Meredith Kelly- Chairwoman
WELCOME TO "OPERATION STARS & STRIPES
To
Our Troops!
May you be blessed and safe, and know that our thoughts
and prayers are with you and we will not forget you. You live in our hearts everyday and we want to thank you for everything
you are doing. It is a sacrifice to be away from your family and friends and we will never forget that. Let us know
what you need and don't be shy in asking us for support. We are here for you 24/7, 365 days a year until you come home!
A big "WELCOME HOME" to those returning. We know who you are but do not want
to put your unit names out there for security reasons! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your sacrifices for us!
Please know that we support Troops from all over the U.S.
Hi Every One! If this is your
1st visit to our site, "Welcome!
A Big Thank You
to all of very generous donators for helping to make the Holidays a great success! 
We have been as bust as ever getting boxes out for all of our new units deployed and boxes
to those we are till supporting. Happily I can say that we were aable to send out around 600 fleece blankets from October
09 through this January.
Our Valentine Party boxes went out and are starting to arrive, so they should
all be there in time for our America's Sweethearts. A bi thanks to all our School children, Sr. groups and Girl Scouts who
lovingly made cards to include in our boxes.
So a big thank you to all of our donators, because you made this
happen! We could not do this without all your dedication and support. God Bless each and every one of you!
As
you can see, we are a no frills web site, and our main priority is to get support out for our
Troops. It's what we do that is important. I know that the economy is not the best, and some of you are struggling.
I hope that you will all continue to support us in our quest to support our Troops. If every one gives a little it adds up
very quickly and we can make a big impact.WE REALLY NEED YOUR HElP! Postage
money is at an all time low.
Our organization is supported by General Motors/SPO, Bolingbrook, Illinois, UAW Local Veterans Committee #2114, UAW
Local #2114, Region 4 UAW Veterans Women's Round Table and the Region 4 UAW Veterans. This program was started to show our
support to the many men and women serving in the Middle East. We felt it important for them to know that besides family members
and their friends that "Americans stood United with them, and there are people back home who cared about them.
On
March 7th, 2003 we began sending "care boxes" to our military personal serving in Kuwait,Iraq, Afghanistan, Cuba and
the Horn of Africa. Care packages have also been sent to S. Korea and Kosovo when we get their addresses. Thanks
to our many public and private donators, our non profit, all volunteer program has been very successful. With the new
deployments of Troops, we are asking for your help to continue our support.
This program is not about supporting
or not supporting the "war", nor is it about being a Republican, Democrat or Liberal. Our mission is to show support
for our Troops. We feel it very important not to get in the political mix of things.
To date, February 2010, we
have sent over 8500 boxes of toiletries, socks, can goods, snacks and treats. In addition to our weekly "care packages",we
have shipped 6 microwave ovens, 34 coffee pots, 2 crock pots, two mini refridgerators, 3 heavy duty voltage
converter, hot plates, cases of linens,towels,toys and school supplies. We have also sent 24 pairs of Tactical gloves,
12 pairs of leather work gloves, ACU shorts, Phoenix chest rigs, holsters, Camelback hydration packs under armor
T-shirts. & eight pairs of combat boots. A Suunto X9i -m GPS watch was sent for a communications
unit in Afghanistan, and a media computer keyboard for a Combat Support Hospital in Iraq, and five Wii 's &
numerous games for them to play in any down time that might have. We were able to purchase a lap top PC for a unit in Iraq
so that they could communicte with their families & friends.
To our Combat Support Hospitals we have been sending
boxer shorts,t-shirts, socks, quilts, afghans, laprobes, 100 pairs of flip flops, a wheel chair and toiletries
for the wounded as well as items for the Staff. In July 2004, we sent cases of laprobes, quilts,t-shirts,baseball caps,wheelchair
and walker bags to our wounded at Walter Reed Hospital in conjunction with "4 the Troops" program run out of Los
Angeles, California. Since that time we have also sent to Ft. Lewis in Colorado and Bethesda Naval Hospitals and are currently
sending boxes of the same to the the Army Hospital in Lanstuhl, Germany.
We would really
appreciate your support and help to get as many "care boxes" out as possible. Each individual box weighs approximately
15-20 pounds and the unit boxes weigh in at about 60 pounds a piece. The cost of postage runs $18.00 to $25.00
per box and unit boxes around $60.00.
If you have any questions regarding "Operation Stars & Stripes"
or would like us to send a care package to a loved one for you, please feel free to contact me Meredith Kelly at
johnmeredithk@aol.com
Please know that all donations are tax deductable!
Any monetary donations
can be sent to:
"OPERATION STARS & STRIPES"
C/O CHARTER ONE BANK
4231 JOLIET AVE
LYONS, ILLINOIS 60534
All donations go to the Troops to purchase items or used for
postage. Our group is 100% volunteer and no one receives payment for services rendered.
Please feel free to send us the
names of your loved ones serving, and we would be honored to send a care package free of charge.
A special message
to all our Military Families & Friends. I am proud to anounce that we are adding a wonderful site for you to find
wonderful military greeting cards for you to send . I know how difficult it is to find greetings for those serving in the
Armed Forces, especially those deployed.
The Company is called "FORGET YOU NOT GREETINGS". We are so proud to add them to our family supporting our Troops. They are currently working on new cards
for all five branches of the military. Please check out their site & please keep in mind when you are looking for
the perfect card to send. Just click on the left hand column listing on their home page - Military You will not be disapointed!
Their
site address is www.forgetyounotgreetings.com.
