As things sometimes do, one led to another and Virginia's daughter and this Marine ended up getting married a couple of years later. When her new husband was sent back to the Middle East for a second tour of duty, Julie remembered the unsent package and decided to not only send something to her husband, but to every member of his unit. Virginia and Julie put together 32 extra-large Christmas stockings stuffed with toiletries, goodies and small gifts. To say the stockings were a big hit is to damn them with faint praise.
Since the beginning of Operation Sandbox, more than 85,000 military men and women deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan have been the recipients of special packages from home. Teams of volunteers meet weekly to pack boxes, write notes and fulfill special requests from some of these Americans serving so far from home.
In return, those volunteers have received flags flown over foreign soil, Iraqi money, unit patches and countless thank you letters and postcards.
Imagine that - brave American men and women who are laying their very lives on the line, thanking volunteers who are sending small tokens of our nation's appreciation.
According to founder Virginia Pearson, "We are here to serve our military. If you are presently serving in Iraq or Afghanistan and would like support from our organization, please contact Operation Sandbox GA at www.operationsandboxga.com or email opsandboxga@bellsouth.net."
If you would like to help fill those boxes, Operation Sandbox would value your donation of time, talent, treasure and/or items. This is a 501(c)3 organization, so your donations are tax-deductible. Here's a list of the things that are most requested and valued by our military members in Iraq and Afghanistan. Give what you can to those who are willing to give so much more.
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