By Laura McAlister
Journal Editor
Ellen Long doesn’t know firsthand what it’s like to be a soldier overseas, but she’s getting a better understanding every day. The more she learns, the more she wants to help the young men and women in the military.
About a year ago, Ellen and husband Bones were introduced to Adopt-a-Soldier. The program helps supporters of the military connect with deployed soldiers.
The Longs initially adopted three soldiers stationed in Iraq but ended up adding even more as some soldiers returned home. Throughout the year they’ve sent care packages, letters and e-mails. They hope, with the help of others, that they can send even more letters and care packages to the soldiers during the holidays.
“These guys just really need us,” Ellen said. “I know they’re lonely, and so many come home and their lives are destroyed. People just don’t realize what all these young people do for us.”
The Longs, along with some friends at the Shades Valley YMCA, have been raising money to send care packages to the soldiers deployed overseas. Ellen is selling her handmade Christmas wreaths and ribbons, and all the money raised from the sales is used to send care packages and letters to soldiers overseas.
The Longs sent more than 400 letters to soldiers deployed in Iraq for Thanksgiving. They’ve got a much higher goal for Christmas.
Sgt. Lee Handford is one of the soldiers the Longs adopted. He’s in charge of some 1,100 soldiers in Iraq. Ellen and Bones’ goal is to have a Christmas letter of encouragement for each of those soldiers. Ellen said people would be surprised that something so little can mean so much to those deployed overseas, especially during the holidays.
“It’s just surprising how much they really need and how lonely they can be,” she said. “Each time we send a care package, they always tell us what a blessing it is to have something homemade from the states.”
Handford said in an e-mail, that the work the Longs and her friends are doing, are making his unit’s stay in Iraq a little more easy.
“I can’t stress enough that I’m very greatful and thankful for the program and especially thankful for Mrs. Ellen Long, her family, friends and associates that help her help us make it through this deployment,” he said. “I really want to meet with her and thank her in person for all that she has done and is still doing for my fellow soldiers and myself.”
Ellen and Bones are quick to point out one example: her care packages with jars of homemade jam.
“They were just fighting over that jam and eating it by the spoonfuls,” Bones said, laughing. “We’ll be sending more jam.”
While the Longs love to send homemade treats to the troops, they also know necessities are needed, too. After being adopted by the Longs, Handford e-mailed them to tell them what his soldiers needed most. The list included towels, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, soap and “things of that nature.”
It costs $12.50 to send a care package to a soldier stationed in Iraq. Through donations, Ellen hopes to send many more this holiday season.
Personally, she’s sent 30 boxes in the past year, and members of the Shades Valley YMCA have come together to send 17.
“This program has really just touched my heart,” she said. “I read in the news about one that was killed, and he hadn’t been adopted.
“It’s just so sad. You really form relationships with them and share lives.”
During the past year, Ellen’s become close with the soldiers she’s adopted. They e-mail each other often, and during Thanksgiving, she will actually be meeting one of them in person for the first time.
To purchase a holiday wreath or bow benefiting soldiers deployed overseas or to learn how to make a donation, contact Ellen Long at 942-6415 or [email protected].