News Lifestyles Editor
Mention the words “dedication” and “commitment” to Mary Anne Potter and she will shrug her slender shoulders and pass the credit to her hometown and a regiment of faithful volunteers. In truth, it’s Potter that has kept the goal of Operation Pioneer Spirit at the top of many Ponca Citians’ monthly to-do list. Since its beginning Aug. 9, 2006, Potter has orchestrated monthly get-togethers at the Pioneer Woman Museum to shape and tape United States Postal Service boxes, fill them with donations that run the gamut from snacks to socks, games to gloves, then fill out customs forms by hand, add address labels and a special note and finish with a small prayer for the soldier whose name the box bears. In six years, hundreds of pairs of helping hands have repeated this process over 7,000 times. And, the monthly effort will continue, as Potter pledges, “until they all come home.” Volunteer Jan Neylon has been at Potter’s side each month since the beginning. The success of OPS depends on dozens like her.
“Most of my faithful volunteers hardly ever miss, unless it’s because they are sick or outof-town,” says Potter. “Some even plan their vacations around our packing schedule.” Continuing the commitment is a big expense because each box now carries a $12.95 postage tab. And Ponca Citians step up to help with this effort, as well. The local Elks Lodge donated enough money to pay postage for 200 boxes. Tom Overton is credited with writing the grant to the Elk National Foundation which obtained $2,000 for the project. The Lodge added $590 from its Benevolence Fund. A sticker was placed inside each box which read “Postage for this parcel was provided by the Ponca City Elks Lodge No. 2002 and the Elks National Foundatoin. We join with the volunteers of Operation Pioneer Spirit and the donors of the parcel’s contents to wish you a joyous holiday season and a safe return home.”
The next mailing will take place Tuesday,Dec. 6, and Wednesday, Dec. 7. Organizing the items into the boxes will take place at 10 a.m., Dec. 6, with volunteers returning to mail the boxes at 1 p.m., Dec. 7. Potter explains the change in dates is because it takes so long for the OPS boxes to reach our soldiers in Afghanistan. “Soldiers and chaplains are requesting hand and feet warmers, dark gloves, navy or black skull caps, tuna/chicken in pouch or can, beef jerky, hard candy, small hotel-size toiletries, small peanut butter/jelly in plastic,” she adds. “Money is always needed since each box costs $12.95 to mail now.” Donations are accepted at the Pioneer Woman Museum, 701 Monument, during regular business hours. More information is available at www.operationpioneerspirit.com
KTUL.com Video Story - Channel 8 News Coverage of this event
PICTURE: CELEBRATING THE packing of the 7,000th care package are some of the 76 volunteers who came Nov.15 to organize and ship the boxes to soldiers serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. First row from left, are Jeff Boily, Dorothy Midgley, Marsha Shields, Evelyn Smith, Mary Anne Potter, Terry Huston and TerrySharon. Second row, seated, George White and Irv Kennedy. Third row, standing, are Tom Overton, Vivian Mertz, Jan Neylon, Larry Halbrook, Nancy Whitney, Pete Shields and Ray Stephenson (partially hidden). Below, members of the Ponca City Elks Lodge also were on hand to help including, from left, Phillip Rice, Jan Neylon, Rosemary Overton, Paul PItts and Judy Branch.
