Held at Woodcraft Stores Nationwide Handmade Pens Created Locally for U.S. Troops Overseas
“Through the help of the general public and our customers and employees, we were able to make and send 10,519 pens to our troops deployed overseas last year,” said Peter Parker, Woodcraft’s program administrator. “We want to surpass that number in 2008. There are so many service people around the world and we know they appreciate having a special gift from home.”
Woodcraft personnel at participating stores will be on hand on November 8 to instruct people how to make the pens. A first pen project takes about 30 to 45 minutes, but after creating a few pens the time can drop down to just 15 minutes each.
“We anticipate many local people will again donate their time and talents both before and during the Veterans Day weekend event to turn pens in our store and to drop off pens they’ve previously completed.”
Since the program’s beginning in January of 2004, more than 35,000 customized pens have been created and sent to members of the armed forces through Woodcraft customers, employees, and others.
At the request of one of the Chaplain’s in Iraq, we produced and sent another 1,600 this past summer along with some woodworking tools for the troops that they had wanted for some of their projects in service. So, we are off to a great start this year already!
