Sending love — one box at a time

By WILL STEWART / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Putting together care package items brought in by the kindergarten class of Phyllis Snider for sailor Joseph Stacey are his son and class member Skylar, center, Skylar’s mother Jennifer, left, and Snider. (Will Stewart photo)

The kindergarten class of Phyllis Snider at Hickory Creek Elementary wants the servicemen and women of Operation Iraqi Freedom to know they care. As a result, the class has spent the week creating care packages for Navy Third Class Petty Officer Joseph Stacey, father of class member Skylar Stacey.

“I saw something similar on TV and I thought this would be a great project for the class and something great for Skylar to do for his dad,” said Snider. “We’ve had a great time and we’re thrilled with the large amount of items the children have brought.”

Stacey, 24, is stationed in the Persian Gulf aboard the USS Saipan, an amphibious assault ship used to transport marines. His job on the ship is to order parts for the ship’s helicopters and to support and issue whatever the helicopter crews need. He has been deployed to the Gulf since early January.

Part of the class’s enthusiasm about participating in the care package drive, said Snider, came from actually getting to meet Stacey earlier in the year when he attended the class Christmas party.

Snider, who was also Stacey’s fifth-grade teacher some 13 years ago, said in addition sending him such items as snacks, books, puzzles, sunscreen, razors and candy to share with some of his shipmates, the class is also including hand-drawn pictures and a video tape of a recent class skating party.

“Being over there he’s missing so much of Skylar’s kindergarten year, an important time in his life, and we want him to be a part of it,” Snider said.

Skylar’s mother, Jennifer, who will be mailing the package, said she was touched by the project. “This is such a great, wonderful thing. It’s really uplifted the whole situation for Skylar and me both,” she said. “I’m thankful Skylar has such a thoughtful teacher to do something like this.”