Support needed for troop project

By Danica Baker

CLINTON — Quilter Sandi Carstensen is looking for local assistance in her effort to provide some Christmastime comfort to soldiers stationed in Iraq during the holiday season.

Carstensen began “Operation Support” four years ago when her son-in-law, Jim, was stationed in Iraq. Jim had been using his poncho as a cover for his pillow and asked her to send him a dark pillowcase. So, Carstensen used her talent and quilted Jim a pillowcase. She said he was very happy to receive it.

“He was thrilled. He asked me to make more for the commanders,” said Carstensen.

She said some people who don’t have family or friends in the military might not know that soldiers have to provide a lot of their own supplies.

“If you don’t have contact with the military, you don’t know about that. Everyone figures the government supplies those things,” she said. “They have to buy their things like anyone else with a job.”

When her son-in-law returned from Iraq, she adopted the next group of soldiers that replaced his unit and began making quilted pillowcases for them as well. Carstensen is now on her fourth rotation of sending pillowcases to the soldiers who took the place of the unit before them.

As a member of an online quilting group, she mentioned what she was doing to her friends and Operation Pillowcase, Operation Christmas Stockings and Operation Cuddle-ups were founded.

Just last year, she sent more than 2,000 pillowcases out, with 750 of those going to soldiers with the 133rd Army National Guard unit from Iowa.

Soon, other soldiers found Carstensen’s project and have sent requests for her creations. She receives requests on a nearly daily basis and as of September, Carstensen already had received thousands of requests for stockings and pillowcases. The soldiers hail from all over the United States and she has received requests from just about everywhere. Since 2004, more than 4,000 pillowcases and approximately 2,200 Christmas stockings have been sent, as well as cuddle-ups for new citizen patriots born during deployment to the adopted units. She recently mailed more than 400 stockings to a Family Readiness Group coordinator in Ft. Campbell, Ky.

“When I get weary, I just say to myself, ‘Sandi, if you’re weary, imagine how those soldiers feel. Now pick yourself up by your bootstraps and get going,” she said.

Local quilting groups have donated their talents for the “Operation Support” effort, including Mississippi Quilters in the Quad Cities, the Christian Comfort Quilters in Rockford, Ill., and the Cedar County Peacemakers in Tipton, Iowa. Area businesses also have chipped in to help. Recently, a quilt store in Newton, Iowa, contacted Carstensen and offered their assistance, asking if she had any blocks that needed to be quilted. She sent several kits and the group is sewing the quilts together. 3M also donated backing to be used for the stockings and quilts. She said anyone wanting to assist in the project is more than welcome.

“If anyone wants to help, I’ll give them a kit,” she said. “We need all the help we can get.”

Carstensen said no sewing experience is necessary and she is willing to instruct those who want to aid the project. Several “sew-ins” are planned in the coming weeks for people who would like to participate in “Operation Support.” On Oct. 20, quilters can travel to Neal’s Sewing and Vacuum in Muscatine for a sew-in from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Area residents also can help the project at Connie’s Constantly Stitching in Morrison from Noon to 8 p.m. on Oct. 29 and Nov. 5 and at Susan’s Calico Creations, 1108 Fourth St., in Fulton on Nov. 1 from 2 to 4 p.m. and Nov. 6 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

In addition to the stockings and pillowcases, Carstensen has taken on the job of serving as the Iowa and Kansas coordinator for the “Home of the Brave Quilt Project.” The project is dedicated to creating memorial quilts for each of the soldiers who gives their life in the line of duty. She checks her e-mail daily for notices from the U.S. Department of Defense and creates the quilts to honor the memory of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice.

Items are needed for stocking stuffers. Items can be donated in a collection box at Maggie’s Total Dimensions, 2311 N. Second St., and a full list of acceptible items are available at the store or online at homeofthebravequilts.com.

“They can even drop them on my front porch,” she said.

Carstensen has spent thousands of dollars of her own money to ship the items overseas. She is hoping area residents will aid the project by donating funds for shipping costs. Donations to ship the items can be sent to Member’s Choice Community Credit Union, c/o Home of the Brave Quilts, 1702 N. Second St., Clinton, Ia., 52732.

U.S. Postal Service flat rate boxes for shipping, thread, backing material and fabric in a variety of colors and prints also are appreciated donations. Carstensen said the soldiers are truly grateful for the support, especially during the holidays.

“They know these things come from the heart and they appreciate it,” said Carstensen.

For more information on the project, visit homeofthebravequilts.com. To contact Carstensen, call 242-7213 or e-mail her at marianmabel2007@yahoo.com.

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