Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Reader Exchange

How to give troops in Iraq a heads-up

By LINDA D. COLE and INGRID L. KOHLER Times Staff Writers
Published January 27, 2007

Instructions for the knitted or crocheted headbands that help U.S. soldiers in Iraq keep their heads warm beneath their helmets have been flying out of Exchange Central all week. You may recall that Jane Cox of Seminole wrote to tell us that she has been busily knitting them and has received positive feedback from troops who put her handiwork to use against the desert winter.

A quick estimate by the staff is that at least 400 requests for headband instructions have come through the old REX mail slot so far. If knitting or crocheting headbands sounds like a project you would enjoy, please write or e-mail us at the addresses at the end of this column, and we'll get a copy of the instructions to you.

And speaking of the forces in Iraq, REXer Tanya also has an Iraq project for which she is recruiting volunteers. She has adopted two soldiers stationed there one male, one female and finds the experience a little expensive but highly gratifying.

Some items Tanya hasn't been able to send because of their cost are magazines, movies, games (Xbox and PS2) and music CDs. Tanya hopes that readers may have some of these items that are gathering dust instead of being used and may wish to donate them for one of her care packages.

The "adopted" male soldier has expressed a desire for men's and adventure magazines, but since the packages Tanya ships tend to be shared with other troops after they arrive, there is really little need to fill specific requests. If you spot some items that could provide a bit of comfort and enjoyment for Tanya's soldiers, please call her at (727) 647-4148.

Patricia Hansen of St. Petersburg, who is in the midst of downsizing her household, has a spinet piano that needs a new home. The instrument is in good condition but does need tuning. Perhaps, Patricia writes, a child in Exchange Land who would like to start taking piano lessons would like to have it. Please contact Patricia at (727) 822-6722.

Jean Wallis of Clearwater hopes to locate a Farberware electric coffeemaker, either a 4- or 6-cup model. If you have one to send her way, write to Jean in care of this column.

Lucie Somers, who frequently gathers supplies for missionaries in the field, is running low on items that contain prayers. They can be in the form of pamphlets, booklets or bookmarks. Please mail any you can spare to Lucie at 1415 Main St., No. 219, Dunedin, FL 34698.

For a quite different purpose, Lucie (a woman with numerous irons in the fire at any given moment) needs any unwanted rhinestone jewelry in Exchange Land. Please also mail these sparkling donations to Lucie's home address.

FYI: pretty, but outdated, calendars

During January, lots of folks find themselves with calendars from the previous year that they hate to throw away because the pictures are so beautiful. We've had letters from folks wanting to know if someone can use them.

We have been informed that you can send them to the Calendar Collectors Society, a group "dedicated to the study and preservation of calendar art." Its mailing address is 18222 Flower Hill Way, No. 299, Gaithersburg, MD 20879. Its Web site is calendarcollectors.org.

Thank-you notes

Beryl Zipkin of Clearwater wishes all fellow REXers a happy new year. She was delighted that, through the column, she was able to place her dolls in the homes of migrant workers' children this holiday. Better yet, she heard the dolls were a huge hit.

Bob Shep also sends thanks for reader assistance. He needed a Betamax video recorder to view some "lost" family movies.

"An unbelievable gentleman by the name of Jerry Hetzen responded," says Bob's e-mail. "Jerry generously gave me his video machine, and I have since uncovered some family celebrations that would have been lost forever."

Send requests to Reader Exchange, Floridian, St. Petersburg Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg 33731 or e-mail cole@sptimes.com Requests will be accepted only by mail or e-mail. This is an exchange column, so we will not run items that are for sale. Readers must agree to publication of phone numbers, including area code.

[Last modified January 26, 2007, 11:03:43]