Every Christmas morning our family gets up at 4:00 am (0400 for our military friends) and goes to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot (Boot Camp) in San Diego. (This Project also happens at the Parris Island, SC Boot Camp.) We - and many other folks - deliver patriotic stockings to each of the sick and injured Marine recruits on base. Our goal is to bring cheer to these special recruits on Christmas Day and to show them how much we support them and stand behind their determination to become a United States Marine.

You can't believe what this does for these guys. They wake up that morning to what will most likely be just another boring day as they wait to heal. When they come back from morning chow and see us waiting there with big smiles and hugs, well, the transformation is amazing.

Check out photos and a report from last year's visit.

Our son - a Marine for four years (just re-upped!) - STILL runs into guys in the field who remember us visiting them on a past Christmas morning! It makes that much of an impact. Here are comments from recruits and others to this project.

And you can be part of that impact - in a very simple way!

These patriotic holiday stockings are filled with items that have been donated from various sources. The recruits receive phone cards, envelopes, stamps, note pads, and pens. But the key gift in this stocking is a bundle of letters that we collect from children all over the country. Last year each recruit had 12 letters in their stocking. That is over 8000 letters!

Would you please help by collecting letters and/or drawings from children of all ages? The subject can be patriotic, holiday wishes, or even a simple thank you for serving our county. It can be from schools, Sunday schools, clubs, and just your own kids. (Adults can send letters, too.)

You can also forward this email to others you think might be able to participate.

Maybe your school, church or organization can make this a holiday project? Following are simple guidelines for the letters:

- Notes, letters, pictures and cards accepted.
- Salutation should be "Dear Recruit"
- Envelope for each letter/drawing is not necessary - send it all in one package to the address below.
- NO personal return addresses.
- Mark the back of each note with a classroom sticker or stamp with the school address, if you desire possible responses from recruits.

UPDATE: Please ship the letters ON OR BEFORE November 28 to the following address:

MMO Holiday Project
c/o The Averys
2403 West Sunnyside Ave
Visalia CA 93277

Thanks in advance for your support of our project. We can make the Christmas season just a little better for these recruits, who SO desire to serve our country.

Thanks!
Mikey

P.S. The sponsor of this project, Marine Moms Online - due to overwhelming demand (since many can't send letters, but still want to help) - are now accepting monetary donations to help with the expenses of the program. If you can help in this way, you can get the details here.

Also, we also need books of stamps to give the recruits. You can mail those to any of the above addresses as well.