By Brenda Sexton

The Courier-Herald

The community's response to Operation Adopt a Stocking for a Soldier has been overwhelming.

For the past few months, through fabric donations and the volunteer sewing hours of Crystal Quilters, 1,000 stockings have been made and filled. Since the project began in early summer, Plateau folks have flooded the Chamber of Commerce offices with donations to stuff stockings, so many donations, organizers have vowed to send them all - if they can raise enough money in the coming weeks to cover postage.

"We're at the half-yard line," organizer Liz Reynolds said.

Reynolds anticipates 160 boxes full of stockings and extra donated items will be sent to Iraq. Each box costs $40 to mail. Mutual of Enumclaw, Enumclaw Rotary and Crystal Mountain have picked up three-quarters of the approximately $6,400 needed to make the shipment a reality. Sears will provide truck a for transportation to the post office Oct. 25. Reynolds is hoping the community will step up and cover the rest by the Oct. 25 deadline.

Donations, of all sizes, can be dropped at the Enumclaw chamber office.

The goodie-filled boxes are going to the Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron in Iraq. Reynolds said she recently spoke with the squadron's staff sergeant who said, "This is their first Christmas away from home so morale is very low and these will mean everything to these guys and girls."

Brenda Sexton can be reached at bsexton@courierherald.com.