As the holidays draw nearer, and many people begin their annual shopping for gifts, Commerce resident Maureen Steele is giving gifts to many men and women she does not know personally by sending greeting cards to the troops serving in the Middle East.
“We offer members of the public the opportunity to sign and leave a personal message for the troops overseas, free of cost,” Steele said. “I set up from October to the first weekend in December at various sites and festivals.”
In the past three years, Steele, with the help of various others, has sent nearly 30,000 Christmas cards to armed forces serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“We began this journey four years ago, when my son Spc. Shawn Strange was serving in Iraq,” Steele said. “[He] stated how difficult it was to watch men and women, who were serving their country overseas, not receive mail during the holiday season.”
The first year Steele, along with her friend Elizabeth Walton, sent over 700 cards to troops serving in Iraq.
“The first year we sent cookies along with the cards, but the service members fought so much over the cards that the cookies were smashed, so we don’t send those anymore,” Steele said.
The second year Steele and Walton sent over 1500 cards to troops serving in Afghanistan. For the first two years, all of the funding for the postage and cards had come out of Steele and Walton’s pockets.
“It was at this time that it became apparent to [Elizabeth and I] that [we] needed help funding this worthy cause,” Steele said.
Last year, with the help of Waneta Townsend and Cards Direct of Plano, Texas, Steele, Walton, and Townsend were able to send out 26,749 cards to four units serving in Afghanistan and Iraq; however, they have hit a few snags along the way.
“Unfortunately, Cards Direct moved their offices and donated their extra cards to another worthy group,” Steele said. “So this year once again all costs will be incurred by me and Waneta Townsend. We lost Elizabeth when she moved to Tucson.”
Steele is currently reaching out to the public to help send these men and women a moment of comfort, and has explained that interested individuals can do multiple things to donate, including “adopting a box.”
“The easiest way for us – and if you are uncomfortable with a cash donation – is for you to purchase unused and unsigned holiday cards,” Steele said. “[Adopting a box] could be done either by cash donation, or after boxes are sealed and addressed the boxes would be delivered to you to then you take them to the post office and send,” Steele said. “Again, the reason we are asking for help is that there are so many soldiers who do not receive mail during the holiday season.”
Cards must be in the mail by December 9th. Those interested in donating money or cards can contact Steele at (903)366-1419.