Feb 21, 2008

For the past three months The Getaway Gift Shop in Bradleyville has been sending packages to American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Help has come from all directions. Magazines, notes, tablets, pens, candies, money for postage and all sorts of goodies have been dropped by the collection box at the shop. One person even went to Russell Stover Candies and bought 10 boxes of chocolates to be sent. Sponsors of the project are so grateful the community has taken this seriously. The Bradleyville High School students in Family, Career and Community Leaders of America have been doing all the packing as well as writing notes and letters of appreciation. Several other classes at Bradleyville have written letters and kindergartners colored special pictures for our soldiers in these far away places. This is a copy of an email received from C. J. Badovinatz, one of the Bradleyville soldiers in Iraq after receiving several packages: “I would like to start by thanking everyone that has been praying for me and the other soldiers’ safety as we’re in Iraq. Prayers and thoughts of safety are the biggest way to help soldiers out in this time of war. “I like to thank everyone that is helping put together care package boxes! Receiving gifts from home is a major morale uplift. We are very busy with our work in Iraq and we have very little time to sit down and write out ‘thank you’ cards. When we do get a little time to ourselves it is spent by running around the FOB getting supplies for the next time we’re out on patrol and maybe getting a 20 minute phone call to home. “The only time that I am able to send emails out is after I have walked almost 5 miles round trip to the tent that the soldiers’ computers are located. Not having a computer makes it difficult for me to send out thank yous. In order to use the computers I must walk to the tent and sign in and wait until the next soldier’s time is up. It is very time consuming and over here time is everything. “Thinking now we especially need foot powder. After having our feet in combat boots everyday and sometimes days on end our feet become very raw and worn out! “I want to make sure that everyone knows how much we appreciate what you’re doing for us! I would like to give a BIG thank you for thinking of us and to everyone that is helping by bringing in items to The Getaway Gift Shop; we enjoy receiving their boxes each month! Also, to anyone else that has shipped a box for the soldiers, thank you! Sincerely, Christopher Badovinatz” The Douglas County Herald has agreed to be a collection site for this project too. If you have a note, card, beef jerky, candy or anything else you might like to contribute to this most deserving cause, please drop them by the Herald office between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., or the Getaway Gift Shop in Bradleyville. Shop winter hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 to 1 on Saturdays. If you have a soldier name you think needs us to put him on our list, please contact the Getaway Gift Shop @ 417-796-2500.