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Springfield group sends 12,000 homemade greeting cards to the troops

They are a part of Operation Write Home--a national organization helping servicemen and women keep in touch with home.

December 16, 2011|by Jay Scherder | jscherder@ky3.com

SPRINGFIELD, Mo -- As the United States officially ended the war in Iraq Thursday, thousands of troops are still deployed in Afghanistan and other countries overseas.

One organization is helping the troops keep a connection to their homes and their families. Technology has made it easier than ever to keep in contact with people half way around the world--cell phones, emails, video calling--but there is nothing that warms your heart more or that is more personal than a handwritten card.

"We mainly are scrapbookers, but we like to make cards," said Janis Purves. It is a bit of an understatement. "We submit anywhere between 1,500 and 2,000 a month--which is around 12,000-15,000 a year."

They make handmade cards for every occassion imaginable.  "All kinds of cards," Purves said, "from get well cards to birthday cards to chirstmas cards."

They don't make them to keep or to sell. "Every piece of glue you put down, every paper you cut, everything you do you know it's going to somewhere to someone that is going to appreciate it."

These cards have a special destination.

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"The soldiers don't have a hallmark store close," Purves said, "they have nowhere to buy cards." Janis Purves and her gang of women--aptly called the "Crazy Croppers"--are sending blank, handmade cards to our nation's heroes overseas.

"People think about sending cards to them. That's one thing. They need to be able to send cards home to kids, and their spouses, and loved ones."

They work under the umbrella of Operation Write Home. It is a national organization dedicated with helping the troops keep in touch with the ones they care about.

"[Our volunteers] have had or they do have someone in the military. So it touches them."

Each card is unique as the person making it.

"I have one lady that says a prayer over every card when she sends it. I think that's kind of cool. It's kind of touching." 

To date 1,382,719 cards have been sent since Operation Write Home started back in 2007. Even with the Iraq war officially ending this week their mission is far from over. They send cards to Kuwait, Afghanistan, Japan, Kosovo, and Korea. Both the national organization and the local organization need your support--monetary donations, supply donations, or volunteering your time.

If you'd like to help Janis Purves and Operation Write Home, email jmpurves@yahoo.com

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