U.S. Soldiers serving in Iraq will be a little closer to their families at home this Christmas, thanks to Barbara Johnston’s fourth grade class at Oxford Elementary.
Donating their allowance money, birthday money and even bagel money the class collected a total of $185.16 for Operation Uplink, a program established through the U.S. Veterans of Foreign Wars that distributes phone cards to soldiers.
‘I’m just so proud of them,? Johnston said of her class.
Student Ethan Kerin was one of the largest contributors, with $20.
The class also wrote personal letters to the soldiers and created 30 candy boxes stuffed with goodies to send to the troops.
Three students in the class, Julia Derringer, Chris Desrochers and Reece Bruni have relatives serving in Iraq who will receive the special gifts for Christmas.
?(My dad) usually e-mails us or calls us, so (the phone cards) will be a good way to keep in touch,? Derringer said.
If you’d like to donate to Operation Uplink, visit www.operationuplink.org/about.cfm.