KINGDOM CITY, Mo. - A collection of 298 letters started a journey to the other side of the world Friday afternoon.
"It started as a brainstorm that just went forward," Hatton-McCredie Elementary parent-teacher organization member Rebecca Green said. "I have a good friend and co-worker whose son, PFC Justin Dearman, was recently deployed to South Korea. I was thinking about what I could do to help, to put a smile on the faces of these young kids overseas."
What started as a small personal project began to grow larger and larger in scope, Green said.
"I wrote letters, but wanted to go bigger; I made a care package, but wanted to go bigger," she said. "I am on the PTO at Hatton-McCredie Elementary, and I have a really good relationship with the principal. I asked her if she would be OK with having each student write a generic soldier letter."
Hatton-McCredie principal Christy Biggers granted her request, Green said, and allowed her to ask the school's parents for help, too.
"I typed up a letter for the students to take home, asking their parents to send in soldier care items like sunflower seeds and granola bars," she said. "About two weeks ago, I spoke in a school-wide assembly where I told the students what items we needed and where they were going.
"Stuff started rolling in. Everyone was so on board and generous."
Green said the community's support was far beyond her expectations.
"We collected items for a full week and had enough to fill seven APO boxes, as well as 298 letters from students," she said. "I read every single letter, and most made me cry. The 5-14 year olds who wrote them had a lot of appreciation for the soldiers they were writing to. I am really, really proud of all the kids and the positive things they said to these young (soldiers). It felt like all the letters had love in them; it made me so happy."
Biggers said she was proud of what the students and their parents accomplished.
"I just thought it was great that she encourage the kids to write the letters," she said. "The kids really put their hearts into it, and had some very nice and inspiring things to say.
All in all, Biggers said she is appreciative of everyone involved.
"I am so proud of my families and students for stepping up and giving back to the soldiers who give their lives for our freedom," she said.