It’s that time of year again, when Christopher High School students and staff roll up their sleeves and do a good thing for servicemen and women by participating in Operation Interdependence.
Known as O.I., the civilian-to-military delivery system sends quart-sized bags filled with treats, toiletries and handwritten letters to U.S. troops overseas in countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait. Gilroy’s local chapter has been active for a decade, is 100 percent volunteer run and sends 20 to 30 care packages a month.
Postage is an ongoing expense because of this, according to local O.I. Chapter Manager Suzie Kugler, who pays $400 to $800 a month in postage fees.
“We are in need of money for shipping our boxes overseas,” she previously told the Dispatch. “I am so happy with any donation.”
CHS kicked off its own drive Feb. 15, which will culminate during packing night March 6 in the campus gym. Donated supplies for the care packages are encouraged and welcome; those who want to assist may drop items off at the CHS main office or the student store.
As a part of the drive, CHS students are participating in a letter writing campaign through their English classes. The goal is to produce 1,600 handwritten letters.
Operation Interdependence was launched in 2001 during a tour of duty in the Gulf War by retired Chief Warrant Officer Albert R. Renteria, who saw the need for an efficient method of distributing donated care packages to soldiers – without turning an unnecessary number of deployed forces into delivery middlemen. His brainchild was Operation Interdependence: A streamlined system connecting civilians to soldiers directly through the U.S. Postal Service. Volunteers facilitate everything – from promotion, to packaging and postage.
O.I. is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization completely dependent on donations; commanding officers need only provide addresses.
The need is ongoing. Kugler and her volunteers need at least 1,000 handwritten letters and enough items to fill 1,000 bags on a monthly basis.
All donations to O.I. are tax deductible. For more information about donating to Gilroy’s local O.I. Chapter, see the box included with this story.
• A 501 (c)(3) nonprofit civilian-to-military delivery system that sends quart-sized bags filled with treats, toiletries and letters to troops stationed overseas. Christopher High School hosts an O.I. drive annually.
• The goal is to send 1,000 letters and baggies of supplies overseas each month.
• To make a donation, visit the O.I. chapter headquarters in Gilroy between 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Tuesdays at 8401 Church St. on the corner of Welburn Avenue. If you visit during off-hours, letters can be dropped off through a slot. If you have a large donation that you would like to drop off in person, call O.I. Site Manger Suzie Kugler at (408) 847-5906.
• Suggested items to donate: (Food) Individually packaged tea, cocoa, powdered drink mixes, single serving sized cookies, trail mix, Corn Nuts, small packs of almonds, peanuts, sunflower seeds, gum (Eclipse is a favorite), hard candy (sealed, no twists), microwave popcorn, granola bars, Rice Krispie Treats, beef jerky. (Supplies) travel-size shampoo, conditioner, gel, lotions, disposable razors, small toothpaste, dental floss, toothbrushes (sealed), sunscreen, bug repellent (small tube, non-aerosol), socks, Odor Eaters for boots, eye drops, Chapstick (with seals), hand sanitizer (small container), moist towelettes, baby wipes, prepaid international phone cards, decks of playing cards and small games.
