Local Business Woman/Military Wife Sponsors Adopt A Soldier Program

For Immediate Release April 9, 2003 Contact: Tara E Crooks Owner: The Candle Coop Tara@thecandlecoop.com 204 Village Court Nixa, MO 65714 (417) 724-0832 / (417) 849-1477 Http://www.TheCandleCoop.com Contact: Arlyn McClaughry Chair Person: Operation Military Pride 15261 W Custer lane Surprise, AZ 85379 (623) 544-2693 Contact: Amy Rybarczyk Representative: Operation Military Pride 29807 N 51 Pl Cave Creek, AZ 85331 480-502-0919 MilitaryPrideHQ@aol.com http://www.OperationMilitaryPride.org

Local home-based business woman and military wife, Tara Crooks, owner of www.TheCandleCoop.com, has joined forces with www.OperationMilitaryPride.org to sponsor the Adopt A Soldier" Campaign. Crooks states, Our troops are away from family, friends and everything American. They eat freeze-dried, shelf-stable, vacuum-sealed pre-packaged meals. Those in the desert use portable-potties & do not have running water. Most work 7 days a week with little or no sleep. Our soldiers need our support. Whether or not someone supports the war, shouldnt be an issue."

Crooks website http://www.TheCandleCoop.com/Campaign.htm is a great place to start if you are interested in lending a hand, and a smile to our American Service Personnel. Help us help those who fight for our freedom! Do a good deed and send mail to a soldier. It would mean so much to someone so far from home. As difficult as serving in the Armed Forces may be, the worst part is probably the time when they are deployed. Please take a moment to lift their spirits. It takes YOU to make a difference!"

The campaign is an ideal project for you, your friends & family, local businesses, Scouts, schools, care facilities, church groups, synagogues, civic groups, support groups, organizations, Veterans, neighborhoods and workplaces, just to name a few.

To receive the name and address of your "adopted" soldier visit http://www.TheCandleCoop.com/Campaign.htm and follow the specified instructions. In addition to this service there are other established links to help you with ideas for your care package and shipping instructions.

Organizational Information
Operation Military Pride was started in 1995 by military spouses who realized the importance of keeping the morale of deployed service members high. Operation Military Pride is a volunteer organization with a wide range of activities, all of which are to boost the morale of our troops overseas. They not only send care packages and cards themselves, but also distribute troop names and addresses to patriots wanting to send cards and care packages. These addresses are given to the organization by the service member or commander so they will be accepted by the Department of Defense and not recognized as ‘unsolicited" or threatening" parcels.

Tara Crooks has been running The Candle Coop from her home since June 2002. She is a proud military spouse. Crooks states, Please join us in helping our troops. Anything you can do, from five minutes of time and .32 cents to a larger package, its all appreciated!"