Volunteers pack a large chess set donated by Mega Chess (www.megachess.com) that will be sent overseas to the 738th Medical Company around Christmas time! The set was signed by local well-wishers.

Packages can be mailed to Operation Interdependence, 1100 E Lange Lane S, Winamac, IN 46996. All donations are tax deductible. All other correspondence and donations for postage costs may be mailed to Operation Interdependence, Kathi Lange-Brown, PO Box 175, Winamac, IN 46996.

Volunteers are always needed for packing "c-rats" and for inspecting the boxes prior to shipment. Lange-Brown is available to speak to organizations about OI, or organizations can also pack some c-rats for the troops. If you would like to volunteer or would like more information on OI, contact Katherine Lange-Brown at 219-869-1831. She can also be reached by e-mail at oi@sugardog.com.

OI Area Manager Katherine Lange-Brown with the chess set in Winamac where local residents signed the set.

Holiday Season News: Get Involved Today – with just "15 Minutes of Giving"

Operation Holiday: Donate goods or make Christmas Cards for the troops. Get creative and make some cards or buy some Christmas cards and write a little note to the troops! (Christmas cards need to be turned in by the end of November to make it in time for Christmas!)

"With the holidays coming I’m challenging everyone to make as many handmade holiday cards to the soldiers as you can," Lang-Brown says. "I would LOVE to send each soldier who we support a holiday card this year. So get out the construction paper, markers, scissors, glue, and your creative imagination."

She adds, that "if you have children this is a great way to get them involved in supporting the troops. This is a great project for schools, service groups, youth groups, 4-H clubs, girl scouts, brownies, cub scouts… Or for all you scrapbookers, stampers, and card markers - this should be right up your alley. Hold a crop party to make holiday cards for the troops.

"We send to between 1000 and 3000 troops a month – which means we send between 1000 and 3000 letters a month!" she continues. "We are always in need of letters or colored pictures."

There are some simple rules that need to be followed, per the military:
* No envelopes. The holiday cards can all be mailed to us in a giant envelope, but each one cannot be in an envelope.
* No candy or chocolate please.
* Each Holiday Card should be able to fit in a Quart Size Ziploc baggie.
* If under the age of 18 – No last names and no home addresses.

If your school or a youth group is going to do this as a project, you can include the name of your school/organization, teacher/leader, and a contact address of the school/group. But remember, no home addresses of children under the age of 18.

Donations: Items to send are always needed. The warehouse is empty – help us to restock it so we can continue to reach the troops with c-rats each month!

Donation Stations: Donations can always be dropped off at one of the following locations: Monticello: Sugardog or the Chamber Office; Winamac: Gilman TV & Appliance, Smith Motors, or PACE Office; Francesville: People’s State Bank.

Volunteers: We can always use more volunteers to help at the warehouse to pack and inspect the boxes prior to shipment. If you are interested in being a volunteer, please visit www.oidelivers.org and click “Enlist Now”. All of our volunteers must register with OI.

If you would like to be notified of upcoming events for Operation Interdependence, contact Kathi Lange-Brown, OI Area Manager: 219-869-1831 or oi@sugardog.com.