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July 19, 2008

Reaching out and touching GIs

Woman, grandchild have raised $6,500 at stores for phone cards for soldiers in Iraq, Afghanistan.

JOE KORBA editintern@timesleader.com

Most people spend their Saturday shopping or heading to area parks to enjoy the summer weather.

But, almost every Saturday, Susan Brandt and her 14-year-old granddaughter, Kristen Cirilo, pack up their patriotic pins, pens and flashlights and hit the stores – not to shop but to set up shop.

As part of a program called “Change for Our Troops,” Brandt and Cirilo spend several hours every weekend collecting pocket change and selling patriotic items for $1 each to grocery store patrons. The money is used to buy phone cards for soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Since they started doing this in February, they’ve raised more than $6,500.

Brandt said her initial goal was to raise $2,500.

“But things began rolling and I kept getting more ideas and the money kept coming in,” she said. “I never thought it would turn out like this.”

The idea originated with Stephen Gardner, grand master of the Freemasons in Pennsylvania, who was moved when he heard about the demand for the phone cards among soldiers stationed overseas. The cards allow military men and women to call family and friends in the United States without worrying about running up a long-distance phone bill.

Brandt was the first person to take the program outside of the Freemasons to the general public. She learned of the program from her husband, William, a Freemason.

The statewide effort began in January and, as of June 30, has raised more than $87,000, which equals more than 1,500 phone cards.

Brandt and Cirilo usually visit one store each weekend and have placed collection cans in local stores and restaurants.

Their goal is to double the amount they’ve already raised by December.

Gardner says he is “blown away” by Brandt’s contributions.

According to the Pennsylvania Freemason’s Web site, phone cards with increments of 300 minutes are sent to the troops, the length of time it often takes soldiers in these remote locations to make calls home.

“We never expected to experience this level of success. Change for the Troops is a grassroots program with members of the Freemasons promoting it,” Gardner said. “I feel so fortunate to be part of this great country and want to help.”