LAKE COUNTY ? Operation Tango Mike received a $1,000 donation from the Clearlake Rotary Club this week. The funds will be used to cover shipping costs in sending care packages to U.S. troops serving overseas.
“This will cover the shipping costs for a month,” Operation Tango Mike founder Ginny Craven said, adding that contributions like the one from the Rotary Club are essential to continuing the care package program. The Rotary Club has reportedly donated a total of $1,383 to the program this year alone.
Care packages not only provide troops with much-needed supplies, but they also reassure deployed soldiers that their service to their country is appreciated. “These care packages show our troops that they are supported and appreciated, which contributes to making the difference between a good day and a bad day,” Craven said.
Typical care package items include hygiene products, food items and entertainment items. The most requested hygiene items include razors and shaving gel, toothbrushes and toothpaste, deodorant, foot and body powders, socks, lip balm, hand sanitizers and wet naps. Food items include nuts, jerky, tuna pouches (packed in water), trail mix, granola bars and snacks. Soldiers also enjoy receiving entertainment items such as puzzle books, new, used or blank CDs and DVDs and small games.
Craven said that recent requests have identified an immediate need for power strips with surge protectors, blank DVDs (RW), air fresheners (solid or stick-up), coffee, wet wipes, packing tape and extension cords.
“I just wanted to thank you for all your support,” Spc. Brandon J. Hale wrote after receiving a package from Operation Tango Mike. “It truly means a lot to the soldiers who are far away from home and family to know the citizens of the country we are putting our lives on the line for daily, support us.”
Senior Airman Davielle Rodgers of the US Air Force wrote: “I just wanted to take a few minutes and thank you for the package that you sent over here. I was so pleased to have something for the holiday season and I was able to send some of the things to soldiers who haven”t received anything from home. I just want to tell you that it is organizations such as yourself that keep us going during the holidays. You have no idea what an amazing feeling it is when you know people from back home are behind us.”
Lakeport Taco Bell will provide members of the community a chance to support our troops with a free taco offer this Friday. “Tacos-4-Troops” will take place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 10. Customers donating items to Operation Tango Mike will receive a coupon for a free taco with each item they donate, Craven said.
For further information regarding Operation Tango Mike contact Ginny Craven at 349-2838 or by e-mail at operationtangomike@mchsi.com.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
