from the original thread :

http://www.cigarbid.com/auction/forum/forum.cfm?action=list&forumID=6&messageDisplay=0000000022208 

REPOST – from a previous thread that just got to long. and a yearly UPDATE thread

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OPERATION "FROM THE HEART" NEEDS YOUR HELP

WE NEED LETTERS, LETTERS AND MORE LETTERS!

SUPPLIES, CIGARS, MAGAZINES, FOOD ITEMS ALSO WELCOME!

www.opfth.com was started in 2004 by Tony (Cav) and I to help send care packages to the Marines fighting in Iraq. It was in direct response to a BOTL here (1st sgt smoke) who was deployed. He has since returned to the states and is actively involved in the project now. What first started as a group of buds sending 1 or 2 boxes has expanded greatly. We now support approx 7-10 units a month and seem to find more and more as we go.

we're collecting "stuff" to send over (cigars, eye drops, bandanas, etc.), and any and all donations are greatly appreciated. the goal for now is to get at least one big box sent over to every unit we adopt each month until they come home.

however, the BIGGEST part of this effort is in the human connection -- we need LETTERS, CARDS, NOTES to send over to distribute to these guys.

if you can, get others involved in writing letters as well -- sit your family down one evening and write a couple letters. ask your colleagues and co-workers to write letters. everything counts and is needed and appreciated.

i know there are a lot of "for the troops" collections going on. each and every one of them is very valuable, and i encourage everyone to give something to at least one of them -- doesn't matter which one.

but even if you don't have "stuff" to send, PLEASE at least write a letter to go out with the OpFTH packages. if nothing else, email your message to me, and i will reformat it as a letter, envelope it individually and send it along with the outgoing packages.

thanks to those who are already taking part in this, and here's hoping more will join us in this effort. Please take a second to check out our website at www.opfth.com and our forums links there to check on the status of units, see updates and pictures of the troops and our care packages as they leave.

SEMPER FI!

We currently have 3 Shipping offices you can send your donations to :

Midwest Operations – Bill Schmidt (schmitty22) smitty at opfth.com

Southern Operations- Michael Ladd (mladd) mladd at opfth.com

Central Operations- Clint Green (Clint at opfth.com)

Contact us directly or personal message us at our site forums boards and we can get you details~

“Smitty”

John Diedrich - "Big John" sent a huge pacakage for the troops. 2 bags of cigars and box full of "filler" to include gum , eye drops and several $10 calling cards to name a few items~! GREAT DONATION JOHN

thanks again....

a thank you on the OPFTH board coming too.

Good work Bill! Have a merry Christmas brother!

thank you, and same to you sir! and thanks for all the support over the last few months 🙂

Hope you and your family have a blessed holiday~

We'll see about that Bill. The tree went up today. So far so good. Last year the 3 year old decided to eat the glass bulbs while pluged it. Had curly hair 'til spring! LOL

Ps I should have a package for you in Feb to send out.

The bomb club is donating that month. We'll talk...

Thanks to OPFTH's very own Clint Green! He arranged a great deal on 15 ct Otter boxes for us to buy and fill with cigars for the troops. This will give them a humidor that can hold up to the environment there in IRAQ. HE also paid for them out of his own pocket!!!

To make it right - I purchased the same amount in QUALITY cigars to fill these otter boxes for them. Pictures will go up on our site soon.

10+ Otter boxes filled with premo gars should bring a few smiles to them after the new year.

Thanks CLINT~

Bruce Hunter (moonman) Donated his PIB to the troops on a thread here. It arrived safely today and included magazines and books and many cigars. Thanks Bruce. A thank you will be on the www.opfth.com site too.

Only too glad to do it. I feel it necesary to mention Erkwgz as the BOTL who was responsible for sending this to you on my behalf. Hat is off to him for being so generous!

I'm putting together another package to send to you for OPFTH to honor not only the men & women serving our country but also in memory of Thomas Wensel (Wennerman) who recently passed away. This sudden event has saddened me as he was a great man & shall truly be missed by all who were lucky enough to know him!

your kidding me! I did not hear that news. I am saddened by this. He was a OPFTH donator and a great guy. Please email me the detail of this.

Bruce (moonman),

You did not have to mention me bro. It was your generosity in donating your PIB cigars that got me to do this. You sir are an upstanding BOTL and I am glad to be able to count you as a friend on this forum.

Merry Christmas to all in OPFTH and thanks for your good work!!!!

Erik

RIP Tom

You've got mail, Bill.

Schmitty,

I have askewd a few here on the boards about your operation and it saeems like a very honorable effort. I have decided to reach olut to my vast network of friends and business associates and do a collection for your program. I will be collecting items until JAn 15th then will make arrangements to sent your operation a shipment. My fishig club is over 600 deep and my forst e-mail was to our membership list. I will try hard to get enough for a major shipment.

2005 update:

This has been quite a year for Operation From the Heart. Thanks to the efforts of our officers, and our many contributing members, we were able to ship over 1,365 pounds of goods to our troops in 2005!!!

:)

2 boxes (70 pounds total) arrived today. From IND. IN

Had cards , children's drawing ( from a Children's Village daycare in IN) , and letters and every maxim magazine ever published i think.

No idea who to thank - but THANKS! they will go out soon.

its ferg from another board. Cancel the BOLO 🙂

Richard Cutchin - Tattoodad13 - Thanks for the bag of gars for the troops. 🙂 they arrived today

Eric Wiggs (erkwgz) THANKS! a huge bag of cigars arrived for the troops today. They will be sorted and shipped soon. A thanks on the www.opfth.com site in the recognition threads will be up too.

A BIG thanks to Tattoodad for picking me in the PIB#23 thread and sending a bunch of nice cigars to the troops in my name. Richard your kindness and generosity make you an outstanding BOTL in my book.

Erik

thanks erik but it was your generosity that got the cigars to the troops.

Thank You

tattoodad13