Miramichi News: 2011 OPERATION CHRISTMAS SHOE BOX CAMPAIGN is GOOD TO GO…

Miramichi News: (Brenda Daigle) In 2007, my son, Leading Seaman Chris Hennebury, was deployed on the HMCS Winnipeg fighting pirates in the Gulf of Aden. When Chris received his first parcel from us, he was thrilled with treats from home. Chris emailed me to say that he received his parcel and he and all eleven mates from his unit enjoyed all the contents. It was from that email, I realized that I should send parcels for other deserving Canadian Military Members. Not every sailor, soldier, or air force member gets parcels from moms, dads, etc., so wouldn't it be nice to make these members feel appreciated.

By Christmas of 2008, I launched a campaign titled "Operation Christmas Shoe Boxes" as I had read of others doing similar gift giving to soldiers. My goal was to prepare at least 100 shoe boxes full of goodies to soldiers, sailors, and air force deployed overseas during the Christmas holidays. By the time we were ready to send the parcels overseas, we had over 300 shoe boxes full of gifts.

Miramichi continues to show gratitude every year by preparing 300 or more shoe boxes to send overseas. This campaign makes me proud not only to be a Canadian, but proud to be a Miramichier! Miramichiers remember our Canadian Military and all veterans not only on November 11, but every day of the year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YHNTlf_c_E

2011 OPERATION CHRISTMAS SHOE BOX CAMPAIGN is GOOD TO GO…

NBCC is partnering with businesses throughout the Miramichi community and surrounding areas throughout New Brunswick to run this year’s “Operation Shoe Box Campaign” and will be seeking people to join in on the excitement. For those interested in joining in on the fun, here are the guidelines. Let’s make a Canadian Military Member (Army, Navy, Airforce) deployed over the Christmas holidays feel appreciated. If interested, please contact Brenda Daigle at (506)778-6138 for more details.

RED FRIDAY PICTURE – This year’s Red Friday picture is on November 6 at the town square in Newcastle-Miramichi, directly after the parade with veterans, NBCC students, and supporters of troops alike. The parade starts at 1 pm from the Miramichi Mall (meet at 12:15 pm) and marches to the Kinsmen Centre. The Kinsmen have sponsored “The Portraits of Honour” tour (see portraitsofhonour.com), and it sure would be an honour to take our Red Friday community picture with the portraits of our fallen soldiers. Listen for an announcement on your local radio stations (Life Radio and 99.3 The River).

SHOE BOXES: You will need to wrap a shoe box and wrap the lid separately, so a team of helpers can inspect the items for security measures – meaning, even wrapped, inspectors can still open the box to see what’s inside. All shoe boxes must be wrapped prior to dropping off at the college (NBCC). Deadline is November 9^th at NBCC Main Campus. The Red Friday community picture will then be taped on the outside of the already wrapped shoe boxes.

Please print this list out, check off included items, & place inside the box:

	NEED TO HAVE:		NICE TO HAVE:
	A Christmas card with a friendly note from home. (Note: It is not necessary to add your full names & addresses; however, if you do, the recipients often respond.)		small pkgs of Kleenex (not the big boxes – just pkgs)
	$5 (or higher) Tim Horton gift card		Power Bars (sold at drug stores, Walmart, etc.)
	Medicated Foot Powder, Medicated Foot Spray		M & Ms (the only chocolate that won’t melt)
	Sunscreen (high number coverage)		Werthers candy
	Medicated Lip Balm		microwave popcorn
	Wet Wipes		gum
	Hand Sanitizer		playing cards, puzzle books
	Beef Jerky		Canadian Magazines (i.e. Bread N’ Molasses : )
	Peanut Butter		Canadian cigarettes (only if an adult is preparing the shoebox)
	Small writing pads		Feminine hygiene products
	One pen/one pencil		Kraft Dinner - microwavable

Note: If you prefer, CASH DONATIONS are accepted, instead of completing a shoe box to help to cover expenses (i.e., bubble wrap, parcel wrap, adding missing items, etc.).

Brenda Daigle

NBCC Miramichi