Jennifer Fair and Renee Atkins sure know how to throw a party - in particular, a packing and fundraising party. The dynamic duo, who formed the non-profit organization Operation Christmas Glory to collect toiletries and other items to put into care packages to mail to troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, hosted an event to pack boxes at the King City Clubhouse on Sept. 30.

"We had over 85 participants, and I know some got by without signing in, so I estimate 90-plus people attended," Jennifer said. "Groups involved included nine members of the King City Lions Club and six members from the King City Women's Golf Club. Deb Dorn brought her alternative education students - I think eight - from Newberg School District.

"Others were four employees from CUI, members from the Lake Oswego Chamber of Commerce, Starbucks employees and a member from the Beaverton Rotary Club. Tualatin Valley Television also was filming for an upcoming special about Operation Christmas Glory to air in November."

According to Jennifer, more than $900 was raised at the event, which will cover the cost of postage of the first 70 care packages to be sent out for Christmas - 11 of which were sent out Oct. 5 to six different contacts on forward operating bases. Another 10 care packages went out Oct. 7 to seven contacts in Afghanistan.

Jennifer added that 230 boxes were packed at the event, so most people packed three to four boxes to send to troops.

"Interesting note - it took most people over 20 minutes to pack a care package," Jennifer said.

More than $16,000 worth of materials were available at the packing party, including brand names such as Gillette, John Frieda, Finesse, Pantene, Crest, Irish Springs, Dove, Axe, Mitchum, Degree, Carefree and Wisk.

Jennifer said that the King City Grocery Outlet donated all the non-perishable food that went into the boxes. "They're awesome people," she said of owners Tony and Tina Slyter.

"Nearly 300 Beanie Babies - valued at $1,500 - were donated for the event for the soldiers to give out to kids in Afghanistan for goodwill, or some soldiers even keep them as mascots to improve morale," Jennifer said. "Also included in the boxes were 1,200-plus Sunday comics, which are a huge morale booster item that costs us nothing as an organization, compliments of the King City Lions Club."

Among the many photos taken at the event, Jennifer said, "The most touching photo was of Cpl. Jonathan Lovejoy and 'Grandma LuDene,' who got to meet for the first time at the packing party. It was so cute to see them together. Grandma LuDene baked delicious treats for us to send to contacts we have personal communications with - via email and mail - and Cpl. Lovejoy was a recipient of at least one of her packages from home.

"She feels just as we do - these guys are family. It was amazing to see how her actions affected them both so strongly, and we were able to bring them together. It was amazing."

The party was scheduled to end at 4 p.m., but the last volunteer left at 6:30 p.m., according to Jennifer.

"The No. 1 goal of the packing party was to create personal connections between the soldiers and Marines and folks back home," Jennifer said. "A lot of people wrote personal notes to put in the boxes, and every one of the 200-plus boxes has a personal connection in it. What will be amazing is to see what kind of connections come out of this. We're really excited about it. I can't thank everyone who participated enough."

Jonathan Lovejoy is Renee's brother and had been home from the Marines for two weeks at the time of the party. He is stationed in San Diego but came to visit family and friends and attend the party.

"Cpl. Lovejoy said that the troops had received other boxes, but ours felt like they were from home," Jennifer said. "Other boxes the troops get are filled with hotel toiletries and items like that."

Jennifer and Renee don't plan to ship any more boxes to troops until January, but collecting coupons and items for the boxes plus donations to mail them is ongoing.

"The first of the care packages from the Operation Christmas Glory packing party has been received," Jennifer said Oct. 12, "SPC Keala Burks received the first package only five days after it was shipped."

Keala wrote, "Thank you so much for our package! A lot of the items were much needed, and we were excited about the decorations. We have our Halloween decorations up right now, but as soon as we get the other decorations up after Halloween, we will definitely take pictures and send them to y'all! We will talk soon!"

The Regal Courier, Oct 27, 2011
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