Help our Troops
The base hospital where our son, Jim Pratt, is deployed is in serious need of  tolietries and clothing for the injured soldiers who come there. It is located in the middle of the Persian Gulf and it is the first place that the injured service people from all branches are sent to, to be stablized. Needed are travel size items of  deordiant, shampoo, tooth paste, tooth brushes, lotion, T shirts, and underware. Items can be dropped off in the back of Church or at 1400 Fayette Ave. An account has been set up at Washington State Bank, "Operation Troop Support". Contact Linda or Henry Pratt 444-2788 for more information.

Operation Troop Support Update

 

To date, approximately 400 toiletry kits have been assembled and shipped to the base hospital where TSgt. Jim Pratt is stationed.  In addition, 4 large boxes of clothing have been shipped.  The first shipments have arrived and the hospital staff was overwhelmed by the generosity of our parishioners. THANK YOU.

 

We will continue sending the toiletry kits. Also, we will keep sending items meeting the changing needs, as requested by our hospital contact. 

 

Donations of travel size shampoo, lotion, and deodorant; and elastic waist shorts may still be dropped off in the back of church. An account in the name of “Operation Troop Support” has been set up at Washington State Bank for any monetary donations.  Any questions, call Linda Pratt at 444-2788.

 

A recent email from TSgt Pratt stated, “This is the first time ever a group has been supportive in patient donations. I believe that sending these much needed items directly supports the mission on the global war on terrorism.”

 

Please keep all servicemen and servicewomen in your prayers. May God bless you all for your thoughtfulness and generosity.  Linda and Henry Pratt
updated
7-03-06
                        Operation Troop Support Reaches First Anniversary
Since its inception in the summer of 2005, Operation Troop Support has
expanded to supply three hospitals in the Iraq area with toiletry kits and
clothing.  Beginning with the first shipment on July 6, 2005, the St.
Patrick parish/Knights of Columbus project has sent 1,256 toiletry kits and
14 boxes of clothing.

The three field hospitals are in Doha, Qatar, and near Baghdad and Balad in
Iraq. These hospitals treat the more seriously wounded troops and are very
grateful for the support they have received from St. Patrick parish.

S. Sgt Douglas Caldwell, a contact in Qatar for Operation Troop Support,
stated, “We can’t tell you how much our patients appreciate this.  Some of
them show up without clothing or any of their gear.  These items are a
necessity to them.”

Operation Troop Support will continue to send these much needed supplies to
our wounded servicemen and servicewomen in the Iraq area. To complete the
toiletry kits, the following items are especially needed at this time:
TRAVEL SIZE deodorant, TRAVEL SIZE toothpaste, and elastic waist shorts in
men’s sizes: medium, large, and extra large.

Drop-off locations for donated items are St. Patrick Church, the Pratt home
at 1400 Fayette Avenue and the Grillot home at 1600 Fayette Avenue.

Thank you for your generosity!

 

  
 

Operation Troop Support Update - November 2007

Operation Troop Support (OTS) is a program to assist injured servicemen and servicewomen in the Iraq theater of operations. The idea came from a former Washington resident, Jim Pratt, when he was serving in Qatar, with the Air National Guard in 2005. Jim is the son of parishioners, Henry and Linda Pratt.

Pratt told his parents of the need in the field hospitals for toiletry items and clothing for our injured troops. Many times the injured are brought into the field hospitals without their gear and their clothes have been cut off. They are often hastily transported to Germany or the United States for further medical treatment without even a toothbrush.

At SSgt. Pratt’s suggestion, his parents, Linda and Henry Pratt, along with their neighbor, Kay Grillot, started Operation Troop Support. They began collecting items for toiletry kits. Additionally, an account was established through the Knights of Columbus at Washington State Bank for cash donations. The account is named “Operation Troop Support” and donations are tax deductible.

Beginning with the first shipment on July 6, 2005, OTS has sent over 2600 toiletry kits (more than 5 times the original goal) and 69 boxes of clothing, as of November 1, 2007. Operation Troop Support has expanded to supply three hospitals in the Iraq area with toiletry kits and clothing. 

The following items are especially needed at this time:

- TRAVEL SIZE deodorant;

- TRAVEL SIZE toothpaste;

- TRAVEL SIZE lotion;

- TRAVEL SIZE shampoo;

- T-shirts in men’s sizes medium, large, and extra large;

- Elastic waist shorts in men’s sizes: medium, large, and extra large;

- Draw-string waist or elastic-waist lounge pants in light-weight flannel or cotton in men’s sizes medium, large, and extra large;

- White athletic socks.

Monetary donations are also accepted. Checks should be made out to Operation Troop Support. The cash donations are primarily used to cover shipping expenses.

Drop-off locations for donated items are St. Patrick Church, the Washington Chamber of Commerce office on the Square, the Washington Library, the Pratt home at 1400 Fayette Avenue and the Grillot home at 1600 Fayette Avenue.

Senior Airman Joshua Almendarez praised Operation Troop Support in an email this past summer (July 2, 2007). Acknowledging receipt of a shipment, he said, “Thank you so much to you and everyone who does this. We just walked in the door from picking up 8 soldiers and sailors from down range and they were very impressed and thankful for all we had to offer them….This is how we support the mission, and yall are doing the very same for the mission back home. I can not express how much you and your friends and family mean to us… Thank you”.

Your continued generosity is appreciated.