Operation Santa USMC
Holiday outreach for deployed US Marines and other troops
The holidays can be a difficult time for deployed Marines, Soldiers and other troops. For many of these young men and women, this will be their first Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday away from home and family. Others have spent multiple holidays away from home.
Operation Santa USMC began in late 2004 when Marine Corps moms, Deb Conrad and Connie Riecke set out to send packages to a platoon of 30 deployed Marines. Within a few short weeks, troop supporters from all over the country had joined the effort by sewing stockings, shopping for stocking stuffers and gifts, and organizing packing parties. That first year, we sent more than 6,000 filled Christmas stockings to troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. To date more than 75,000 filled holiday stockings have been shipped to deployed Marines and soldiers.
Today Operation Santa USMC continues to be our biggest project. We are constantly working towards the next holiday season in order to meet our goal to send packages to ALL deployed Marines.
You too can organize your community to support marines church groups, organizations, clubs, schools, youth organizations and employer groups to show their support by volunteering to sponsor platoons, fill holiday boxes, organize packing parties, sew stockings, make and sign holiday cards, and to help raise funds.
Volunteer today! Show your support and become part of our team.
Volunteer opportunities include :
- Packing Party Coordinators
- Community Organizer
- Stocking Sewers
Operation Santa Coordinators
Contact your area coordinator and join the team. Or contact us and become a Coordinator in your area.
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Stockings Needed!
Hundreds of handmade holiday stockings are needed each year. Contact our Operation Santa Stocking Coordinator Carrie Pool.
Here is the pattern to make these special stockings, cilck here.
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Oregon
Betsy James
Connie Riecke
Katie Reiter - North Bend
Mary Benz - North/Coos Bay
Linn County
Anita Allen
Arizona
Debi Callies
Mary Marshall
Margot McDonnell
Karen Rogers
Anjee Riecke
California
Margaret Sawatzky
Ruby Zunino
California - San Diego
Elizabeth Balmert
Michigan
Bridget Long
Missouri
Mary Lou Webb
Nevada
Terri Dillon
Pennsylvania
Katie Maio
Tom Woodings
New Jersey
Gloria Kudrick
North Carolina
Wanda Patton
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