TO THE EDITOR:

In the following paragraphs, I shall attempt to explain what a great program you took part in and youíre going to be surprised at the results. We started our soldiersí care package program with another group, however we couldnít work things out, so we went on our own.

We called it the Soldiers Care Package Program and it started in mid-December and it closed on Sunday, Aug. 13, 2005 at the 778th Transportation Co. picnic based in Red Wing, where we gave the families of the troops serving overseas many things that were left over and a few that we purchased. We gave away 2 bikes on a raffle.

There were many people involved in this program starting with grade schools in Forest Lake, Hugo and Wyoming. The two junior highs participated. Many senior groups in other towns, many churches, many service organizations, many companies, many individuals, girl scouts and countless others. It would take me forever to list them all. There were collection cans throughout Forest Lake and North Branch. Stories were in the Forest Lake Times and Post Review in North Branch. It involved a lot of people.

Some wrote letters, some collected goods, some sent money, some donated tapes, some donated the boxes, and some gave Girl Scout cookies. One company let us borrow a trailer to haul packages to the post office, and our Forest Lake post office unloaded every box for us. Some contributed to a Minn. National Guard family, with five children. (more later) Everyone did something and some did everything, however they all did a fine job. Iíve never seen anything like it.
Here is the results of all your efforts: 416 boxes sent, with a total of 12,521 pounds. Just think! Over 6 tons of goods sent to our troops.

And now for the lady with the five children. Her husband is in Iraq. The childrenís ages are 15, 13, 10, 7, and 5 months. Folks, she cannot feed all of these children. We have collection cans at Lakes Conoco and Hietalaís Meats, which are in the same building. So far, we have been able to provide her with $200 a month on a food gift card. We plan to do this until April 1, when her husband is supposed to return. So far we have been lucky and are able to keep up. She also has car repairs that need to be done. If you find it in your heart that you must help this lady, it would be greatly appreciated. Send a check to Project Hope North, Inc. and mark the memo for family of 5.

I do hope that I have not forgotten anyone, but it could have taken part. Please forgive me and know that you did a very outstanding job for our soldiers. Please accept my thanks and the soldiers thanks for your efforts.

May the good Lord bless and keep you all and bring our troops home. Until then, I remain...

Respectfully yours,
Christ G. Bairaktaris,
Chairman
Project Hope North, Inc.
Forest Lake

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