A special thanks to our wonderful group of volunteers from
Marine Moms of the QC and the Patriot Guard Riders who
were here both mornings packing boxes for the troops!

 

Full Operation Underpants Gallery here

 

How this all started... We received a letter from a listener who needs our help: Dear Dorks, Over the weekend I got a call from my daughter who is stationed in Afghanistan (she's an MP in the 333rd reserve unit and we're so proud of her). Winter has begun in Afghanistan. The weather isn't too bad right now, but eventually the average daily temps will be 15 below zero. It can get down to 40 below zero. She and her unit are in a very remote part of the district of Waza Khwa. The only way to get supplies and mail is via helicopter. The winter storms will begin within about a month. Once that happens, the copters are grounded for at least 3 months. No mail... no supply drops... no nothing for 3 months. Here's the problem. She left North Carolina a couple of weeks ago. The soldiers in her unit were told to pack only 1 fleece jacket, 1 pair long underwear, 1 pair gloves and one hat in the bags they were carrying with them. They were instructed to pack the rest of their cold weather gear in their trunks, which would be delivered to them later. Well, their trunks are on a ship in the middle of the ocean and probably won't reach land before the helicopters are grounded. They'll likely get their cold weather gear in time for summer. There are 400 soldiers with only the cold weather gear they were allowed to carry with them. Packages sent to them within the next couple of weeks (say by Thanksgiving to be safe) should reach them before the helicopters are grounded. I can't afford to send them all warm weather gear but maybe you and your listeners can help. Cindy C. Please drop of any of the following supplies at the station between 8am-5pm we will send everything over to the soldiers in this unit. 97X - 1229 Brady Street - Davenport, IA We are shipping out on Tuesday the 25th so please hurry! • Long underwear (black, tan, olive green - if possible) • women's sizes small through 2XL • men's sizes medium through 2XL tall • Gloves (black - preferably flame retardant) • Wool socks (black, tan, olive green - if possible) • Hats (black or brown fleece) • Hand/toe warmer packs • Money for postage DROP OFF POINTS If you live in the Clinton area you can drop of supplies this weekend at Marty's Party Bus which will be parked at these locations: Saturday from 9-11am Camanche Elementary School at 508 11th Pl, Camanche, IA (go south on 7th Ave off of 67 and take a left on 11th Pl) Sunday from 1-2pm Gateway State Bank at 2600 Lincoln Way, Clinton, IA (across from Arby's) FRIDAY FEST We will be collecting items from 5-7pm at the Friday Fest: Funky Moe’s Wing Bar & Grill (formerly Pluckers) 1720 E Kimberly Rd, Davenport, IA SUNDAY AT HOOTERS Beth will be collecting supplies from noon-2pm at Hooters. Watch some football and bring her some underpants! FREEPORT DROP OFF LOCATIONS American Red Cross - Northwest Illinois Chapter 224 West Galena Avenue Freeport, IL Rite-Way Furniture 20 East Stevenson Street Freeport, IL Soldiers at the 333rd's send-off dinner held at the Freeport, IL VFW on August 28, 2008 Dinner was sponsored by the VFW and the Northwest Illinois Chapter of the American Red Cross, and paid for by a generous volunteer/supporter of our Chapter. If you aren't able to bring in a donation for Operation Underpants but would still like to contribute, please donate through the Northwest IL Red Cross website: www.nwilredcross.org Another way to make a difference is to donate or join one of the programs offered by My Solider: www.mysoldier.com   Christmas Cards for Wounded Soldiers When doing your Christmas cards this year, take one card and send it to this address. If we pass this on and everyone sends one card, think of how many cards these wonderful special people who have sacrificed so much would get. A Recovering American Soldier c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center 6900 Georgia Avenue NW Washington, D.C. 20307-5001 Holiday Mail for Heroes Cards can also be mailed to this address by Dec 10th: Holiday Mail for Heroes PO Box 5456 Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456 Please visit the website for guidelines and more information http://www.redcross.org/email/saf/index.asp Bert is our new hero. This guy has gone to the Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport 300 times to welcome troops home from Iraq and Afganistan... 300 times in the LAST YEAR. It’s a program the airport started called Welcome Home A Hero. And he believes it’s worth it. We had many calls today after our interview with Bert from soldiers who were part of a welcome. Some talked about how great it made them feel, some got emotional, and some commented on how contagious it was, with busy travelers stopping to applaud the returning soldiers. Bert’s story was captured on ABC News. Person of the Week: Bert Brady HOW CAN WE ALL SHOW OUR SUPPORT? Good question. Bert’s group consists of fellow vets, family and friends of soldiers, and compassionate individuals who have learned of the welcome home and wanted to help. It’s not the same people every time (except Bert of course), but enough care every time. He told us, “Sometimes it 8 of us, sometimes a thousand.” In Eastern Iowa, we’re lucky to have QC F.I.S.T. to collect data and let people know what the troops need, but they’re one group in one area. We’d like to help, and possibly expand the network of people like us and Bert (and you, too?) who know families of soldiers, when and where they’ll be arriving home. The information will come from you, so talk to your neighbors, and friends who know someone serving. They deserve a welcome home, a thank-you, and a salute. We’ve had success with the Patriot Guard events, and even welcome home motorcade salutes in limited form. We’d like to see it get bigger. We think this is worth it. Let's Bring 'Em Home! www.lbeh.org Help reunite military members with their families for the holidays Let's Bring 'Em Home helps our troops spend the holidays with their families. Your tax deductible donation can help  pay for a plane ticket for military personnel that can't afford to come home to be with their family for the holidays. Learn all about it on their website: www.lbeh.org/?faq