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46 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, November 25, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend November 22, 2004 Debbie Hicks and her husband, Clyde, (not pictured) are coordinating a local effort to get 154 boxes of donated gift items to U.S. troops stationed in Iraq. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Hometown Heroes Volunteers collect for soldiers By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune The once-empty room at the Medford’s National Guard Armory is full of holiday cheer from home being boxed for shipment to Southern Oregon soldiers serving in Iraq. The boxes of bounty have been collected from individuals and businesses by volunteer coordinators Clyde and Debbie Hicks of Ruch. "This is all because of our community," says Debbie. "This is who our community is. It is an absolute miracle." The list of donated items that will be sent to the 154 local soldiers includes everything from pounds of penny candy to patriotic Christmas ornaments to more expensive items like cameras and two- way radios. "Look at this! Isn’t this the most adorable thing?" says Debbie, holding a homemade ornament from a local Brownie troop — a peanut dressed like an elf, holding onto a sugary candy cane. There are also much more practical items like lotion, powder, dental floss and flea collars. Advertisement "The flea collars are for their ankles," says Clyde. "They need them for the sand fleas over there. They’re terrible." The Hicks attend Applegate Christian Fellowship and consider their volunteer work a part of their religious outreach called "The Bride Ministries." It’s named after Debbie’s "Heaven Sent Bridal Boutique" where she offers free wedding gowns because "every bride deserves to feel special on her wedding day." In 2002, the Hicks offered food, toiletries and other necessities to fire crews battling the Timbered Rock Fire. Among the crews were 350 convicts. Debbie remembers their response to receiving the much-appreciated items. "The look on their faces when we handed out those bags," she says. "I was crying by the second bag. Tears were streaming." Clyde, 56, is a Vietnam veteran and says he’s not supporting war. He’s supporting the soldiers. "I would love to be someone who discourages people from war," says Clyde. He speaks of near-misses while serving. Of losing all his friends from his unit. Of eventually being injured himself and losing most of his hearing. And the pain of losing touch with home. "When we saw a blown-up mail truck, it was hard. We knew we weren’t going to be hearing from home. And that was so important," he says. "When I read my mail, it immediately took me home and made me feel safe." Last year, the Hicks organized "Hope from Home." Operating out of the Rogue Valley Mall, the campaign generated 9,000 cards and letters, says Debbie. This year, they wanted to send the soldiers something to open beyond just envelopes. Russ Noble, 66, of Eagle Point, donated to the cause after his wife attended a function where the Hicks discussed their efforts. The Army veteran came by to drop off a sack of new T-shirts and other items. Oregon National Guard Staff Sgt. Shayne Hines, 30, says he’s fielding about 20 phone calls a week from people wishing to donate items. The gifts from home will be treasured, he says. "I think it’s going to mean the world to those guys," he said. Both Hines and fellow Staff Sgt. Blake Moser, 30, expect to be deployed to Iraq — and away from family. Both are willing to serve; they just doesn’t know when they’ll be sent. "We all know it’s going to happen," says Hines. "It’s just a matter of time." And they know that packages like those being sent mean a lot to the troops "These packages, coming from someone they don’t even know, will be very special because it demonstrates community support," Moser says. Wish list The Bride Ministry will send holiday gift boxes to 154 local Army National Guard soldiers serving in Iraq. Some items on the wish list include: KoolAid drink mixes, Gatorade powder, foot powder, body powder, Motorola radios (5920) or better, green moisture-wicking socks, under-armor T-shirts, flea-collars, tan Nomex gloves, Sure-Fire lights, Wiley X glasses (rust-colored lenses), disposable cameras, metal rulers, assorted books, magazines, DVDs, CDs and Oregon Ducks memorabilia. Donations may be dropped off at armories in Medford, Ashland, Merlin, Roseburg and Klamath Falls. Contact: Medford Armory 776-6055 or www.thebrideministry.com . If you have a suggestion for a Hometown Hero, call reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or contact her by e-mail at [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. 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