Card drive for troops

After watching ABC’s “World News” one night, La Cañadan Kris Heck took note of their “Person of the Week,” a woman named Robin Schmidt, a flight attendant who asked the passengers to sign a notebook with positive thoughts to send to troops abroad.

“I was inspired by her story and actually reached out to Robin to ask her what I could do,” Heck said in an e-mail.

Ever since, Heck has been actively collecting cards—holiday, get well, thinking of you—and is now asking any and all La Cañadans to submit cards for Christmas to send to troops.

“It’s amazing to have the slightest impact on other people’s lives like this,” Heck said. “The feeling is indescribable.”

Heck has since adopted several troops through the Adopt-a-Hero program, found at www.adoptahero.us, which is a free service to help troops feel more comfortable while on their tour of duty.

Heck has also approached assisted living homes and churches to help accumulate letters with great success.

“We sent out between 450 and 500 cards,” said Karen Carter, business service coordinator at Twelve Oaks Lodge assisted living home in La Crescenta.

“I didn’t count exactly. The residents sat here and wrote letters for two days straight. They loved it.”

Carter said they would have written more, but had run out of cards.

“If people want to donate cards to them,” Heck said, “They would really appreciate it.”

Those who would like to send cards to the troops for Christmas are invited to sign one or more and drop them off at the Valley Sun offices at 727 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada, by Dec. 13.

For any other inquiries, Heck can be contacted at krish25@aol.com.