“My sister’s been doing this for more than three years,” Leisek said of the commitment of her sister, who lives in Kansas. “Every year when I go home, she’s doing something. One year, she was getting them pillows. … It’s touching what these kids need that are over there and I just wanted to help the Alaskans somehow.”
To do that, Leisek is offering her Bay Realty office as a point of contact for anyone wanting to participate.
“And I’ll pay to ship it off, unless it gets to be too much and then we’ll find someone to help us pay,” Leisek said.
Two wish lists offer suggestions for anyone wanting to join Leisek’s effort. One includes items to make the holidays away from home a little bit brighter: ornaments, decorations, cards the men and women in the military can mail to family and friends statewide.
“Think what it will mean to them to get something from Alaska,” Leisek said. “Think what it would mean to you if it were you or your son or your daughter or husband.”
A second wish list includes items for those deployed in Iraq: board games, card games, books and magazines, all kinds of snacks, black boot socks, beef jerky, AA and AAA batteries, DVD movies, stationery, pens, candy, and anything to bring cheer to these individuals, including letters.
“We’re gathering it up and I’d like to send a box or two every week,” Leisek said, adding, “The thing about this is, I don’t want it to be political or anything. They’re over there and I’d just like them to know that people are over are supporting them, we’re proud of them. This is something so they have a little sense that we care.”
According to information provided by The Adoptaplatoon Soldier Support Campaign, the effort was founded in 1998 and is a nonprofit organization managed nationwide by volunteer mothers. Its mission is to ensure that deployed U.S. service members from all braches of the military are not forgotten by providing mail supporting and promoting patriotism in schools and communities. For information on opportunities to be involved, visit the Web at http://adoptaplatoon.org/new/index.htm.
Shipping deadlines for APO (Army or Air Force Post Office) and FPO (Fleet Post Office) addresses provided by Postmaster Michael Moore of Homer include:
• Nov. 13: Parcel post
• Dec. 1: Priority mail
• Dec. 11: First class mail, letters/cards
• Dec. 19: Express mail military service
McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibben.jackinksy@homernews.com.
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