LEXINGTON PARK, Md.- The staff at Cedar Point Federal Union hadno idea a “support the Marines” project shipping food, snacks andsundries to a Fallujah base in Iraq would create such anoverwhelming public response – even if this is a Navy town. Theundertaking included three tons of supplies. “You know we had ourboard room and our lobby lined up with boxes of everything fromtoilet paper to baby wipes, all of the things the troops had askedfor,” declared Barbara Horn, president/CEO of the $200 million CPFUwhich counts members from the nearby Patuxent River Naval AirStation. Cedar Point got involved with the Fallujah Marines afterCU staffers decided it would do something different this yearbeyond its usual “adopt a military family” and send gifts overseas.So CU staffers, having seen a published report about a shipment of2,000 pounds of supplies to Iraq last June by NorthCountry CU ofSouth Burlington, Vt., inquired with the Pentagon and the DefenseCredit Union Council about what might be needed. After making itsinquiry, Cedar Point received a touching e-mail from Maj. KeithForkin of the Regiment Combat Team at Camp Fallujah saying troopsthere “would love the support of Cedar Point Credit Union duringthe holidays” and adding there are “hundreds of Marines in theunit, many of whom have little or no family to keep in touch with.”Horn and her staff quickly set about putting a few posters in thebranches and a mention on the Web suggesting members could drop offsupplies at any of the CU's five branches. “That's all thepromotion we did and we were flooded with everything you canimagine in food, snacks, toiletries, games, ” said Lisa Shender,the CU's marketing director who helped coordinate the solicitationand eventually packing and shipping the 317 boxes weighing 6,500pounds. The generosity was particularly forthcoming from localmerchants and CU vendors who helped foot the $8,000 shipping bill.The last of the shipments left Lexington Park Dec. 4 making it intime for the holidays. The CU quickly received a response from Maj.Forkin that the shipments were “ awesome” and thanking the membersof the CU for thinking of the Marines. The gifts “that you areproviding will make the time that the Marines are spending awayfrom family and friends during the holidays more enjoyable.” “Itwill also be a reminder that they are not forgotten at home” andthat the members and staff at CPFCU “appreciate the sacrifices theyare making for the country,” wrote Forkin whose hometown isWaipahu, Hawaii. In an exchange of e-mails, Shender had written tothe commanding officer of the Marine unit, Capt. James Kimber, that“we wish we could send a special Christmas present to each man andwoman serving their country, but we hope this will be the next bestthing. “Thank you for your help and for allowing us to be a smallpart of the important and difficult job you and all your men andwomen are doing,” wrote Shender. In again thanking CPFCU, Capt.Kimber replied that “You will be happy to know that some of thetoys (beanie babies and stuffed animals) have already been givenout and were a HUGE hit with some of the Iraqi children we see onour trips to and from Camp Fallujah and the actual city ofFallujah. “The children know our routes out of Camp Fallujah, andduring the course of our trips we usually provide them water andfood,” wrote Kimber. “The delight evident on their faces when thetoys started being given out was truly something to behold.” Shesaid the boxes contained an assortment of goods including CDplayers, books, crossword puzzle paperbacks and disposable cameras.She said there was never an intention for the credit union to getpublicity or extra credit for the project but “it sure has beensomething that brings tears – it is heartwarming to see so manyvolunteers take part.” She said she was particularly grateful to asmall Marine unit on the Patuxent base who helped out on packingand shipping. “They stayed late one night and loaded five trucks.”“This whole project got so big and was one that really got awayfrom us but what a great cause,” concluded Shender. -

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