Dear Scott and Sam - I listen to you guys every morning and have spoken to you on many occasions. I am a teacher at Skyline elementary in Lake Stevens.

Last school year, our PE teacher, Brad Hodge, was put on notice that his national guard unit may be called up to serve (the 81st from Fort Lewis). As you know - they were sent to Iraq earlier this year. Before he left, the Skyline staff was able to pool their own money to buy him a laptop computer so he and his comrades could keep in touch with home. Now Brad has been assigned to help rebuild a school in Iraq. He sent us a list of supplies that the children needed and our students collected on his behalf. Despite the fact that Skyline serves one of the lower economic areas of Lake Stevens (and yes, there are some), are faithful students and families collected enough supplies to fill 51 backpacks and also sent numerous extras including 48 pairs of shoes (most brand new). Our hope is that we will be able to send these items directly to Brad to he can distribute them directly to the children. But shipping is going to cost around $700. Our faculty, students, and parents are literally spent. We have worked so hard to support Brad and the work that he is doing there, but now we may not be able to get the supplies to him.

So my question is . . . with all of your contacts and resources, do you two have ANY ideas as to what businesses may be willing to defray the shipping costs? Or any other ideas on how we can get the supplies to Brad??

Thank you in advance for your help! :-)
Have a blessed day.

your friend in Christ
~ Jenny

Hello,
My name is Kathy Sierakowska and I am a 5th grade teacher here at Skyline Elementary. I am one of the teachers who has been highly involved in the efforts to get the supplies to our PE teacher, Brad.

I wanted to let you know the generosity and kindness of your listeners, and you as well, have touched my heart. This morning there were several of us sitting and listening, (so much for planning for the day!). We were amazed at the number of people willing to help us to make a difference! There were tears, hugs, more tears and more hugs!

Brad emails on a regular basis.. here is an excerpt from the last letter he sent to our students. This shows you the heart that he has and how much he cares.

"I just wanted to write a short letter to say thank you for all that you have done. I want to be sure that you all get this before you go home for the summer. I would like everyone to know how proud I am of all of you fifth graders. I have known most of you for 6 years now and I am thankful for that. I am proud of all you have achieved and all that you will achieve in the future. You will all hold a special place in my heart. I want you all to know that I think of you everyday. I miss being at school with you, watching you grow up, laughing with you and being around you. Class, you have done so much for me that I can never say thank you enough. I hope everyone understands what a huge difference you have made in my life and also to the children over here. I cannot wait to see their faces when we pass out the school supplies. I hope you never forget the kindness you have shown to myself and to the children in this area who have so little. You are very special people. I am proud to say that I have gotten to know you."

The kindness of you and your listeners will make an incredible difference in his life as well as the lives of the children in Iraq. Through this not only are we able to send the supplies we have gathered thus far, but will be able to send more next school year!

Again, thank you for all you have done. You will remain in my heart, the hearts of my students, Brad's heart and the hearts of the children in Iraq.

Several students here at our school have written thank you notes to you. They should be in the mail this afternoon.

I have also attached a current photograph of Brad so that you may put a face to the person we all care so much for! I hope that the pictures are not offensive, he is on duty with weapons in two of them, and with the statue of Sadam in another.