Branson’s Country Tonite Cast Rallies Community, Patrons In Support Of Operation Shoebox Campaign

Cast of Country Tonite show in Branson, MO aims to continue supporting troops by joining forces with Operation Shoebox.
By: The Oak Ridge Boys Theatre
 
July 2, 2009 - PRLog -- Branson, MO.:  The cast of Branson’s popular Country Tonite show is joining hands and hearts with audience members, the broader community, schools and churches and Operation Shoebox, a grassroots national charity, to show support for American troops overseas and their families at home.
The effort brings together widespread interest in expressing care and making a tangible difference in the lives of U.S. military personnel stationed in the world’s most heated regions of armed conflict including Iraq and Afghanistan.  The show of care arrives in the form of small, easily packaged personal items not readily available to soldiers far from home.
Marty Wilhite, Country Tonite’s musical director, was among a group of approximately 30 performers and dignitaries airlifted into Kuwait and Iraq this past spring to entertain troops and bring them a taste of home.  “Words aren’t sufficient to express what it was like to witness the sacrifice being made by our brave men and women in uniform,” Wilhite said.  “We came home knowing there was more we needed to do to show our support and appreciation.”
To that end, Country Tonite and Operation Shoebox will be packaging items donated by audience members and the community and shipping them to military personnel stationed in war zones from the Persian Gulf and Iraq to Afghanistan.  Items requested include toiletries, packaged food and drink mixes, reading material, writing paper and envelopes, board games and playing cards, puzzle books, CDs and DVDs, and even such things as fly strips, plastic spoons and small American flags.  (A complete list may be found at www.operationshoebox.com.)  
In return for their contributions, audience members will receive discounts on admission to Country Tonight at the Oak Ridge Boys Theatre in Branson.  Country Tonite features a large cast in a live performance that celebrates the American spirit through country music.
“Our military personnel are so dedicated to what they’re doing over there,” Wilhite said.  “This project of sending them packages from home is the least we can do to say thank you.”  
Based in Florida, Operation Shoebox was founded by Mary Harper whose four sons, daughter and son-in-law were deployed to service in Iraq in 2003.  “At first I used to spend my time crying,” said Harper, reflecting on what it was like to have all of her children sent into combat at the same time.  “I needed a way to funnel my nervous energy.”  That’s when she learned soldiers were desperate for anything from home.  “Just small, personal items, especially since they have no Wal-Mart nearby!”  
Initially, donated goods such as toothbrushes and deodorant and tins of food were packed up into shoeboxes which were manageable for the military to deliver.  Then they found cloth bags with drawstrings and even plastic bags with the sliding closures worked better for what Harper calls her “care” packages.  Sometimes the packages are sent for individual troops who request them; sometimes huge bundles are shipped to whole companies and battalions.  “We’re into our seventh year of doing this,” Harper stated.  “And we’ll just keep doing it until all of these kids are back home!”
Harper sees the involvement of the Country Tonite cast as a huge boost in the broadening effort to keep the public aware of the service and devotion of American service personnel.  “We’re grateful and very excited to have Country Tonite and the Oak Ridge Boys Theatre teaming with us in this project,” she said.  
With donation drop off stations located around Branson, and the anticipated participation of area schools and churches, the Country Tonite team hopes to assemble 10,000 packages by the end of the year.  
Audience members will also be invited to purchase post cards that picture the Country Tonite cast visiting troops in Iraq.  The cards may be kept as souvenirs of the show or addressed with messages of encouragement and sent to men and women serving in the U.S. armed forces.  Proceeds from the sale of the post cards will go to help families of fallen soldiers.
End
Source:The Oak Ridge Boys Theatre
Email:***@marcwhitmore.com Email Verified
Zip:65616
Tags:Oak Ridge Boys Theatre, Operation Shoebox, Country Tonite, Branson Missouri
Industry:Entertainment, Non-profit
Location:Branson - Missouri - United States
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