Missions

Operation Soldier Care

In 2007 our church adopted two Army units in Iraq the 3-8 Cav 1st CD and the 2-16 Inf. 1st ID. The 3-8 CAV has now completed its tour.

We have collection boxes in the church office and in the fellowship hall where you can drop off donations to support the troops. The donated materials were split between the two regiments.

During the Christmas season we shifted gears with our Operation Soldier Care mission by asking the Congregation to donate funds for gift certificates and to write personal Christmas Cards to the Soldiers. The response to the Operation Soldier Care – Christmas project was simply amazing. A little over $8,650.00 was donated for gift certificates for the troops of the 2-16 BN “Rangers” 1st Infantry Division. 865 AAFES gift certificates were purchased and were mailed to the Battalion in the personalized the Christmas Cards the Congregation provided. There were enough cards and gift certificates for the whole Battalion. The Christmas cards with gift certificates arrived just before Christmas.

The Soldiers, Sergeants and Commanders of the 2-16 BN were touched that we - the citizens of Starkville were thinking, praying and supporting them. Click here to read some of their thank you letters and notes.

Thank you letters and notes (3.1MB)

Formal thank you letters (310KB)

The 3rd Battalion 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division is known as the Warhorse Regiment. The 3-8 CAV completed its 15-month tour in November. Our connection with the 3-16 is CPT Kevin Wainwright who served as the unit’s Chaplin. Kevin is the son-in-law of Rich and Lynn Raymond. Recently, CPT Wainwright visited the Chapel Sunday School class and gave a Moment for Mission to the Congregation to express his appreciation and the 3-8 CAV’s appreciation for our support. Kevin is an ordained Presbyterian Minister.

If you would like to know more about Kevin’s mission check out his blog at:

http://www.warhorsechaplain.blogspot.com/

The 2nd Battalion 16 Regiment, 1st Infantry Division is known as the Rangers. MAJ Brent Cummings, the Executive Officer of the 2-16, is the son of Bettie and Gery Cummings. The 2-16 has completed one year in Baghdad and is one of the Battalions assigned to the “surge.” The 2-16 BN’s area of operation is in southeast Baghdad. They have been fully engaged in counterinsurgency operations since their arrival in Iraq and have three more months to go to complete their 15 month assignment.

Recently Brent sent a thank you note addressed to Rich Raymond, the Chapel Sunday School Class and the whole 1st Presbyterian Church for the packages sent to his unit. If you would like to read his letter please click here.

Additionally, the AIS 3803 - Leadership Development class in Agriculture and Life Sciences joined our Operation Soldier Care effort in 2007. As part of the class requirements the group was placed in teams of 5-6 to complete a Service-Learning project. Three of the six groups in class this year selected Operation Soldier Care as their project. In addition to raising money for the Christmas project these students collected enough high quality personal goods to fill 32 boxes for shipment to the 2-16.

Thank you note to the Leadership Class

Things the troops need:

Salty snacks of all types
Cookies of all types
M&M’s of all types
Hard candies
Batteries – D, C, AA, AAA, 9 Volt
Hand/Face wipes with aloe – alcohol free
Gatorade – mix not liquid
Lemonade – mix not liquid
Phone cards – AT&T cards work well
Lip balm
Burt’s Bee Hand Salve
Burt’s Beeswax Hand Cream
Shower to Shower – powder
Dr. Scholl’s Original Foot Powder
Foam Toe Bandages by PediFix
Q-Tips
Sockless insoles – one size fits all
Thank you notes
Writing paper
Ballpoint pens
Shaving cream
Disposable razors
Travel toothbrush holder
Toothpaste
Deodorant
Clear eye drops
Miracool Bandana (camouflage color)
Disposable cameras
Tweezers
Nail clippers
Young men oriented magazines (cut out completely all address labels before donating for your security)
Young men oriented novels (sci-fi, action, adventure, historical, etc.)

The troops we are supporting are involved in Counter-Insurgency work and the kids of Iraq are a focus. Iraqi kids need:
School Notebooks (all sizes)
Pencils
Crayons
Coloring books
Soccer balls
Frisbees
Gum
Candy
Small toys
Backpacks
Clothing:
Shoes
Jeans
Shirts
Sandals