A ‘Hummer of an event’ collects donations for the Because We Care project
A ‘Hummer of an event’ collects donations for the Because We Care project
By: Carin Enovijas, Tehachapi News Editor
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Posted by editor Tue Nov 30, 1999 00:00:00 PST
Viewed 389 times
0 responses 0 comments Tehachapi residents, Karen and Larry Campbell have managed to take the “Because We Care” project, collecting “greetings and goodies” for the troops in Iraq, to another level.
On Monday, June 4, the Campbells were invited to a “stuff a hummer for the troops” event, held at Three Way Chevrolet in Bakersfield. The event was co-sponsored with 1410 Kern News Talk Radio.
“It was a tremendously overwhelming success,” said Karen Campbell, adding, “with the help of their listeners they not only stuffed one Hummer, they stuffed four!”
The 12-hour event's success quickly became apparent, when by 1 p.m. the first Hummer was full. The Campbells and friends filled their personal vehicles to overflowing making several trips up the hill, and by the end of the day they were thinking they'd have to come back for yet another load.
Campbell was surprised when a Three Way employee overheard her jokingly say, “It's a shame we can't take the Hummer home.”
“Before I finished my thought he called his boss and asked him,” she said.
“Let her take it,” was the response that surprised Campbell. “Bring it back on empty and dirty,” was the part that nearly floored her.
“I, Karen Campbell, actually got to drive a brand new 2007 beautiful, blue Hummer all the way home and keep it overnight,” she gushed.
According to Campbell, any goodies that might be difficult to ship to the troops will be sold at the “Taste of Tehachapi” first annual food and wine tasting on the 4th of July. The first ever street party event will feature a “Because We Care” fundraising booth to help pay for the postage for all of the donated goods.
The donated items filled two rooms of the Campbell's Tehachapi home. Campbell estimated it will take at least $3,500 to mail all the donations from the Three Way Chevrolet - Kern Talk Radio event.
“Please come out and show your troops that we not only can stuff a Hummer in Kern County, but we can also get it shipped to them in a timely manner,” said Campbell. “We need your help with postage. Please come out and help us raise the money we need to mail all of this love and support to our brave heroes”
Campbell expressed her gratitude to the many people who both sponsored and donated at the event.
“We can never show our troops enough love and support, but we sure can try to,” she said.
Update: Army Spc. Padraic Campbell
At 6 a.m. on Friday, April 13, Karen Campbell was notified by Army personnel that her 22-year-old son, Army Spc. Padraic Campbell, an airborne medic serving in Iraq, had been listed as “SI” or seriously injured by a Vehicle Bound Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED).
“I’ve worried every night I would get a call like that,” Cambpell said. “When you get a call [from Army personnel] it’s usually not good.”
Campbell can’t say a whole lot about the circumstances of her son’s injury but she did offer the following, as well as her gratitude for the community’s support of her son and his fellow soldiers serving in Iraq.
A mother’s message
One of our own: A soldiering son’s recovery
Padriac is improving with each day. He has a long recovery ahead of him but his spirits are high and he continues to improve. He is looking forward to meeting Larry and I and our daughters Kaylee and Lauran in Santa Rosa within the next month, while he recovers.
Padriac and his family were going to come to Tehachapi for a visit and a family trip to Disneyland. Those plans changed due to the cost of gas and the time it will take for Padriac and his family to drive down from Washington state. If you see Larry and I around town, please feel free to ask us how he is doing. We are happy to tell the world that he will recover, but it will take some time.
— Karen Campbell, Because We Care
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