By Michelle Morain, The Mountain Shakespeare Festival

Hello! I want to invite each of you to join in a holiday project to cheer our troops. I’m calling it Heart to Heart: A Big Hello from Our Small Town.

What is it? This is a nonpolitical heart to heart hello to folks who are far from home and missing their loved ones.

Why do it? We live in a great community. I want to share the big-hearted generosity that so many folks in this town have with some men and women who need to know that someone cares and is thinking of them this holiday season.

How? I have a three-pronged attack in mind.

• First: video images from our town, for instance the Fantasy of Lights Holiday Faire and Parade (December 1), kids coloring cards, horses on a ranch, somebody tossing a Frisbee to a dog, preschoolers singing favorite songs, folks in a hardware store waving "hi" and yelling "thinking of ya!"
• Second: letters, photos and drawings from folks of all ages to let men and women currently serving in the Armed Forces know we’re thinking of them.
• Third: letters, photos and drawings from folks of all ages to let injured Veterans know that we’re thinking of them and rooting for them as they recover.

Who can help? Everyone! Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Boys & Girls Club kids, Churches, Mountain Community schools, students, musicians, artists, poets, actors and dancers, AARP, VFW, businesses and all members of the community. I welcome your help and ideas!

What is needed right away? I need help collecting video images that someone far away could see and feel like home was a little bit closer. I need help editing the videos. I need drawings, photos and letters.

If you’d like to be part of this effort, contact me at bighellofromsmalltown@ yahoo.com.

The Mountain Enterprise (3341 Los Padres Way, across the street from Ace Hardware in Frazier Park) has offered to be a collection point for letters, drawings, photos and videos. The Chatterpillar Toys, Gifts and Balloon is setting up a table where children can draw pictures or write messages. Join us!

Chatterpillar Toys, Gifts and Balloons is located at 3105 Mount Pinos Way. Store hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 245-2464.

This is part of the November 23, 2007 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

Have an opinion on this matter? We'd like to hear from you.