It's that time of year!  Operation Santa Bags will need all the help they can get!  We currently we have a group of Marines heading to Afghanistan in August.  We need your help, this group will have 120 troops that will not be home at Christmas.  How many of you will step up to the plate.  I will be updating our wish list and all donations will be appreciated.  Card makers! needed, our troops love getting our homemade cards, this is something you can even get your children involved it!  Book markers, kids love making these and our troops love them, just have them send a little message on the bookmarkers.  You can refer to our Operation Santa Bags wish list for the items needed for these care packages.
As always we thank everyone for all the help over these past several years doing this project.
You can contact me a starbethlehem@live.com or call me (910) 470-1297

Thank You,

Pat & Cathy

Our Visit to Ft. Dix, NJ 340th PSYOP, November 22,2011

Thank You Notes From Our Troops of The 340th PSYOP, Ft. Dix,NJ

On Tuesday November 22nd Operation Santa Bag took a road trip to Ft. Dix, NJ to deliver 88 Santa Bags to a group of Soldiers that are preparing to deploy to Afghanistan on December 20th.  My sister and I hopped in the car from her house in Elmira, NY and started our journey.  It was a long day, however it was so worth every mile.  We got to meet the 1st Sgt, and the CO of this fine group.  As we set up the Christmas Tree, and placed the bags around it, we chatted with those who had greeted us at the visitors center.  They presented me with a certificate of appreciation and wanted us to know how much they appreciated our efforts to give this group a small token of our appreciation for doing what they do everyday, keeping us here at home safe.  Yesterday Monday December 5th I came home to a stack of mail from this group!  Needless to say as I read every note I was crying with a joy that I can't explain other than it was something that I had not expected.  Thank You to everyone who participated in this years project, and again we couldn't do this without all your help!  Yes! January will start a new year, and we plan to start planning for next year's project even earlier.  We reached out to 186 troops this year, so will next year be 200-250 that will depend on how much help we can get throughout this upcoming year!  Want to help?  contact my sister Cathy or myself! Or if you would like to help expand "Operation Santa Bag to your area I will help you get started!  It's rewarding, and our troops need to hear from us!

Thank You

Pat & Cathy

Operation Santa Bag Goes to Ft. Dix, NJ

Operation Santa  Bag delivered 88 Santa Bags to Ft. Dix, NJ on Tuesday November 22, 2011.  Needless to say our visit was great.  We had the opportunity to meet the 1st Sgt. and the Commander of the 340th. Operation Santa Bag was really excited about delivering their care package in person, we set up the
Christmas Tree and placed the Santa Bags under it for our troops.  To everyone who contributed to this years care packages I can't say Thank You enough.  We mailed out 13 other packages to troops currently serving in Afghasistan.  We could not have done this without your help!  Thank You! and Thank You!

Operation Santa Bag Preparing to fill Santa Bags Wednesday November 16th,2011

Hey everyone!

Just wanting to update you on our progress for this years care packages. Right now we are only lacking a few items such as playing cards (I know that we have some coming but not sure how many, popcorn, and funds for shipping so if anyone would like to help us out in that department that would be totally awesome.  We have 186 troops this year that we are reaching out too!  WOW that's more than doubled from last year.  We are so excited!

To Our Sponsors! Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

Ms. Amy Tipton, Wilmington, NC
Robin Arnaud, Wilmington, NC
Claudia M, Charlotte, NC
Pam Barker, FL
Dr. & Mrs. Michael Levine, Wilmington, NC
The Harper Family, Wilmington, NC
Debbie Sheehan & Family, Wilmington,NC
Sharon Simmons & Family, Wilmington,NC
Mr. Roger Foley, Wilmington, NC
Ms. Bunny Wherry, Wilmington,NC
Mission Baptist Church, Burgaw, NC
Ms. Joan Sheridan & Family, Wilmington,NC
DJ & Hunter Black, Wilmington, NC
Jennifer & Greg Becker, Jacksonville, NC
Carolyn Becker, Jacksonville, NC
Girl Scout Troop, Hampstead, NC
Garcia Family, Hampstead, NC
Lowes Home Improvement, Wilmington, NC

Update to our Operation Santa Bag Package Preparedness

Hey There Everyone!

We are celebrating our 5th annual "Operation Santa Bag" Troop project this year!  This Project could not go on without your support and help.  To everyone that has supported us these past 5 years, Thank You!  This year will be our biggest group!  We have 150 troops to reach out to this year.

So here's an update on what we have to date for our care packages and what we still need.  Our supporters are so great!

We Have:
Hand Warmers:  We have 150, if your interested in helping you may go to Dick's supporting goods and they have offered a 15% discount for "team USA Afghanistan" be sure to let them know that these will be going to our troops in Afghanistan.  I understand that the manager was very excited to help us with these, if you have any questions please call me.  We have 119 knitted toboggans, chap sticks for everyone. We also have tooth brushes, and dental floss and tooth paste. donated by a local dentist. We have 186 copies of a CD from a local singer and song writer Amy Tipton!  Thank You Amy! for your continued support.  We have hand made crafts made by children, hand made Christmas Cards being made by the "Operation Santa Bag Team this year! we have all the hot chocolate that we need YAH!, peanuts, propell singles, and candy.  We now have the Christmas Tree's, additional hand warmers.

Things We Still Would Like:

Microwaveable popcorn boxes of 36 count (Sam's Club)
Single packs of Hand sanitizers (box of 24 count can be found at Dollar Tree/Big Lots or Walmart)
Packs of playing cards, needing 150 suggestion: Dollar Tree sells these 2 packs for $1.00
Games that 2-4 people can play such as : Battleship, checkers, tumbling towers, or other board games or card games.
Hand written notes, just to say Thank You for your service to give them encouragement.
Funds for shipping would be very helpful!  Last year we spent $150.00 for shipping.

If you are wanting to help please let us know we have just a couple more days to prepare these packages.  We have 3 groups in which these packages are going, so please let me know if your wanting to help us!

1st Annual Operation Santa Bag Weekend At The Beach!

Well we have been busy and getting busier,  Operation Santa Bag is going to the beach! Some would say that we live at the beach, this is true, however this will be a working weekend at the beach. One of my Generous Cricut students has offered up her beach home for this weekend! WOW how do you say no to that!  We have a group of ladies who are bringing their Cricut Machines, Sewing Machines and we are gonna have a party!  We will be busy making Christmas Cards and Santa Bags for our 150 Troops that we will be adopting this year, and we will have a great time!  Our focus will be our troops, these cards will be designed and created to bring Chirstmas Cheer to our troops.  We are so excited about this weekend.  And we will be talking about what we will do next year!  I love this time of year, my sister Cathy will be coming to visit and she will be teaching a class on how to make a "stage pop-up Christmas card" and everyone will be making one.....yes these will be going on the road to Afghanistan.  My wonderful sister-in-law Jennifer has given us a head start on the Santa Bags, she has already sewn 99 of these bags! WOW!  So, if you want to help please let us know!  Check out our wish list, our contact information is also available......Thank You for your continued support for our troops.

Pat & Cathy