Michelle Jokinen is once again gathering supplies for troops overseas for her "Stockings for Soldiers" program.
"I started this in '05 after hearing John Michael Montgomery's song, 'Letter From Home,'" she said. "Listening to this song reminds me how just how important it is to stop and remember our soldiers."
Jack Pickard, of the Traverse City VFW, and students from Traverse City West Senior High are helping with the stocking stuffers.
Money is needed for mailing costs, as well as for things to put in the stockings.
Items needed include: peanut butter, dark socks, dark pillow cases, blank greeting cards, feminine products, batteries, toothbrushes and toothpaste, makeup, handheld games (batteries cannot be in them for shipping), encouraging letters/cards, shaving cream, soap, dental floss, DVDs, CDs, video games, calling cards, journals, holiday decorations, crackers, snacks, cookies, fruit snacks, baked goods, dice, board games, pocket calendars, razors, deodorant and non-aerosol hair products.
You can call Jokinen at 590-8060 or mail checks made out to Michelle Jokinen or Jack Pickard to: 19174 Beechridge Drive, Lake Ann MI 49650. Jokinen has a Dec. 7 deadline to get the presents packaged and shipped.
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Leo Gabier, of Traverse City, wanted to take something special to a fellow World War II veteran when he went to a reunion in Maine. He mentioned it to author Doug Stanton, who donated a copy of "Horse Soldiers" and inscribed it: "To Reno Minardi, a World War II hero who served in UPB-26 in the South Pacific. Thank you for your service." "We are very fortunate to have Doug and Anne Stanton in the Traverse City area," Gabier said.
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Sharon Olson, founder of Heart to Harp and Harps for Hope, is grateful for Susan Schwartz's generous donation of a second harp on behalf of Schwartz's mother Bea. "This second harp will support a new volunteer program of therapeutic harp music at Mercy Hospital in Grayling," Olson said. The harp, dubbed "Bea II," was made by Jerry Wares and presented at a harp retreat earlier this fall that was sponsored by Munson Hospice.
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The Underground Cheesecake Co. helped Angie Beier's birthday wish come true. "All I really wanted was a delicious cheesecake. To my dismay, I arrived 20 minutes after they closed." She went to the back door and the employees still there let her in the front door and she quickly spotted the pumpkin cheesecake of her dreams. "I thank them so much for allowing me to shop after hours," Beier said.
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Stephanie Beach can be reached at sbeach@record-eagle.com.
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