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Operation Christmas Stocking

Real Estate Agent with Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.

September 14, 2008 12:58 AM

Mark your calendar for tomorrow, September 15.

That's the date when you can go online to Operation Give and participate in Operation Christmas Stocking by purchasing a pre-filled Christmas stocking or gift bag of goodies for deployed American trrops.

That's the "no-excuse" way of participating in this effort, co-sponsored by Operation Give and Target. Their goal: Put one of these Christmas stockings, bags or gifts into the hands of all 100,000+ deployed soldiers. Last year, they shipped 50,000 tons of them overseas!

If you prefer to buy or make your own stocking or gift bag, you can take advantage of Operation Christmas Stocking's partnership with Fed Ex to ship yours to their base of operations in Salt Lake City (contact operationgive@comcast.net for shipping instructions). Here are a few suggestions from Operation Christmas Stocking for things to put in your Christmas stocking or gift bag:

Christmas Cards	Socks	Harmonica
CD's/DVD's	Games	Yo-yo
Hand sanitizer	Deodorant	Travel clock
Wet Ones	Lotion	Playing cards
Chap stick	Eye Drops	Sunglasses
Shampoo/conditioner	Bug spray	Calendar
Shaving Cream	Diposable razors	Small flashlight
Sunscreen	Lip balm	Small multi-tool
Clip-on Lights	AT&T Calling cards	Dominos
Tiny personal fan	Pen/Mechanical pencil	Small picture frames
Toothbrush/paste	Dental floss	individual pkg. of tissue
Inflatable beach ball

If your organization, office or family is looking for a fall project, why not this one? Just think of all the fun you'll have building your stockings, and the satisfaction of putting a smile on the face of deployed soldiers this Christmas. Just remember, they have to be in the Salt Lake City Warehouse before November 1, when they'll be shipped overseas.

BUT - if you don't have time to do this for our troops, go online to Operation Christmas Stocking to buy one after September 15.

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Angelia Garcia

Pure Realtors - Dallas, TX

That is very nice. I hope this year more can be sent out so no one gets left out.

Sep 14, 2008 02:00 AM

Kris Wales

Keller Williams Realty - Lakeside Market Center - Macomb, MI

Real Estate Blog & Homes for Sale search site, Macomb County MI

Margaret, so many people are under the misconception that our troops have ready access to commissarys and such while they are overseas.

Many do not.

I've marked my calendar, thank you. I've also jotted a mental list of things I would like to purchase to gift to these fine men and women who are so far away from home for us.

Sep 14, 2008 02:09 AM

Cindy Jones

Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA

Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Margaret-thanks for the reminder. I'm part of a group that collects paperback books and used DVD's to ship over to the troops and as far as I'm concerned you can never do enough to support the troops or the families of deployed troops.

Sep 14, 2008 02:24 AM

Lisa Long

Heather Roda Broker - Paso Robles, CA

This is an awesome way to give back. I will include my kids. Can I post this on my blog site "You Blog" ?

Sep 14, 2008 04:00 AM

Sherry Peckhoon Sim

Sims & Company - Cayucos, CA

Broker/Owner, Covering the Beautiful Central Coast

Hi Margaret, thanks for the post and reminder that we should never forget our troops. They do need our support. Our club, works with a local support group, who sends these necessities and other goodies to the troops on a regular basis. We should remember them particular during the holidays.

Sep 14, 2008 06:56 AM

Margaret Woda

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD

Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Sherry, that's awesome!

Lisa, yes, of course - I'll check to make sure I've checked "re-blog" so you can just do that instead of having to re-frame it.

Cindy - How about a local ActiveRain workshop... we each bring $50 worth of goodies to fill stockings or gift bags?

Kris - I'm torn - a gift donation makes it easy and done. But I think it would be fun to participate in a stocking-stuffing workshop, such as the one I proposed to Cindy.

Angelia - Spread the word in your community! I learned about this from my local salon, where they had a huge display in their retail area of appropriate things to include in stockings and gift packages.

Sep 14, 2008 07:14 AM

Diane Aurit

LKN Realty, LLC - Mooresville, NC

Lake Norman Real Estate

Margaret, thank you for sharing this great information with us. I have a client who will be heading back for his second tour in a month or so. I don't know how is family copes but they do. BTW, I hope your family in Texas are okay?

Sep 14, 2008 09:00 AM

Margaret Woda

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD

Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Diane, yes thank you! My son in Houston has no power, but no flooding in his immediate area and all fallen trees missed his house. He hasn't had a chance to check his downtown office yet, as fallen trees block his driveway and street. My daughter in DFW experienced only rain and high winds, but no power outage or other issues. I appreciate your asking.

As to your client's family, why not share this information with them, or organize a workshop in your neighborhood or office to fill stockings, and include them? That show of support would probably mean a great deal to them and cement them as clients for life.

Sep 14, 2008 09:22 AM

Judy Tuscano

Prudential Verani Realty - Nottingham, NH

NH Real Estate Professional

Margaret - this is a great way for us to show our gratitude to our men and women in the military. Thanks for sharing.

Sep 14, 2008 09:35 AM

Oconee and Sinclair Lakes - Georgia

Sycamore Oconee Real Estate - Eatonton, GA

Thanks for the reminder. We all get so wrapped up in our day-to-day issues that we tend to forget the folks that protect the many freedoms we have in this country.

Sep 14, 2008 10:53 AM

Katerina Gasset

The Gasset Group & Get It Done For Me Virtual Services - Provo, UT

Amplify Your Real Estate & Life Dreams!

Margaret- What an awesome way to thank our troops and show them our loving support for all they do every single day for our freedom. Thank you for sharing this post and I flagged it for a star because many people should get involved with this.

Sep 14, 2008 10:55 AM

Margaret Woda

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD

Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Katerina - And a great project for home-schoolers, don't you think?

Chris - So true!

Judy - Thanks for your support. Please spread the word!

Sep 14, 2008 11:01 AM

Harold "Hal" Place

A1 Connection Realty, Inc. - Sun City Center, FL

Hi Margaret,

Thanks for posting the reminder. This is a great cause, one that is so well received during the Holidays!

Sep 14, 2008 11:13 AM

Jesse Clifton

Jesse Clifton & Associates - Fairbanks, AK

Margaret - great reminder. This is something everyone can and should participate in. Those young men and women are far from home at a time when we're meant to all be around the home fires. This will help bring a little ray of sunshine when they need it! If you don't mind, I would love to reblog this.

Sep 15, 2008 09:49 PM

Margaret Woda

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD

Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Jesse - Go for it! I hope someone reblogs it every week until Nov. 1!

Hal - Thanks for commenting

Sep 16, 2008 12:27 AM

Jesse Clifton

Jesse Clifton & Associates - Fairbanks, AK

Alright, I must be getting stupid and senile. I can not for the life of me figure out how to reblog this. We were on vacation when they rolled this little feature out, so if you have any clues I would loooove to hear them.

Dense in Fairbanks :)

Sep 17, 2008 07:51 PM