CLEARLAKE — It”s the little things that matter most and for the past three weeks, clients of Konocti Instructional Services in Clearlake have been doing their part to bring a little comfort to troops serving their country overseas.
Clients of Konocti Instructional Services, an adult day program of People Services, were recently made aware of Operation Tango Mike, which is a community-based, non-partisan effort with the primary mission of making life a little better for Lake County service men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Upon learning of the effort, the clients decided that they wanted to show that they care by making unique and special gifts for the troops.
“Standard military gear takes care of many troop needs but sometimes it is the little things that matter most,” said People Services Director Martin Diesman.
Diesman met Operation Tango Mike Founder Ginny Craven at a recent Lakeport Rotary Club meeting and brought back news of the troop needs to the clients. “Many of the People Services clients eagerly supported temporally turning their sewing and art classes into an effort to supply service men and women with gifts that can make their tour of duty more tolerable,” Diesman explained. “When they were finished there were 78 colorful laundry bags, soft cases for eyewear and their own version of lucky pet rocks for each Lake County service man and woman.”
Through contact with Craven, Diesman learned that even the simplest gifts would be highly appreciated by the troops. “Much needed items included laundry bags that didn”t look like every other bag in the laundry room,” Diesman said, adding that another sought after item is a soft case for reading glasses and sunglasses. “The harsh winds and abrasive sand wreaks havoc on unprotected lenses carried by our troops. Finding a soft case can seem like a true luxury to a service man or woman who has glasses they want to protect.”
Many of the clients recognized importance in supporting our troops and said they enjoyed making the gifts for them. “We made them for the soldiers because we care about them and we don”t want them to get hurt,” said Holly Sanchez, a Konocti Instructional Services client.
Another client, Charlene Hoffa, who really enjoyed using the decorative materials for the unique, one-of-a-kind laundry bags, said, “It”s like I can show that I care and support them. I would like to do it again.”
Shirley Barker, who also enjoyed picking out materials and making the bags said, “They are fighting a war for us and they need things. I want them to come home.”
Pet rocks were included in the gift packages as good luck charms and personal mementos for the troops. Art Teacher/Skills Instructor Karal Closser, who admittedly supports the “pet rock craze,” helped the clients decorate the rocks with good luck symbols from various religions and heritages. Each rock included an uplifting message and they were all prayed over before being placed in their individual drawstring bags. “(The troops) need something from the homeland,” Closser said. “They are all USA rocks and they are all a little piece of home.”
Clients were assisted and supported by their skills instructors including Brenda Bell, who Diesman commended for her significant support and contributions to the project.
If you would like to help make life better for our troops, please call Operation Tango Mike at 349-2838.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com.
