SEQUIM — A drive to collect blank Valentine’s Day cards for soldiers serving overseas netted more than 4,000 cards, which have been shipped to Iraq and Afghanistan.
“I quit counting at about 3,800,” said Jeana Johnson-Clayton, who organized the card drive and has a son serving in Iraq.
Donations came from individuals, churches, schools, organizations and Phillip’s Hallmark in Sequim.
The cards were packed in 11 boxes and sent to five Army and Marine Corps units — four in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. People also donated money to defray shipping costs.
“So many people said, ‘Thank you,’ and how good it made them feel,” Johnson-Clayton said.
“For some time they have wanted to do something but didn’t know what they could do.”
The Valentine’s Day collection ended Jan. 10 to allow time for soldiers to receive the cards, fill them out and mail them back to loved ones.
Donations of other kinds of cards are welcome — Mother’s/Father’s Day, birthday or anniversary, for example, or even blank, all-occasion cards.
The cards can be dropped off or mailed to any Peninsula Daily News office.
The offices are located at 305 W. First St. in Port Angeles (98362); 510 W. Washington in Sequim (98382); and 1939 E. Sims Way in Port Townsend (98368).
Johnson-Clayton is the office manager in the PDN’s Sequim office. Her son, Chris Johnson, is with Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4 Seahawks, based in Cherry Point, N.C.
