Newport neighbors back up Marines

Jeff Benson

Two next-door neighbors are trying to make the holidays a little

better for U.S. Marines stationed in Camp Pendleton.

Through “Operation Gratitude,” Newport Beach resident Joy Wynkoop

and neighbor Laura Dietz are collecting nonperishable food items,

toys, baby formula and diapers through Dec. 16 to help support Camp

Pendleton’s 36,000 troops and their 18,000 dependents over the

holidays.

Wynkoop is working with the Military Outreach organization, a

ministry that raises money to help get the troops and their families

through tough times. Chaplains based at Camp Pendleton fill the

organization in on what their immediate needs are.

Wynkoop and Dietz hope to persuade more Orange County cities to

sponsor other battalions, she said.

“We’ll do anything to help them,” Wynkoop said. “It breaks my

heart to see so many men deployed, while their wives are at home and

trying to do everything. It’s not easy. Some of these battalions have

single dads trying to do everything by themselves.”

They’ll even cater to people who can’t make the drop-offs

themselves before they present the items to the troops Dec. 19 at

Camp Pendleton.

“In addition to the toy and food drive, there are individual

people we just try to help,” Wynkoop said. “I just try to help the

needs as they come along. One mother is going to deliver a baby in

February, so we’re trying to do a baby shower for her and get her

some items she might need.”

The Daily Pilot is also pledging its participation in the Camp

Pendleton toy drive by collecting unwrapped toys, nonperishable food

items, baby formula and diapers. Donors can drop these items off

through Dec. 16 at the newspaper’s satellite office at 299-B East

17th St., Costa Mesa. Those providing donations will receive a

certificate good for a free classified ad, limited to one per

household.

Wynkoop and Dietz will begin talks about the project next week

with Councilman Steve Bromberg, a former Marine who adopted a

battalion on behalf of the city last December.

Over the course of a year, the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines Adoption

Committee -- comprised of City Manager Homer Bludau, a U.S. Air Force

veteran, and eight U.S. Marine Corps veterans who reside in Newport

Beach -- has raised $50,000 that it will use for food and supplies

for the Marines, Bromberg said.

“Joy contacted me and indicated she’d like to get a similar

program started for the [1st Battalion, 4th Marines],” Bromberg said.

“I’m thrilled they are getting involved in this. They’re both very

good people. Their goals are very noble and any way I can help them,

I will.

Wynkoop and Dietz will collect toys and food that people can

donate to the troops’ families from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the

corner of Goldenrod Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway in Newport

Beach. They will also sell toys at the site for people who would like

to donate them, Wynkoop said.

The Armed Services YMCA is accepting monetary donations at Box

555028, Building 16144, Camp Pendleton, CA 92055. Money will also be

earmarked for the Marine Fund through The City of Newport Beach, 3300

Newport Blvd., Newport Beach, CA 92658.