Operation Whispering Angels

In September 0f 2007, Dick and Linda Taylor (members of our Whispering Angels email group) flew to Michigan to make Christmas cards for the boxes being shipped to our service men and woman serving in Iraq. One of the packages was sent to their son Blake's unit the 384th MPBM.

October 23rd
Phase one of Operation Whispering Angels is accomplished.  On Saturday
we finished the 120 cards that we needed for our packages to the
troops.  Again thank you Karen!!  Phase two in now in process.  My
family room has filled with items for the packages.  I am knee deep in
pop corn, pop tarts, ramen noodles, socks, twizzlers, and much more.  
Thursday evening I have friends lined up to help assemble the packages.

I am so grateful for the donations that have come in.  People are
thanking us for the opportunity to give.   I have more shopping to do
today to finish out some of the counts of food.  I have faith that we
will make our goal of 300 packages.

Pictures I have attached: #1  Two of the ladies that helped us to reach
our goal.  Sorry I do not have their names.  They were awesome card
makers.  #2  Dani and Karen,  we have much to thank these two for the
success of this operation.  #3  Dani and I ducking the sun, I wanted you
to see her Butterfly "tattooed" car.  I loved it!

Everyone have a great day!

Linda




 



 

October 26

"We now have approximately 350 packages to send to the troops in Iraq.
We really had a great time assembling the packages.  
Work was done in about an hour and half.  The last half hour, clean up
and loading bags into the vans.  I really think they would have worked
much longer, they were having such a good time.  That has been the
response to this project.  People telling me how good it made them feel
to be able to donate to send packages to the troops.
We have many thanks to the community of Flint Michigan, especially
Karen's creative Stamping for 300 cards, donations of money from Karen,
Dani, Lisa, Mary Anne, the Decker's and donation of items collected at
Karen's.   The community of Kokomo Indiana, especially my church, (the
missions board, women's ministry, the LaMars, families filling over 50
grocery bags full of items and over $850 cash to buy items, postage, and
phone cards.  Local businesses that have given gift cards toward the
purchase of items.  Sam's, Wal Mart, Meijer, Target and Marsh.  My
Sister in-law's Sunday school class in Gallatin Tennessee who has
pledged $500 for postage.  My family for donations of money and items."
Linda Taylor

November 6, 2007

Now to report on Operation Whispering Angels....Last night I had a home
made vegetable beef barley soup and apple dumpling party.  Friends came
to help put our home made cards and a letter in each package.  This
morning with the help of Blake and My In-Laws, we took 419 gallon size
packages, one bulk box, and one box of magazines to the Box Shop.  To
visualize this it took two vans filled to the brink, seats removed (I
actually had to sit with my feet on the magazine box).  Last time I
wrote I had no idea how I was going to get everything boxed and
inventoried for shipment.  When checking at our local Box Shop to check
the prices of boxes they told me they will box and inventory for free
any shipments going to the troops.  They also send things via US Postal
Service.  When I explained our project telling them they were a couple
of our angels to do this for us, they said they had angel wing stickers
to put on the boxes. WOW! My prayers were answered.

To update those new to the sight.  We decided back some time in late
summer to collect items and make cards to send to the troops in Iraq.  
We had a card making session in September and October in Flint Michigan
where Dani lives.  Several of us with CNSV actually got to meet.  That
was neat.  My son Blake who at the moment is home on his two week leave
is serving in Iraq.  :-) :-) :-) We are shipping the items to his unit
and have enough that we will be covering a couple more units.  He has
chaplains there lined up to help him distribute the packages.  I will be
sending out about two more updates.  One to give you a final tally of
phone cards purchased after paying for shipping and another when I find
out the packages are distributed.  By the way, Blake was checking out
the packages and thought we had done a really great job of collecting
items.  He said any soldier would love to get one of them.  Most people
donating expressed how happy they were to be able to be a part of
sending packages to the troops.

Linda
Linda & her son Blake

 





November 19, 2007

The last package to the troops was mailed today.  Operation Whispering
Angels was a huge success!!

This is what we have sent:
419 Gallon size packages
1 individual flat rate box
2 bulk boxes (sent to chaplains of two different units to distribute as
needed)
68 phone cards
304 hand made Christmas cards
Letters from different grade school classes

Many soldiers will know we care and are sincerely appreciated for all
they do.

Everyone have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

The boxes that we sent

The chaplains who helped Blake distribute the packages.

Blake, on the left, and a fellow soldier.  I believe they are off duty at the moment as they are dressed in their PT's which are their Physical training uniforms.  The solders that are dressed
BDU's, Battle Dress Uniforms, are on duty

Looks like the party may be in the process of being set up.  
Notice the background.  This is the sand wall that protects the detainee
center from what ever is out there.  Blake's only way he has been in or
out of this compound has been by helicopter.

Soldiers enjoying their Christmas treats

The Christmas party where they distributed Christmas boxes to Blake's unit the 384th MPBM.