14 April 4 - 17, 2009
Business
www.SanTanSun.com
Military mom from Page 1
away from home.” to the soldier who will
George became a stateside support get your package,” says
system when her son was originally George. “They love
sent to Iraq in 2006. She quickly found getting handwritten
herself adopting her son’s unit and notes and letters. And the
becoming part of the Marines’ extended responses we get back
family. from the soldiers are just
“The fi rst time Scott was deployed, I Submitted photo phenomenal.”
worked on Operation Stocking Stuffer,”
OVERSEAS: Soldiers in the unit of U.S. Marine Lance Corporal
George recalls how one
George recalls. “I sent care packages
Scott Ruckrich enjoy receiving packages and letters from
injured soldier shared his
Chandler.
and corresponded back and forth with story with the woman
some of the soldiers, and they became “We can always use things like who crocheted an afghan
like my own kids.” shampoo, razors, beef jerky, protein for him.
Now, as Scott prepares to leave bars, those fl avored powder mixes you “She got a letter saying how he
for Afghanistan in April, George is put into bottled water,” says George. took that blanket to three different
intensifying her efforts to collect New and used cell phones are also hospitals,” George recounts. “And they
Submitted photo
donations and find volunteers to high-demand items. Even nonworking kept trying to take it away from him, but
brighten the lives of these Marines.
DEPLOYED: U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Scott
Ruckrich, son of SanTan Sun area resident
phones can be reconditioned and sent that Marine held onto it and refused to
”Anybody and everybody can help,” JoAnn George. to soldiers. give it up. It meant that much to him.”
explains George. “The American Angels join in and sent out 879 items. This year George also stresses the need for George says stories like this are
program crochets things like helmet we’d like to double it.” funds to help pay materials and shipping common, and that real bonds form
liners, booties and lap blankets to help People can also pitch in by donating costs. As managing broker with Royalty between the soldiers and the angels
with weather conditions. We need snacks, personal care products or Real Estate Services, George contributes who help them from across the miles.
money for supplies and people to prepaid phone cards to go into care a percentage of every commission to “Being a part of something like this
crochet. Last year we had 92 women packages. the cause, but the need is still great. is very exciting and fulfi lling,” says
“We always need money,” she adds. George. “It makes you feel like a million
“Shipping can get expensive because bucks even during these times!”
they charge by weight.” To fi nd out more about donating or
volunteering to help deployed troops,
Piece of home contact JoAnn George at 602-769-0680
The goodies are important to or email
joanng@cox.net.
soldiers, but George reports that cards
and correspondence offer a uniquely
Miriam Van Scott of Kerby Estates is a
comforting piece of home.
freelance writer and Chandler transplant from
the Washington, D.C. area. She can be reached
“You can write a personal message
at
Miriam@SanTanSun.com.
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