Wednesday, July 16, 2003
|
Wednesday, July 16, 2003 |
Wellman campaign still underwayBy J. FRANK LYNCH
There's still time to contribute to the "Operation Fred" campaign inspired by former Peachtree City resident Fred Wellman and his efforts to build schools and medical clinics in impoverished villages in northern Iraq. Wellman, a major in the U.S. Army who dropped out of the 1991 race for mayor of Peachtree City to reenlist in the military following the Sept. 11 attacks, has already received hundreds of pounds of school and medical supplies collected from all over the country, said Carol Fritz, one of the Peachtree City residents who've been working nearly around the clock to manage the humanitarian project. "Things are going great," she said last week. "What has been so interesting is how much people want to help. While it was not what I had planned to do with my summer, it has been an interesting project." Between the Vacation Bible School kids at Peachtree City United Methodist Church and St. Matthews Church, about 800 pounds of supplies were inventoried, registered with customs, boxed up and sent over to the Middle East, Fritz said. "There are several other groups and people sending him packages as well, and many I am sure we don't even know about," she said. A huge wave of contributions came in from all over the nation and some international quarters after July 4, when CNN featured Wellman live from Baghdad, and brought his family to Atlanta to be interviewed in the studios at CNN Center downtown. It was a poignant moment, as the broadcast gave Wellman and his family the first opportunity to see each other and communicate live, face-to-face, since he was deployed to Iraq last fall. "Because of Fred going to Baghdad to do the interview on CNN, the CNN folks over there (in Iraq) want to go to where Fred is, and do a follow-up story," said Fritz. That's complicated by the fact that Wellman's location, and the names of the villages in which the schools and clinics are being built, is classified. Meantime, the goods keep rolling in. "Monday alone, he got 14 or 15 boxes," said Fritz. "He says his storage closet is full." But more storage room can be found. Those wishing to make contributions to Operation Fred may do so by either mailing packages directly to Major Wellman at the address below or drop off the donations at any Fayette County or Peachtree City Fire Station. Monetary donations should be made out to "Operation Fred". Please no cash contributions. Monetary donations should be sent to Operation Fred, c/o Carol Fritz, 416 Dartmouth Pl. E., Peachtree City, GA 30269. All material donations of either medical or school supplies should be in their original unopened packaging per customs regulations. Please direct any shipping questions to Carol Fritz at carolfritz@mindspring.com. Due to the uncertainty of troop relocations and the phenomenal response from the American people, all shipments to Maj. Wellman must be shipped no later than 21 July 2003. Direct Shipping Address: MAJ Frederick P. Wellman, HHC/6-101st AVN, Unit #96116, APO AE 09325-6116.
|
||