KCERINN
20-Nov-07, 15:53
Press & Journal - Monday 19th November.
NORTH MISSION TO BRING MERRY CHRISTMAS TO THE TROOPS
A Highland mission has swung into action to ensure troops don't go short this Christmas.
The UK-wide Support our Soldiers (SoS) campaign, established four years ago at the start of operations in Iraq to provide support for deployed soldiers and their families back home, is being rolled out across the north.
Although parcels are sent throughout the year, the group now has an annual Troops' Christmas Parcels Appeal which urges people to make donations in cash or kind, which are packed into shoe boxes with a maximum weight of 4.4lb.
The packages are dispatched to named personnel on operations.
The campaign resulted in 2,500 parcels being sent out last Christmas.
Since its inception, the group has sent about 7,500 "morale in a box" packs to troops serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Bosnia and Cyprus, as well as to the local population in areas of dire need.
The group, has Nell McAndrew as its patron and received full charity status in May.
It was instrumental in petitioning the Government to introduce freepost facilities for the troops.
Inverness-based Lyndsay McKeown, whose chef husband Mark is a corporal attached to the Black Watch, is now an SoS area co-ordinator.
Asked why there was a need for such a campaign, the mother of three said: "We're lacking public support for our troops.
"Some people might be put off donating to the appeal because they may feel that they are supporting this war, but that's not what it's about.
"We're here to support the troops and their families - that's why this appeal is crucial."
Having had such support while her husband was serving in Iraq, Mrs McKeown said she wanted to give something back to the group and to help families in the same position.
Lyndsay McKeown can be contacted on 01463 710019. There are full details of the appeal at the www.supportoursoldiers.co.uk website.
Please support this worthwhile campaign. Its so easy to make an online donation.
NORTH MISSION TO BRING MERRY CHRISTMAS TO THE TROOPS
A Highland mission has swung into action to ensure troops don't go short this Christmas.
The UK-wide Support our Soldiers (SoS) campaign, established four years ago at the start of operations in Iraq to provide support for deployed soldiers and their families back home, is being rolled out across the north.
Although parcels are sent throughout the year, the group now has an annual Troops' Christmas Parcels Appeal which urges people to make donations in cash or kind, which are packed into shoe boxes with a maximum weight of 4.4lb.
The packages are dispatched to named personnel on operations.
The campaign resulted in 2,500 parcels being sent out last Christmas.
Since its inception, the group has sent about 7,500 "morale in a box" packs to troops serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Bosnia and Cyprus, as well as to the local population in areas of dire need.
The group, has Nell McAndrew as its patron and received full charity status in May.
It was instrumental in petitioning the Government to introduce freepost facilities for the troops.
Inverness-based Lyndsay McKeown, whose chef husband Mark is a corporal attached to the Black Watch, is now an SoS area co-ordinator.
Asked why there was a need for such a campaign, the mother of three said: "We're lacking public support for our troops.
"Some people might be put off donating to the appeal because they may feel that they are supporting this war, but that's not what it's about.
"We're here to support the troops and their families - that's why this appeal is crucial."
Having had such support while her husband was serving in Iraq, Mrs McKeown said she wanted to give something back to the group and to help families in the same position.
Lyndsay McKeown can be contacted on 01463 710019. There are full details of the appeal at the www.supportoursoldiers.co.uk website.
Please support this worthwhile campaign. Its so easy to make an online donation.