Christmas in July

Last year was a great year for supporting our troops as we continue sending monthly care packages and prepare for our Christmas in July Project, 2013. In May, 2013 we'll be mailing our 6,000th care package to our troops in Afghanistan. We hope this year to meet the needs and requests of even more soldiers as support for them and our mission grows.

The Brookings-Harbor Redshirts were able to host a community event on March 30th, welcoming home four of our local soldiers; two served in Afghanistan and two served in Iraq. Thanks to many local businesses and citizens for funding this welcome home celebration. It was wonderful seeing everyone shake hands and welcome home some of our local troops.

Thanks also to our many Global Giving supporters who are invaluable in helping us fulfill our promise of supporting our troops until they all come home. We are making preparations for our yearly "Christmas in July" shipment also, where we send not only good and hygiene items, but gifts, games and other items to make it "feel" like Christmas for our soldiers. This is the time of year it's the hottest in Afghanistan so we go all out to lift the morale and make it fun for our troops.

Recently we received a letter from MSG Tadd Jennings in Afghanistan who also sent us a picture from there. One of the items he was requesting was hand warmers, you'll see why. Here is his letter to us all:

Hello Redshirt supporters!

Thank you for the care packages and piece of driftwood!  The gifts and supplies was much appreciated.  Everyone liked the pictures of the group and how beautiful Oregon is!  Most of the soldiers here are from Texas and other southern states and had never visited Oregon.  Our base here is a small one and US Army soldiers are the minority.  We have a lot of NATO Soldiers and they are amazed by the support of total strangers for Soldiers from the USA.

I have enclosed a pic of us here.

Have a great day.

v/r

MSG Jennings, Tadd

NCOIC

Camp Qargha, Afghanistan

UNCLASSIFIED

Also I have included a couple of pictures of the community-wide welcome home celebration for four of our soldiers.

Thank you again for all your support,

With Gratitude,

Frank Muller

Project Leader

Brookings-Harbor Redshirts