Local efforts aim to boost spirits on bases, overseas

By MIKE TRELEVEN
Register Staff Writer

Sun block, ChapStick, Q-tips — even a fresh-cut Christmas tree — could go a long way lifting spirits at Christmas time for American troops serving overseas or awaiting deployment.

This holiday season, staff at Queen of the Valley Medical Center and the owners of the Napa Valley Christmas Tree Farm are each reaching out to America’s soldiers who can’t be home with family.

Last year, Vicki Langdale, along with Lisa and Ben Huntley who work at the Queen, teamed up and started “Operation: Love From Home,” asking hospital employees to donate items for care packages. This year, they area reaching out to the entire city so more boxes can be shipped to the Middle East.

In a separate effort, Napa Christmas tree growers Tom and Vicki Weinert are doing their part to make the holidays a little greener with the Trees for Troops campaign. They are asking Napans to buy a tree to be delivered to a military base.

Going green

Starting on Friday and going through Dec. 7, Napans can go to Napa Valley Christmas Tree Farm at 2130 Big Ranch Road and buy a five- to seven-foot tree for a military family for $25.

Normally, the Weinerts sell these fragrant fresh-cut specimens for between $50 and $60.

Participation in Trees for Troops seemed like a natural fit because Tom Weinert served in the Marines during the Vietnam war.

The Douglas fir trees will have a tag for the donors to write a personal message to the military recipient.

The Weinerts have pledged at least 100 trees from their Big Ranch Road farm for this year’s campaign. There are about 1,500 Christmas trees of various heights on their property in north Napa.

Trees cut at Napa Valley Christmas Tree Farm will likely go to families at military bases domestically, according to Vicki Weinert.

This is the first time the Weinerts have participated the program organized by the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation and FedEx Corp., which delivers the trees. The husband and wife found out about Trees for Troops through the National Christmas Tree Growers Association. Trees for Troops started in 2005 and has delivered 34,000 fresh trees to military families.

Vicki Weinert said a Napa Valley winery has committed to buy about 20 trees and members of a local civic organization said they also want to buy trees for the Trees for Troops.

Big Ranch Road Christmas Tree Farm will be open until Dec. 24, from 9 a.m. to dusk on Saturdays and Sundays and noon to dusk Tuesday through Friday. They are closed on Mondays. The farm has been growing trees since 1971.

Queen-sized effort

What was sparked by employees at the Queen of the Valley Medical Center has morphed into a city-wide campaign to let American soldiers know they are appreciated. Langdale and the Huntley’s goal is to send care packages of non-perishable goodies to the troops overseas.

Recycle totes, wrapped in a yellow ribbon and waiting to be filled with non-perishable items, are stationed at 13 Napa businesses. Donations can be accepted only until Friday, so the items can be boxed and shipped to the troops in time for Christmas.

Next to each tote, provided by Napa Recycling, is a soldier’s boot accepting cash donations to cover the cost to ship packages to the troops. It costs  $10.95 to mail each care package, according to Jaime Peñaherrera, director of marketing and communications.

Lisa Huntley’s son, LCpl. Mitchell Ray, of the Marine Corps, who was in Iraq last year, said popular items including sunflower seeds, gum, socks, thermals and playing cards. This year. Mitchell Ray will able to spend Christmas at home.

While overseas, her son concocted a mixture of Taco Bell seasoning sauce, a chunk of beef jerky with Ramen noodles mixed with hot water “that was like heaven for them,” Huntley said laughing. “These are things we take so for granted.”

So far, enough items have been donated to fill about 50 care packages. The Queen’s goal is to collect enough items to ship 500 packages to military addresses they have for soldiers.

“The most important thing is to show support for them. They need to know we care and are thinking of them,” Lisa Huntley said. “The holidays are tough times for soldiers over there.”

“And that is pretty much why we started this program,” added Langdale, a registered nurse at the Queen, whose son was killed in Baghdad in June 2004.

Liz Alessio, the Queen of the Valley’s community benefits coordinator said, “Response from everyone is being embraced. People feel great being able to do something in this way. These packages will brighten their holiday.”

Nancy Stetler, from Napa Community Bank, said a direct challenge has gone out to all the banks participating in the collection drive to see who will gather the most. She has a son serving in Iraq.

Stetler said the bank’s bin is being filled by a lot of Cracker Jacks, tooth brushes and tooth paste.

No one is  too young to take part. Topping off the care packages are cards being created by school children. Also, youngsters participating in the Treats for Troops effort are donating their Halloween candy to the soldiers.

“No matter how you feel about the war, it’s really important that we support the troops in whatever way we can. Helping with Operation: Love from Home is my way of saying ‘We’re thinking of you and appreciate what you are doing for our country,’” said Lisa Huntley, a radiology tech assistant.

Anyone with a relative serving overseas and has a military address for them can contact Alessio at 251-2007 and a care package will be sent to the soldier.

For a complete list of items needed go to www.thequeen.org.

Non-perishable items for “Operation: Love from Home” can be donated at:

• Queen of the Valley Medical Center

• Napa Community Bank

• Charter Oak Bank

• WestAmerica Bank in Financial Plaza

• Umpqua Bank at 305 Soscol Ave. and in Browns Valley

• Bank of Napa

• Net Flow

• Yamaha of Napa

• Silver-Auto Service

• Miracle Auto Painting.

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