brother-in-law Brent Stach has been helpful in making media contacts, and introducing me to an organization he is a member of. They have decided to host an event that will include benefiting our Operation Iraq. This is so generous. Thank you to this wonderful family, our young men and women serving so far from home at Christmas truly appreciate all of your efforts.
Blessings, Ruth Ann Young
Founder and director

Desk of Ruth Ann Young

We unloaded the Seneca truck last Friday. They did not disappoint us with their many bags of Apple chips they had promised! They have always been a large part of this from the beginning. The truck showed up just before chapel (in between classes), and so I did not have to ask my friends from Kiwanis to assist me. The kids jumped right on it, not to mention the trucker lending a helping hand. Good things continue to happen, one step at a time. Thank you Peninsula Trucking, Seneca, and Northwest University students, you are all The reasons we are able to touch so many hearts over in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Thank you for you time,
Blessings Everyone,
Ruth Ann Young
Operationiraq.org
Founder and director

Desk of Ruth Ann Young

Good friend Jan Minar has worked on Operation Iraq from day one. She continues to help with many aspects of this project, and often times behind the scenes with me. We enjoy the process of procuring our needed items together, and continue to brainstorm until our heads hurt!! No, all kidding aside, I thank her very much for all her efforts, she is one in a million. And always someone our project has been able to count on. Blessings my friend, Ruth Ann

Desk of Ruth Ann Young

Thursday, November 01, 2007

This Holiday Season the Center for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery has chosen to honor our American Soldiers serving in Iraq. Despite different political feelings that are shared throughout our country, we do want the men and women who serve in our armed forces to know that we appreciate their service and sacrifice.

We live in a land of bountiful blessings and it is easy with our busy lives to overlook the support necessary to maintain our freedom and safety. We can only imagine that our troops are desperate for the comforts of home, so with this in mind, we have prepared and sent gift boxes filled with tangible expressions of our appreciation. We packed the boxes with goodies to eat, socks to wear, toiletries we hope will refresh them in their harsh surrounding, puzzle books and magazines for entertainment, and calling cards so they can stay in touch with family and friends during the holidays. We also included notes of thanks and encouragement from school age children, a Cub Scout Pack, and our staff.

Dr. Clem C. Pellett & Staff

Dr. Clem Pellett sent gift boxes in honor of the following dentists:

• Dr. James Austin
• Dr. Paul Benoit
• Dr. Gary Bogachus
• Dr. Vidas Cemarka
• Dr. Peter Chiu
• Dr. Aaron Cooley
• Dr. Brandon Cooley
• Dr. Donald Davidson
• Dr. Robert Doty
• Dr. Steve Esply
• Dr. Desiree Fletcher
• Dr. Daniel Geare
• Dr. Robert Greener
• Dr. Donald Soltero
• Dr. John Johnson
• Dr. Jeffrey Johnson
• Dr. Jenny Lee
• Dr. John Lind
• Dr. Joseph Cram
• Dr. Robert Lindeman
• Dr. Jeffrey Malyon
• Dr. Bryan Maruhashi
• Dr. Cody Mast
• Dr. Lawrence Mast
• Dr. Kenneth McLean
• Dr. Thomas Mitchell
• Dr. Michael Thrall
• Dr. Stanley Nishimura
• Dr. Russell Nomi
• Dr. Lester Peterson
• Dr. Matthew Pilot
• Dr. John Rossi
• Dr. Negar Sherkat
• Dr. Donald Snyder
• Dr. Jennifer Strelow
• Dr. Kris Swanson
• Dr. Sydney Walters

Desk of Ruth Ann Young

I would like to thank Michael Thompson for taking time recently and creating two radio spots for Operation Iraq that will be played throughout our area over these up-coming weeks. Please let friends and family know this is about to be released soon! It was enjoyable working with someone that truly feels the heart-beat of our Organization. The military men and women men will be getting the best packages yet from the Northwest! Have a great week Michael Thompson, and everyone that continues to help with our project! The excitement is beginning to build, I can feel it!!!

We would like to send a special thanks to Leif D. Andersen of Bonneville Radio Group Seattle for steeping up and assisting us on getting the word out for Operation Iraq 2007. Leif, we really do appreciate your facilitating these announcements. Undoubtedly we will be able to send more packages this year because of this effort. Please listen everyone!! Dave Ross Show, Ron and Don Show, They are doing good things!

Dave Ross Show:
This week(10/31) 9A-10A and 10A-11A(2 total announcements)
Week of 11/12 will run Monday-Wednesday 9A-10A and 10A-11A(6 total announcements)
Ron and Don Show:
Weeks or 11/5 and 11/19 will run Monday – Wednesday 4P-5P and 5P-6P(12 total announcements)

Broad Rotators and overnights:
10/29-11/22 will run 10X 5A-5A :60 PSA’s per week(40 total)
10/29-11/22 will run 2X 12M-5A :60’s per day(22 total)

60 Second Version:
Imagine our soldiers serving in Iraq or Afghanistan…..and its Christmas morning. Will they wonder how much we care? Will they be remembered, receive assurances of caring and support or an expression of love? Together, we can honor and show them we care by placing gifts in their hands this Christmas. In the last four years, OperationIraq.org, a nonpartisan local grass roots organization, has sent more than 36,000 Christmas boxes to our beloved soldiers. Please join us in sending thousands more by contributing now at OperationIraq.org or call 425-739-XMAS, that's 425-739-9627. 100 cents of every dollar donated goes directly into these special packages. We are packing now, so donations are needed immediately and must be received BEFORE Thanksgiving.

Let's send the best from the heart of the Pacific Northwest and lift the spirits of our American soldiers at Christmas Time. OperationIraq.org.

30 Second Version:
Imagine our soldiers in Iraq or Afghanistan....and its Christmas morning. Will they wonder how much we care? Together, we can place gifts in their hands this Christmas. In the last four years our nonpartisan local effort, OperationIraq.org, has sent more than 36,000 Christmas boxes to our beloved soldiers. Join us in sending thousands more by contributing now at OperationIraq.org or call 425.739.XMAS. All donations must be received BEFORE Thanksgiving.

Let's send the best from the heart of the Pacific Northwest. OperationIraq.org.

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

Ruth Ann Young