Operation: Give Music to a Soldier's Ears

Contact: Michael L. Paule,
969 Alexandra Court
Oak Park, CA 91377
818-355-2570
Ctlca24@gmail.com

September 24, 2007
For Immediate Release:
Oak Park, California 8th Grade Student launches: “Operation: Give Music to a Soldier’s Ears”
Kelsey Paule, an 8th grade student at Medea Creek Middle School in Oak Park, California has launched a drive to collect Apple iPods and iTunes Gift Cards for wounded soldiers and others deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq. Kelsey with assistance from her father, Mike Paule (a Council Member on the Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council) have teamed up with Soldiers’ Angels (A Pasadena, CA-based organization) to collect and distribute new and good-condition used iPods and iTunes gift cards – which will be sent to men and women in the U.S. Armed Forces eager to receive them.
Kelsey and Mike believe it is important to show our appreciation for the men and women who serve our Country with great distinction. Many members of our military forces have served extended tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq and make great sacrifices to defend the freedom and liberties that we all enjoy as Americans. Providing them with some of the same comforts of home that we all cherish will make their time away from their families a little easier.
According to Soldiers’ Angels Founder – Patti Patton-Bader, “Soldiers’ Angels receive many requests for these items – more than they can currently provide with the funds that they have available.”
Chaplain Dickerson, the liaison for wounded soldiers returning from Afghanistan has expressed strong support for this project and believes that these donated items will provide comfort to the wounded soldiers returning home from Afghanistan. They get many requests for Apple iPods. All new iPods donated will go exclusively to wounded soldiers. Good, working-condition iPods will be sent to troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan to those that do not have these items and have requested them.
With the introduction of the new Apple iPods this month, Kelsey believes that many people may be considering acquiring new ones but have good working iPods that can be put to good use. “People can donate their iPods, accessories and iTunes Gift Cards and know that they are helping put a smile on the faces of our brave heroes. “
Kelsey will provide a written and recorded message to each recipient of a donated iPod and iTunes Gift Card which will let them know how much we all appreciate the dedication and sacrifices they make for all of us.
Kelsey and Mike hope that the public will generously contribute to this effort. Interested individuals and businesses can make arrangements for the pickup of these items by either e-mailing Kelsey and Mike at ctlca24@gmail.com, or calling 818-355-2570. Donations made to Soldiers’ Angels may be tax deductible.
About Soldiers’ Angels:
Soldiers' Angels is an all volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded by Patti Patton-Bader, mother of Sgt. Brandon Varn, who recently returned home from a year’s deployment to Iraq. Soldiers' Angels is a national organization with members in all fifty states and Puerto Rico, and several friendly countries who support our brave men and women in uniform as they carry out their mission. Soldiers' Angels was incorporated in the state of Nevada in June of 2003. Soldiers' Angels mission is to provide aide and comfort to the men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and the Coast Guard and their amazing families. The slogan describes the motivation behind Soldiers' Angels. By working together and sharing a common vision of service, the volunteers of Soldiers' Angels send care to deployed soldiers and their loved ones at home.
www.soldiersangels.com

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Calling AZ Angels...

November 10, 2007: Cookie Day

Jane has contacted cookiecommand.org and they would love for us to help. Please email me if you would like to join other local Angels (Phoenix area) on Nov. 10th.

Soldiers' Angels Operation Hug-A-Hero

Soldiers' Angels Operation Hug-A-Hero - "Honoring Our Veterans One Stitch At A Time"Patti has asked our crochet team to help provide holiday cheer to TWENTY THOUSAND Veterans nationwide this holiday season. These blankets can be crocheted - knitted - quilted or fleece tie blankets. Once you have your blanket completed please wrap them individually in Christmas wrapping and place a tag or card with them letting our Heroes know who made the item and that you are a member of Soldiers' Angels Organization. We ask that you please hold your blankets and mail them out on or near December 1st. Once you get a package ready please email Terri Hansen at:shansenfamily@embarqmail.com and she will provide you with the address of the nearest VA facility. In the email please include the number of blankets and the sizing. If you have a creation for a female please indicate on the outside of the package that it is intended for a female recipient.The sizes requested are - 36 x 45 for lap afghans and 45 x 60 for blankets. Please remember that when crocheting/knitting and looming sometimes the measurements are not exact...that is fine!! Our Heroes will love them even if they are not the exact size requested!!We thank you so much for considering this project! We feel like this is a wonderful way to wrap our veterans with love and show them how much we appreciate the sacrifices they have made on our and our country's behalf! On behalf of the VA Team we want to thank each of you for your continuing support of our honorable veterans!

Holiday for Heroes

In homes across America, there is an empty chair this Christmas. The man or woman usually sitting in that chair is in the military, serving overseas. There is no family Christmas for those brave soldiers. We at the SA “Family” are committed to making sure every soldier has at least some kind of Christmas.

Soldiers’ Angels is asking for your help during the upcoming holiday season. The United States Military has roughly 120,000 deployed troops throughout the world. It is our intention to get a care package or goodie bag into the hands of all the deployed personnel this holiday season.

Soldiers’ Angels is asking for donations to sponsor a ‘Holiday Gift Bag’ for a deployed Soldier for the holiday season. The cost for each holiday gift is $10.00 per soldier. Can you sponsor one, or a few? Click here if you would like to sponsor a "Holiday Gift Bag".

Upcoming Events in AZ

• Welcome Home Event - Tucson VA: October 13th
• Corey and Kristen will be there handing out SA Coins to Combat Vets
  
  
• Veteran Stand Downs
  
• Tucson: Oct 19 - 21st (Slumber Party for Vets)
  
• Phoenix (details coming soon)
• Prescott (details coming soon)
  
  
• Stamp-A-Stack for our Soldiers - October 20th
• Create Blank Cards (all cards prekitted) for our troops to send home to their families for the holiday season. Email Kristen for more details.
  
• Cost: $20 for 12-15 cards. Lunch is included.
• Cookie Day with CookieCommand.Org - November 10th
• Join other angels in the Phoenix area in helping CookieCommand.org.