| Operation
Popcorn Kernel (OPK) is where citizens may purchase a popcorn item,
write a personal note, attach it to the popcorn and the Boy and
Cub Scouts take care of the rest. Customers may send
pre-popped caramel with peanuts to the service men and
women living in the barracks at Al Asad airbase and to those
Marines or
sailors working
on the front lines throughout western Iraq.
The reusable
tin is
especially
appreciated
because it has
proven effective at keeping the sand out of the contents!
·
OPK originated
when Jacob, John
and Joe
Koffel's dad was deployed to Iraq for his second combat tour in
September 2004. He was the Operations Officer with Marine Air
Group-16 (MAG-16) based at MCAS Miramar.
This is the
third year of OPK.
·
With the help
of Jacob's best friend, Sam Abbott, the boys began selling
popcorn as care packages for the US troops.
·
The
congregation of First Congregational Church in Ramona, CA helped
launch the effort when the boys sold more than 10 cases of
popcorn in about 40 minutes, each with a personal note attached!
·
Ultimately,
more than
2,000
individual cans and boxes of popcorn and notes
have been sent
over during Operation Popcorn Kernel, reaching more than 14
different Marine units serving in western Iraq.
·
When the
popcorn is received by Jeff, he approaches different units and
asks for former
scouts
to help
distribute the popcorn. Without fail, he has volunteers eager to
reconnect with the scouting program. I’m sure many like being
reminded of a time when camping was for fun, and not part of a
hazardous duty! Working with helicopter squadrons, he also
coordinates delivery of popcorn and messages to troops involved
in daily patrolling in the Iraqi community or on the front
lines.
·
Jeff returned
safely home from Operation Iraqi Freedom II in March of
2005,
and is now
currently
serving his third tour as the Commanding Officer of Marine Wing
Headquarters Squadron-3. He left in January 2006 and will return
in late February 2007.
·
Proceeds from
popcorn sales benefit the San Diego-Imperial Council of Boy
Scouts of America as well as the individual Cub and Boy Scouts
who use the funds for scouting related costs (camp fees,
equipment purchases, activities, etc).
·
Last fall, with
US troops still at work in Iraq, the boys, joined by their
youngest brother, Joe,
then
a first grader and brand new Tiger scout, decided to continue their
efforts to send personal messages with Boy Scout popcorn. Sam's
younger brother, Thomas, has also joined the operation. He is
now a second
year Webelos scout.
·
The boys have
learned volumes about public speaking, marketing, sales
strategies, math, accounting, inventory control, manners, and
time management.
·
They sell every
Thursday and Friday in front of the Ramona Stater Brother’s
Market for 2 hours. Additional sales presentations are made at
the Ramona Kiwanis, the VFW, the Rotary Club and other groups
interested in getting involved.
·
Purchases may
be made by the individual can or by the case, $108 buys a case
of 12 cans (download order form using appropriate link to the
left). Businesses are encouraged
to sponsor case(s) with notes from their employees or customers.
·
OPK orders not
only benefit the US Troops but also support Boy and Cub Scouting
programs throughout San Diego and Imperial counties.
·
The
Roger Hedgecock
Show has been hugely supportive of this project
from the very beginning, as has the
Ramona Stater
Brother’s Market, FOX news, the Ramona Sentinel, and the NC
Times.
We
appreciate the opportunity to connect caring citizens with
soldiers in Iraq. Since many are
serving their
second or third tour, it’s important that they know their
sacrifice, and their family’s sacrifice is recognized and
appreciated. The messages bring tears to the eyes, just because
they’re clearly heartfelt, and are simply wonderful
acknowledgements of the difficulties and hardships that our
troops must face.
We at OPK
recognize that "freedom is not free". We encourage all
visitors to our site to learn more about this important concept
by visiting another valuable resource in supporting our troops.
The site is
www.anysoldier.com.
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