With nary a flake on the ground and Thanksgiving still two weeks away, members of the Church of the Living God have Christmas on their mind.
Specifically, making sure that a platoon of soldiers in the Army's 10th Mountain Division stationed at a Forward Operating Base in Iraq will have presents to open. Lots and lots of presents, which taken together for the 32 men and two women represent a mere sliver of the prayers and appreciation that accompany the gifts.
Saturday morning, more than three dozen volunteers gathered at the church to sort, compile, list, wrap and package gifts to the soldiers.
They or different volunteers had previously shopped for the goodies, which included snacks — both nutritious and fun — sporting equipment, personal care items and electronic and old-fashioned games. Other church members contributed money for the effort to help defray costs for each box, which contain an estimated $100 worth of items. Saturday's volunteers brought their own Christmas wrapping supplies for the day.
The ministry is an outreach that is at once practical and heartfelt.
"It's a neat way just to show God's love to these guys,” said Marilyn Dear, co-chair of the event along with Shawn Burt. "They need a touch from home and a touch from God. The least we can do is reach out to them and give these types of hugs.”
"Actually, we would love to see other churches get involved, too, and support a platoon as well,” she added.
Last year the program sent gift boxes to 35 soldiers serving with Burt's son in Iraq, Dear noted, launching the current format. Last year, the program was almost derailed when postage costs over $500 shocked organizers. The Cherryland VFW Post 2780 pitched in and covered the expense.
"It kind of blew us out of the water,” Dear recalled, noting that they are more prepared this year.
The Christmas program is an extension of the church's monthly shoebox endeavor, which currently supports 19 college students and soldiers. These smaller but more frequent boxes also contain snacks and supplies and are supported by a prayer group.
The church selected the 10th Mountain Division because the son of a friend of member Dawn Renshaw is part of it. Cory Malone of Burr Oak, near Kalamazoo, had already been on the monthly shoebox list when church members decided to support his comrades in arms for the holidays.
"She was blown away that people she doesn't even know would send him a care package every month,” said Renshaw of her friend. "I think it speaks multitudes to these kids that people they don't know would extend a hand. Every one of these soldiers is prayed for.”
Ann Williams recalled how Christmas gifts for her son, Sam, meant so much to him when he served in Iraq with the Marines. Sam has served three tours of duty in Iraq and been supported each time; Williams sister-in-law, Karen Fredrickson of Suttons Bay, organized the first one for him when he served in 2004.
Williams made a point to attend the gift-wrapping event and contribute her love and caring to other soldiers.
"The reason I'm here is that I'm so amazingly grateful for the support the church gave my son,” Williams said. "It's amazing how much it touches you that other people care about your child.”
Nothing received in a package is ever wasted, she noted.
"The extra stuff, commonly they go into a community and give the kids extras,” said Williams. When the guys get a big package, they immediately divide it up — there's always sharing.”