LIFESAVERS

A friend called today and said she had 'some' stuffed toys for me to ship to Iraq and Afghanistan. As she was hanging up, she indicated her husband would be very glad.  Little did I know how glad he was going to be! She arrived in a huge Suburban literally filled to capacity with  bags and bags and boxes of stuffed plush toys for humanitarian aid. Her husband is now thrilled and my garage is bursting!

These toys of comfort, much like our therapy dogs, are making extraordinary differences, as you will see by the story below. Toys will go to hospitalized Iraqi children, sadly victims of war. They will also be distributed by soldiers to the children on the streets or in schools. And rest assured, we have made certain that first and foremost our soldiers top priority is safety. All battery packs and like devices have been removed, as they can be used for explosives. 

I ask you to absorb the letter below from a Marine.  I ask you to realize that our collecting these toys is by no means a frivolous thing. 

You will soon realize why and hopefully find it in your heart to donate to OPERATION PUPPY LOVE. 

Lives can be saved!

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"Just wanted to write to you and tell you another story about an experience we had over here. As you know, I asked for toys for the Iraqi children over here and several people (Americans that support us) sent them over by the box. On each patrol we take through the city, we take as many toys as will fit in our pockets and hand them out as we can. The kids take the toys and run to show them off as if they were worth a million bucks. We are as friendly as we can be to everyone we see, but especially so with the kids. Most of them don't have any idea what is going on and are completely innocent in all of this.

On one such patrol, our lead security vehicle stopped in the middle of the street. This is not normal and is very unsafe, so the following vehicles began to inquire over the radio. The lead vehicle reported a little girl sitting in the road and said she just would not budge. The command vehicle told the lead to simply go around her and to be kind as they did. The street was wide enough to allow this maneuver and so they waved to her as they drove around.

As the vehicles went around her, I soon saw her sitting there and in her arms she was clutching a little bear that we had handed her a few patrols back. Feeling an immediate connection to the girl, I radioed that we were going to stop. The rest of the convoy paused and I got out the make sure she was OK. The little girl looked scared and concerned, but there was a warmth in her eyes toward me. As I knelt down to talk to her, she moved over and pointed to a mine (IED) in the road.

Immediately, a cordon was set as the Marine convoy assumed a defensive posture around the site. The mine was destroyed in place.

It was the heart of an American that sent that toy. It was the heart of an American that gave that toy to that little girl. It was the heart of an American that protected that convoy from that mine. Sure, she was a little Iraqi girl and she had no knowledge of purple mountain's majesty or fruited plains. It was a heart of acceptance, of tolerance, of peace and grace, even through the inconveniences of conflict that saved that convoy from hitting that mine. Those attributes are what keep Americans hearts beating. She may have no affiliation at all with the United States, but she knows what it is to be brave and if we can continue to support her and her new government, she will know what it is to be free. Isn't that what Americans are, the free and the brave?

If you sent over a toy to a Marine (US Service member) you took part in this. You are a reason that Iraq has to believe in a better future. Thank you so much for supporting us and for supporting our cause over here."

Semper Fi, Mark GySgt / USMC

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I ask you to consider sending us a monetary donation so that we may purchase more toys to be shipped to our troops to distribute.  Your kindness just might save a life!

Please send donations to:

OPERATION PUPPY LOVE

C/O PENNY'S FROM HEAVEN FOUNDATION, INC.

13423 BLANCO ROAD - STE # 218

SAN ANTONIO, TX 78248 

DONATIONS MAY ALSO BE MADE ON LINE

http://www.pennysfromheavenfoundation.org/

thru paypal, check or credit card.

Thank you from our troops!