PLAINVIEW, Texas (ABP) — Students and staff at a Baptist university in Texas turned their attention far from campus, hoping to spread Christmas cheer to troops overseas.
Wayland Baptist University student activities coordinator Ericka Miller (left) works on packing boxes of items for a military platoon in Afghanistan, with help from office secretary Brenda Huckabee (center) and Wayland sophomore Carissa Nichols, a student worker in the office. Twelve boxes will be shipped to the platoon of 33 for Christmas. (WAYLAND PHOTO)
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The student leadership and activities office at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas, packed boxes for a military platoon stationed in Afghanistan facing harsh circumstances and the holidays away from home. The 33-member platoon includes the son of Denton Lankford, associate professor of justice and public administration at Wayland.
When he mentioned his son’s situation to Tommie Quebe in Wayland president’s office, she in turn called Ericka Miller, coordinator of student activities, to ask about a service project. “When Tommie called us, we started thinking about what we could do for these guys and how we could get students, as well as faculty and staff involved,” Miller said.
Lankford provided Miller more information about what the troops needed — basic toiletries, coffee, tea, heavy socks and T-shirts, Bibles, hard candy and snacks, sports magazines, and envelopes and stamps. She and her students then assembled notes and e-mails to spread the word about Operation Care Package.
“We went to the store and bought a box full of different things that could be a care package for one person to use as a sample. Then we decided to set up a place for students to take photos and make Christmas cards to send with the boxes,” Miller said. The students were invited to bring items to include in care packages, donate money or just make a photo card.
For the two days before Thanksgiving and two days after the break, students filed through the McClung Center parlor and posed in Santa hats, reindeer ears and other holiday accessories for photos. Then they signed cards, many writing a brief note of thanks and encouragement to the troops, creating 60 cards.
“At first, they were a little unsure about writing cards to total strangers, but then they got into it more,” she said. “I think it’s going to mean more than the students think it will, just seeing faces and reading their notes.”
Although she doesn’t know any of the troops personally, Miller said, it was an easy decision to jump into the project with both feet and get students involved.
“They were telling me about these guys being on a mountain in zero-degree weather, where it’s rat-infested and they don’t get a shower but about once a month. I was thinking about myself being cold-natured, hating rats and loving my showers and thought we had to do something to help,” Miller said.
“The sacrifice they make is so great, and the troops are often out of sight, out of mind. I can just imagine being over there and being so grateful for any one of these things.”
While the original goal was to create 33 individual boxes for each member of the platoon, as items began arriving from employees and students, the office opted to just fill larger boxes with the items and send them on their way, Miller explained.
The money donated was used to purchase enough of each personal item for the troops to have their own. In the end, about 12 boxes will be shipped to Afghanistan.
Student worker Carissa Nichols, a sophomore from Taos, N.M., said working on the project was special to her.
“I think it’s a cool opportunity for us. You don’t always get to do things that you know will help people, and we know they are dedicated and serving for us. This is a chance to give a little back to them,” Nichols said.
Lankford was impressed by how the simple conversation about his son’s situation turned into a major care package effort.
“I was amazed when I walked in and saw all they had collected. It’s astounding, and I just praise the Lord for this,” he said. “I want to personally thank all the students, faculty and staff who contributed to this effort. It’ll make their Christmases a lot brighter and happier under the circumstances. I know it’ll brighten their day 6,500 miles away.”
Lankford also encouraged continued prayer for the platoon, noting that they face ambush and extreme circumstances daily, with about a year left on their assignment in Afghanistan.
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Teresa Young is director of communications at Wayland Baptist University.