A “Thank a Soldier” program for kids was held at the two branches of the Henry County Library on Monday, September 27. This first-time event was planned after a member of an Army National Guard unit from Minnesota, SSGT Anthony Patton-Nacey, worked with the director of the library, Stephanie Rogers, to get a care package for his unit that was just pulled out of Afghanistan and sent to Kuwait. The program was to show appreciation for soldiers who are serving our country and sacrificing time without their families.
“The Unit is part of the 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 194th Armor Regiment, and was pulled out of Afghanistan when the airport at Kabul was in chaos,” said Sheila Jensen, Henry County Library Youth Services Director. “The original unit was divided when they left Afghanistan and the other half sent to Syria. Its Team Leader is SGT Zachary Peterson. Soldiers from both units are lacking a lot of basic items that they need, and we are collecting donations to send to them. Children attending the “Thank a Soldier” program learned about the units that consist of about a total of 75 soldiers, and they helped write a letter to the soldiers as well as decorate cookies that are to be sent in two separate care packages to the units. Kids also worked on coloring sheets of soldiers to send to unit members.”
Jensen said that donations received so far include crafts, envelopes and paper, little pots, potting soil and grass seeds, since they have no grass where they are stationed. Other things include boxed snacks such as candy, crackers, coffee, little cereal boxes, ramen noodles, peanut butter, fruit cups, Rice-A-Roni, notebooks, fans that spray water, lip balm, card games, puzzle books, toothpaste, sanitizer, and gum. There is also a large box filled with all kinds of food including powdered potatoes.
“We learned that the unit that was divided up when the soldiers were pulled out of Afghanistan will eventually be brought back together in an unnamed place in Kuwait,” said Jensen.
Two programs were held on Monday – one at 10:30 AM at the Lenora Blackmore branch in Windsor, and the other at 3:45 at the Administrative Headquarters in Clinton. A total of 14 children attended. The library offers many services for children including story hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Clinton, and on Fridays in Windsor. A Non-Fiction Story Time began September 20 and will be held on the fourth Monday of each month through May. Crafts will be included. Pre-registration is required for this story hour, by calling 660-885-2612 in Clinton, or 60-647-2298 in Windsor.
Look for the Spider-making craft time at the library coming up October 4, in Windsor, at 10:30 AM, and October 7 at 3:45 PM in Clinton.
