News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Two Sisters women are spearheading a community effort to provide aid and comfort to troops serving in the war in Iraq.
Pat Dunlop and Sherry Diaz have turned their store Welcoming You to Central Oregon, 121 E. Cascade Ave., into the Sisters depot for "Caring for the Troops."
"We are their official drop site," Dunlop said.
The group is gathering materials ranging from telephone calling cards to lip balm and baby wipes to send to troops in the deserts of Kuwait and Iraq. Foods with a long shelf-life are also welcome.
Also appreciated are books and magazines, CDs, hand-held games, playing cards and dominoes.
Many Sisters families have loved ones in the Iraqi theater, some of whom are in front-line combat units, both Army and Marine Corps. Numerous Sisters area residents have been seeking a way to send care packages to the troops.
The military is discouraging shipping individual packets due to concerns about overloading the delivery systems.
According to Dunlop, Caring for the Troops will package and ship donations in bulk.
Dunlop is an Army mom with boundless enthusiasm for her cause. Her son, Captain Matthew Dunlop, is stationed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and will likely not be deployed in this conflict. However, he has plenty of buddies in the theater and he has advised his mom on what they need.
The Sisters drop site will be available in the afternoon, Friday through Monday.
This weekend, Dunlop and Diaz will host a craft event at the store. Participants pay $1 for materials to make hand-made flag pins with yarn and ribbon.
Proceeds will be used to purchase supplies to send to the troops.
"We're hoping for a lot of locals to turn out," said Diaz, noting that "the tourists have been great.
"They've given a lot of support," she said.
For more information visit the "Caring for the Troops" website at www.caringfortroops.com; or contact Dunlop at 504-9738, e-mail [email protected]
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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