|
|
|
Though soldiers in the Missouri National Guard’s Agriculture Support Unit will be spending the holidays in Afghanistan this year, they won’t be without stockings on Christmas morning.
Thanks to the McDonald County Sheriff’s Office’s Operation Santa, soldiers will receive stockings stuffed with donations from community members just in time for Christmas.
Robert Evenson, McDonald County sheriff, said this is the third year the department has collected items for soldiers.
“We’ve decided it’s a small thing we can do for the soldiers who do so much for us,” Evenson said.
He said each year Operation Santa focuses on a local unit that is deployed.
Last year, they provided stockings to approximately 150 soldiers serving in Joplin’s 414th Military Police Company in Afghanistan. This year they expect to stuff around 60 stockings.
Evenson said some recommended donations are snacks, batteries, games, candy, and fog spray for glasses.
Almost anything small enough to fit into a stocking can be donated. There are, however, three exceptions: no pork products, alcohol or tobacco can be accepted.
“We want to send little things they can use, or that will brighten their day,” Evenson said.
He said cards, letters and leftover Halloween candy would also be accepted.
If there are leftover items after the stockings have been filled, those items will be boxed up and shipped to the soldiers as well.
At this time, the sheriff’s office has not received many donations. Though Evenson said it is typical of the past two years for items to come in slowly at first, they are needed badly.
“We need donations to be able to stuff those stockings,” Evenson said.
Donations will be accepted until Friday, Nov. 18. They can be dropped off at the McDonald County Sheriff’s Office, located at 300 E. 7th St. in Pineville.
The stocking stuffing is open to the public and will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, at the McDonald County 911 Center.
Those with questions are welcome to contact the Sheriff’s Office by phone at 223-4319 or by email at r.evenson@mcdonaldcountysheriff.com.
“We want to invite the people of our area to help,” Evenson said.
Though soldiers in the Missouri National Guard’s Agriculture Support Unit will be spending the holidays in Afghanistan this year, they won’t be without stockings on Christmas morning.
Thanks to the McDonald County Sheriff’s Office’s Operation Santa, soldiers will receive stockings stuffed with donations from community members just in time for Christmas.
Robert Evenson, McDonald County sheriff, said this is the third year the department has collected items for soldiers.
“We’ve decided it’s a small thing we can do for the soldiers who do so much for us,” Evenson said.
He said each year Operation Santa focuses on a local unit that is deployed.
Last year, they provided stockings to approximately 150 soldiers serving in Joplin’s 414th Military Police Company in Afghanistan. This year they expect to stuff around 60 stockings.
Evenson said some recommended donations are snacks, batteries, games, candy, and fog spray for glasses.
Almost anything small enough to fit into a stocking can be donated. There are, however, three exceptions: no pork products, alcohol or tobacco can be accepted.
“We want to send little things they can use, or that will brighten their day,” Evenson said.
He said cards, letters and leftover Halloween candy would also be accepted.
If there are leftover items after the stockings have been filled, those items will be boxed up and shipped to the soldiers as well.
At this time, the sheriff’s office has not received many donations. Though Evenson said it is typical of the past two years for items to come in slowly at first, they are needed badly.
“We need donations to be able to stuff those stockings,” Evenson said.
Donations will be accepted until Friday, Nov. 18. They can be dropped off at the McDonald County Sheriff’s Office, located at 300 E. 7th St. in Pineville.
The stocking stuffing is open to the public and will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, at the McDonald County 911 Center.
Those with questions are welcome to contact the Sheriff’s Office by phone at 223-4319 or by email at r.evenson@mcdonaldcountysheriff.com.
“We want to invite the people of our area to help,” Evenson said.
