Shawnee Can Help Bring Christmas To OK Veterans Through Locally Started Project

By David Dinsmore

The We Care Christmas Baskets for Veterans began in August 2018 as part of a project by local high school student Emerson Newell to give back to those who served in the military.

Since then, the project has garnered support from businesses and organizations around the state in helping provide gifts to thousands of Oklahoma veterans during the high point of the holiday season.

The goal of the project hit home for the Arnetts, who were family friends with Emerson and her mom Jessie Newell who continue to coordinate the project.

“We wanted to get involved because a bunch of our family has been in the military,” Natalie Arnett said. “My dad was a veteran and a retired police offi cer from Shawnee. When he passed away, we started looking for an opportunity to do something to honor him every year.”

Participants in the project gather materials to place in bags and baskets that are given to veterans in a variety of living situations. Items included in the bags and baskets range from the practical to fun, such as a puzzle books, decks of cards, dominoes, calendars, fleece blanket, pajama pants, socks, white t-shirts, deodorant, shampoo, body wash, shaving cream, razors, toothbrush, toothpaste, mouth wash, lotion, lip balm and denture cleaner.

Natalie’s 11-year-old daughter, Sophie Arnett, took to the cause in earnest. The first year they got involved, the Arnetts helped put together 50 bags to deliver to veterans around the state at Christmastime. They increased that to more than 80 last year, and this holiday season they would like to put together 100 bags to add to We Care’s tally.

The Arnetts have learned putting together these packages takes some planning ahead. Natalie said they started on this year’s bags the day after Christmas last year when they found a sale on house shoes, which are items that are best purchased throughout the year due to availability and cost. They slowly stockpile the materials for their bags at the house to get ready for when they start filling them for delivery. They have even had some participation from South Rock Creek schools, where students added handwritten notes and ornaments to the bags distributed to veterans.

Though Sophie enjoys the process of putting together the gifts for the veterans, she said she has enjoyed even more the last couple of years when she has helped deliver them to residents at the VA facility in Norman. They came by during a Christmas

Sophie Arnett, 11, and her mom Natalie Arnett are trying to put together more than 100 Christmas gift bags to add to those they’ve given through the We Care Christmas Baskets for Veterans project to veterans across the state since 2018. Photos submitted

party thrown by the facility for the residents, and that added to the festive atmosphere the We Care participants were trying to help foster by giving gifts to the veterans there.

“I love just getting to talk to them and making them smile,” Sophie said. “They're just really brave. They've put their lives up for our country, and they're not afraid to fight for our freedom.”

Several veterans to whom Sophie delivered gift bags in 2018 remembered her the next year and made a point to greet her last year. They told her stories and asked about her life. Sophie said learning more about them has really helped drive home how important it is to let them know how much people like her and other We Care participants appreciate these veterans as people in addition to their service.

This year, however, concerns about COVID-19 will likely play a factor in getting these gifts to the veterans. The Arnetts are unsure they will get to visit with the veterans they have come to know over the last couple of years but still want to make sure they know they are in the hearts and minds of fellow Oklahomans.

The Arnetts have worked with local businesses and organizations to make bags available for anyone in the community who wants to get involved by helping fill them for delivery to veterans around the state. Bags and lists of items will be available for pick up beginning this month at Natalie Arnett State Farm at 700 E. Independence. Drop-off sites include Natalie Arnett State Farm; South Rock Creek School at 17800 S Rock Creek Road; DreamCatchers Dance Company at 650 E 45th St.; BHHS Benchmark Realty at 3601 N Harrison St. in Shawnee and 410 N Broadway St. in Tecumseh.

Those who want to fill bags but do not have the ability to drop them off can also make arrangements to have them picked up by contacting Natalie at (405) 273-4644 or (405) 830-0183. Locals can also donate specific items to complete partial bags as well.

Deadline for donated bags and items is Nov. 30.

“We're just so grateful for what they've done for us,” Sophie said. “This is the least we can do for them, because they've done so much.”

For more information about the We Care Christmas Baskets for Veterans project, visit facebook. com/aboutoklahomaveterans or call Jessie Newell at (405) 214-8633.