Jun 19, 2008 6:58 am US/Mountain
Colorado Mom Answers Call For Help From Iraq
Written for the Web by CBS4 producer Libby Smith
The idea behind CBS4's Pay it Forward Colorado project is to give $1,000 to a Coloradan (or group of Coloradans) who will use the money to change someone else's life. Submit your ideas
on YouReport
. Below lies CBS4's June 18 report. ARVADA, Colo. (CBS4) - In the community room at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Arvada, dozens of volunteers are sorting, stacking and filling boxes to the brim. Stacks of socks, flip flops, briefs and boxers are being packed up for shipment to Iraq.
"We received as part of a newsletter from the company commander, a request for underwear, sox, things like that, that could be given to soldiers and taken to the field hospital where their clothes are cut off and they don't have clothes for them to put on," said Karen Quinn, head of the donation effort.
Quinn's son, Luke, is a soldier with the Colorado National Guard serving in Iraq. She said that she was shocked by the need for clothing for the soldier.
"Soldiers when they're injured they've given so much and not to have a t-shirt or underwear is unfathomable," Quinn added.
She put out the word to friends, family and the bible study group at St. Joan of Arc. She says the reaction has been overwhelming.
"I've talked to so many people who just want to help. They just want to do anything they can do to help the soldiers," Quinn said.
Quinn is no stranger to the kindness of community. Sixteen years ago, the community came together around her and her family when her husband, Peter Peelgrane was in a helicopter crash.
Peelgrane was a TV helicopter pilot in Denver. In February of 1992, his helicopter went down in the icy waters of Horsetooth Reservoir. Two passengers died in the crash.
Peelgrane survived the crash and was in a coma for a while. He eventually woke up but never full recovered from the crash. He died three years later from pneumonia. Karen was left to raise their two children by herself.
"I honestly don't think we could have done it without the support and help of all the people," she said.
Over the years, Quinn has been looking for an opportunity to return all the years of kindness shown to her and now she's getting $1,000 from CBS4 to help pay the cost of postage.
"Alone as we feel sometimes there's always all of these spirits around us that just bolster us that let us know we are all one. We really are."
If you would like to help in this effort to send clothing to injured soldiers in Iraq, contact the Bible Study group at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Arvada.
(© MMVIII CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
