“Who says that a little town can’t make a big difference?” wrote SMS student Shantel Harmon of her experience with A Soldier’s Wish List (ASWL) in Jennifer Whitson’s Social Studies class.
Seventh graders in Whitson’s Current Events class organized the project to provide cards and gifts for U.S. troops in FOB (Forward Operating Base) Blackhawk in Afghanistan. They collected a total of 1,171 cards and put together 308 packages to send overseas. Students also filled out the necessary customs forms.
“I think that doing this project is a great opportunity to do something for our soldiers…I know it will really lift their spirits,” wrote Erin Gaddis. “I felt really good because we get to help soldiers that are helping us,” penned Crystal Wiget.
Students collected non-perishable foods, personal hygiene items, socks, t-shirts, towels, magazines and more, then sorted and wrapped them in bundles to go to the soldiers. Teacher Christi Green’s class even made homemade cookies.
But it wasn’t just the middle school that was involved in the endeavor. As word got out, more and more of the town supported the effort. Students from the elementary and high school made cards, Girl Scouts helped and churches offered donations.
Then the project spread to a neighboring town and Cuba Middle School students created cards and made small pillows and some ornaments to go with the packages. John Breese, youth pastor at the Cuba Freewill Baptist Church collected items with the help of his teen youth group and many items were donated from the Cuba Methodist Church. Walmart and Hayes Shoe Store gave socks for the soldiers, too.
“Cuba working with Steelville is something you wouldn’t expect,” another SMS student Kelsie Booker wrote. “But it just goes to show that when we need help, we always pull together to help each other.” Hannah Peak said, “And Cuba? Sure, we are rivals on the field and on the court, but we all care about our soldiers.”
After all cards and presents were collected and wrapped, Whitson took a group of seventh graders to St. Louis on Saturday, Dec. 5 to help the ASWL organization package the items for shipment overseas. Breese also took a group of teens to assist. Vans and drivers to transport kids and packages were provided by Stephan, Julie and Brendan Bass of Bass River Resort and Robert “Bear” Bass of Ozark Outdoors.
“Your kids were fantastic,” Julieann Najar, founder of ASWL told Whitson. “Please tell them I am very, very proud to call them members of ASWL. Thank you so much for coming and please come back next year. I could not do any of this without those students and you and your helpers; I brag about you and your students all the time.” In fact, Najar told the news crew on site about Steelville’s incredible students and they were featured as part of the story presented on Fox2 News Saturday evening.
“The news said that Santa’s elves could not pull this off, so it makes me feel great,” Nathaniel Swyers wrote. “I liked that our school participated because it shows that Steelville, Missouri is a small town but with a heart bursting with love to share. Now people know about our community,” said Kale Brand. “When I think about this, my heart swells up in pride,” Hayley Portell added. And April Land wrote, “If I was a soldier and they were going to send that stuff, I would jump for joy.”