Operation Basket Drop

For those of you that attended the recent GBA convention you may have heard a presentation by GBA and Gwinnett Basket Weaver’s Guild member Tracey Reidy whose brother Lt.Col. Lane Turner is currently deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, with the 1^st Armored Division, Special Troops Battalion. For a guild project Tracey proposed to her Guild that they make basket totes filled with goodies for some of her brother’s female soldiers whom he has described as mostly 18 to 20 years old and away from home for the first time in their lives. The idea was enthusiastically received by the Gwinnett Guild so the challenge was issued at the convention to other individuals and Guilds willing to participate in this worthwhile project. Pattie Bagley even wove a prototype tote basket (pattern attached) to use as a guide but you may weave whatever you would like (keeping in mind mailing costs and limited personal space for the soldiers).

UPDATE - April 27th: Many baskets have begun arriving in Iraq but Lane wants to wait until he has a big group of them to hand out so PLEASE get your tote mailed ASAP if you haven't already done so. Also, for anyone that wants to make more than 1 tote, Tracey will pay the shipping cost with the monetary donations that she has received. Just let her know how much the shipping was and she will reimburse.

While initially it was believed that individual soldier’s names would be provided to the volunteers, due to privacy issues, this will not be possible. Mail completed totes/goodies to:

B. Co., DSTB, 1AD

Camp Liberty

APO, AE 09344

Lt. Col. Turner will pass them out. He has asked that you include your contact information so that “your” soldier can contact you. He has, also, requested photos be taken as the project has garnered some media attention.

For ideas of what to put in your tote, go to www.give2thetroops.org for lists of suggested and prohibited items.

For further information/questions, contact:

tracey.reidy@gwinnettcounty.com or call Tracey at 770-962-3486.