Care boxes to go to Guard military police in Baghdad
By ELOISE OGDEN, Regional Editor, eogden@minotdailynews.comArticle Photos
A Minot woman is putting together care boxes for a North Dakota Guard unit in Iraq.
As of Friday, Kaylin Kennedy had filled 55 boxes with items including nonperishable food, many of them high-protein items, and hygene items such as Q-tips and lotions.
"My sister is there," said Kennedy.
Her sister, Pvt. 1st Class Ashley Glaspie, Minot, is stationed in Baghdad with the North Dakota Army National Guard's 191st Military Police. The Guard unit has been in Iraq since April. Glaspie is a gunner.
The 191st Military Police, from Fargo, Bismarck and Mayville, consists of soldiers from more than 40 communities across North Dakota and neighboring states. There are about 170
soldiers in the unit, according to N.D. National Guard information.
Kennedy said she decided to put together the care boxes for the soldiers because by the time they get back from maneuvers, the chow hall there is usually closed.
She said many of the soldiers also don't receive care packages. She said her sister shares the ones she has sent to her, but they don't go that far.
"I'm a single mom and work several jobs. I can't afford to send to her every week," Kennedy said.
With the help of family, friends and work clients, Kennedy has so far been able to put together more than 50 boxes.
"I'm filling them myself and it will take some time," she said.
Kennedy fills the boxes with the items at her home and then takes them to Curves, where she works.
"Curves has been a great supporter and is letting me complete the boxes there. I fill them and take them to work," she said.
Kennedy said she recently made an appearance at Dakota Square Miracle Mart about her project. "I had huge participation there," she said.
But Kennedy said she's in need of help with the postage to send the boxes because sending mail to Iraq is very expensive. She said each filled mailing box costs $10.95, which is a flat rate.
Kennedy has set up an account "For the Troops" at Prairie Federal Credit Union in Minot where people can send money to help with the postage. Donations can be sent to: For the Troops, in care of Kaylin Kennedy, Prairie Federal Credit Union, P.O. Box 3160, Minot, ND 58702.
People with questions about the project or who want to donate items for the care boxes can call Kennedy at 240-8778. Kennedy said she has a list of the nonperishable items that can be sent to troops.
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ThingsThatMakeYouGoHUH
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07-28-08 6:20 PM
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I am really mysified about why this story was allowed to run in a paper of a military community? You must know that this type of solicitation is completely frowned upon by the military. Does this woman have status to solict money from the communty? Was this passed by family support? We all work hard to gain ground as families of these soldiers, and then get slammed by something like this. There is no way this woman should be running around begging for money. There is no accountability of this what so ever. Her account of soldier treatment is not factual. My soldier is in this very unit and is well tended to with meals and provisions. Also- I am in close touch with the unit, and I know that all the members are receving packages from home and various support organizations. Actually, ND troops are held in a status of Awe- as they get SO MUCH support from home that they usually get their own truck full of mail, as everyone else at the camp combined, gets their mail in another.
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