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| | | Marguerite Fornier began sewing stockings for troops in Afghanistan with the goal of making 100. Soon, fellow seniors at the Crabapple Senior Center helped out, making more than 300 Christmas cards. Now, shes seeking donations to fill the stockings so the soldiers get something special this holiday season. | |
October 28, 2009
As Marguerite Fornier says in her thick New England accent, she's from a military family. Her husband retired from the Air Force, her son is a lieutenant colonel serving in Kabul, Afghanistan with the Air Force, and her son-in-law is a sergeant in the Army currently stationed in Iraq.
So when she started talking with her sister, Sharon Hunkins of Greenland, N.H., about how enlisted men and women serving overseas would be celebrating this holiday season, it just broke her heart.
"For a lot of them, it's probably the first time they've been away from home for Christmas," she said. "And they deserve something. So I said, 'I'm going to go buy a sewing machine and make stockings.' And I am not a sewer, believe me."
She started sewing the stockings in September during her time at the Crabapple Senior Center, which is run by Senior Services North Fulton. Soon, others in the program were helping out, too, making Christmas cards.
"All the seniors have written beautiful letters," said Pat Miller, manager of the Crabapple Senior Center. "They loved doing this."
Now, there are 100 stockings and 300 Christmas cards placed on a table gently with care in hopes that North Fultonites, soon will be there — to donate, that is.
First and foremost, Fornier needs items to put in the stockings before Nov. 13, the last day they can be mailed and still make it to Kabul in time for Christmas. She needs a number of items to make sure everyone gets a care package [see sidebar above].
But that's not all. Fornier is also seeking donations of warm clothing and blankets for Afghan locals as part of the Air Force's "Operation Outreach."
She said Kabul, which is in a dry, mountainous region, can get very cold. The people there are very poor and do not have access to warm clothing to get through the winter months.
Already she has mailed off seven boxes of clothing since July. Donations can be made at the senior center throughout the year.
"A lot of people think that because we are in their country fighting, they [the Afghans] don't like us," she said. "But that's just not true."
Miller said the whole experience has been very educational for the seniors. One couple who attends the center regularly is from Baghdad, Iraq. As part of their daily activities working on the stockings and cards, they brought pictures and heirlooms from their lives in the Middle East to share with everyone.
"It was really eye-opening," said Miller. "Not one person here wasn't involved."
And everyone put their heart and souls into each stocking and card. That's what makes Fornier so proud.
"The men and women over there, they are all volunteers," said Fornier. "They are there because they chose to help us. Now we need to help them."
 View images. What's still needed
In order for the men and women of the 855th Air Expeditionary Squadron serving under Lt. Col. Robert Fornier, Marguerite's son, to get a stuffed stocking for Christmas, a number of items need to be donated.
Here is what is still needed:
body wash
lip balm
combs
conditioner
deodorant
hand sanitizer
make up remover
mouthwash
nail kits
note pads
powdered drinks
shoe shine kits
skin cleanser
soap
toothbrushes
tooth paste
Donations should be dropped off at the Crabapple Senior Center, 12624 Broadwell Road in Alpharetta, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. until Nov. 13.
Tags: Milton
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