A special project is getting started as the Military & Family Support Group begins their annual Letters from Home Community Christmas Box project for 2011 and is looking to the community to help out. Each year, the organization collects cards of support and items for Christmas boxes that go to those actively serving in the military during the holidays.
Dr. Billy Dippel, who served proudly in the United States Navy, was one of the most faithful supporters of the project. All year he would sign cards of support and get local dentists to make donations of toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc. Dr. Dippel passed away last year but some of the Military are going to receive very special cards in their packages. Dr. Dippel had already started getting cards ready and his wife Elaine presented them to the group to go in the boxes for this year.
“Billy was so dedicated and helped pack boxes,” said Joyce Leidig an organizer of this project with Military & Family Support Group. “He loved our military and wanted to make sure everyone supported our military.”
Dr. Dippel always replaced flags which were removed or damaged on the memorial signs on Main and C.C. Woodson which honor two local fallen Military, Marine LCPL Mario Castillo (June 2005) and Marine CPC Craig Ledsome (November 2006). He also helped deliver care packages and current magazines to the Veteran’s Administration Clinic and snacks to the National Guard.
The group encourages the public to participate by donating cards of encouragement and items for the military that will help them where they are stationed. This project supports all branches of the military no matter where they are located. Last year nearly 250 cards of encouragement were sent.
In past years, area schools, churches, civic groups, individual families and many others gathered cards of support and donated items to share with the Military. Last year, a single family took this on as a family project and gave 100 cards of support to be placed in the packages.
Pictured above are Leidig and Elaine Dippel looking at the cards by Dr. Dippel.
This interested can also help by donating any of the following suggested items:
- Food Items ~SMALL PACKAGES PLEASE ~ no homemade items
Beef Jerky, Granola Bars, Individually Wrapped Hard Candy, Slim Jims, Dip & Canned Chips, Sweetened Kool-Aid, Gatorade, Etc., Chewing Gum, Tuna in Pouches, Store-Bought Cookies
- Toiletries – small containers ~ TRAVEL size
Foot Powder, Q-Tips, Lip Balm, Shaving Gel, Hand Sanitizer Wet Wipes Sunscreen Toothpaste & Toothbrushes
- Small Hand Held Games ~ Crossword & Word Search Puzzle Books
- Anything with Texas on it…postcards, nail clippers, bumper stickers, etc.
Deadline for donations is Friday, October 28, 2011
The following drops off locations are available:
- Citizens National Bank – Main Lobby
- Texas Bank – Main Lobby & Lake Branch
- Brownwood Chamber of Commerce
- Early Chamber of Commerce
- VFW Post 3278 – Brownwood
- American Legion Post 308 – Bangs
- Bangs Drug Mart
- Wendlee Broadcasting
- KOXE-FM
- Heartland Mall – Early
- TSTC Campus
- Joe Dan’s Café – Park Road 15
- Brown County Veterans Service Office
- Studebaker’s Café and Grill
To arrange pickup of donations or if you would like additional information about the project contact: Joyce Leidig – 325-784-5014 or Babs Shields – 325-643-1259
