USS Theodore Roosevelt

Enjoying the fruit of your labor

These pictures were taken on board our aircraft carrier THE USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT in the Arabian Gulf. The first picture shows Petty Officer First Class Timothy McConnell standing. Tim's in-laws live in Hendersonville, Henderson County, North Carolina where Chapter 7 is based.
The happy faces can be attributed to several chapters of OPERATION TOASTY TOES collectively mailing many boxes of slippers, headbands and watch caps. These chapters were: Chapter 1, Irene Silliman OH, TOASTY TOES founder, Chapter 6, Sue Reichert MN, Chapter 7, Patricia-Lee Pirog NC, Chapter 8, Kathy Nikula WA, Chapter 9, Patti Donlin IA and Chapter 11, Arlene Smith MI.
Tim informed us they received 2,500 pairs of slippers. At the same time Chapter 7 sent many boxes to Major Taylor and Captain Boeke in Afghanistan and to Captain Russell Hunt and Lt. Melissa Hull at Camp Bucca in Iraq.
Many sailors specifically requested the hand knitted black watch caps. An SOS was put forth by e-mail and through the media. The volunteers responded tremendously, allowing us to mail boxes of watch caps.
Sailor Tim McConnell with his family is coming to meet the Monday morning work committee of Chapter 7 on April 27th. We look forward to these visits. Meeting the service members is the best thanks we can ever receive. We thank Tim so much for the pictures and staying in touch with us during their deployment.

UPDATE:

March 11, 2006
To the Volunteers and Supporters of TOASTY TOES:
Today I want to share with you sections of e-mails sent by Petty Officer Tim McConnell on board the aircraft carrier The USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT. Tim is an Aviation Electronics Technician Petty Officer First Class.
Tim has been our distribution sailor aboard the carrier for these chapters of OPERATION TOASTY TOES #'s 1 in Ohio, # 6 in Minnesota, # 7 in North Carolina, # 8 in Washington (state), # 9 in Iowa and # 11 in Michigan as we mailed box after box to the carrier.
Tim wrote a few times that it was like Christmas morning every time they received a box. He loved playing the part of Santa Claus.
Below is a sample of how much these simple slippers etc as Irene tends to call them, mean to our troops serving miles away from home. You can note in the first paragraph that Tim himself had no idea just how much these hand made items would mean. Tim didn't receive his slippers with that first delivery. Further on please note that our new ships due to state of the art equipment maintain an extremely cool temperature.

10-22-05
Dear Patricia and Leslie,
Greetings from the USS Theodore Roosevelt CVN 71, stationed in the Persian Gulf for the next several months. When my wife sent me an email telling me to expect "Toasty Toes", which my mother-in-law, Barbara Hora, submitted us for. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I had a feeling it was big. Well, a large box of Toasty Toes arrived today and were an absolute hit with my shipmates. The box was empty within 90 minutes of opening, and it went so fast, I didn't even get any for myself!
I just opened the box and got out of the way! I explained the program to everyone best as I could and distributed copies of your info to anyone who wanted to know about the program, and pointed out the attached name tags so they would take the time to write and thank the ladies who took the time to do such a wonderful thing for sailors, soldiers, and airmen out here and around the world.
It was especially a bit hit here in my division, for our work centers are cold for the most part year round, having to keep the temps in the 50's to cool our automated test equipment. We work on all the electronics in the aircraft.
I'm sure if you have any more coming our way, We won't have any problem getting them out to the crew. We have hundreds of sailors in my department and over 5,000 ship-wide. Again, thanks for the wonderful gift!
Best Wishes, AT1(AW) Timothy McConnell

1-20-05
Patricia,
Thanks for all that you and the ladies of Toasty Toes have done for us during this deployment. You have certainly made this deployment a little more enjoyable for thousands of us, literally. The slippers and other items are really being put to use now with the berthing being a little cold on the uncomfortable side now and even the shower are just warm at best with goose bumps the order of the day when we step out from under the water. Of course we live in the lap of luxury still compared to our brothers in Iraq, so I'm certainly not complaining that much.
God bless all of you!
Tim

To Arlene: Chapter 11 in Michigan Nov. 2005
We just received your box of toasty toes from Michigan along with another box from chapter 8 in Washington State. If you know who they are, please forward this to them as well, for they didn't enclose a letter but there are name tags on each item. Thanks so much for thinking of us out here on the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the Persian Gulf.
My mother-in-law initially submitted us to the Hendersonville, NC chapter which sent us a box of mostly head gear that we received a couple weeks ago. It was all gone in mere minutes before I even thought to take pictures, so it was difficult trying to round up just three or four recipients later on to take pictures. THIS TIME I planned ahead and had someone taking pictures as we were giving them out, catching people in that "Christmas Morning" glow, just like little kids opening their gifts.
Tim

1-26-06
Patricia and Kathy,
I received the two boxes of slippers (Kathy) and box "B" with the watch caps (Patricia) and its Christmas morning again. The caps were gone in 5 minutes, though I did make sure those that asked me for them got theirs first. The slippers are going quickly too. I'll write more later. I just wanted to get word to you that they are here.
Tim (Tim had sent a note asking if we could make & send more black knit watch caps)

2-10-06
Oh yes, we did get the Valentine candy. I put it all in a tin in the shop with the card and it was gone in just hours!
Thank you! Tim

Please understand that to the volunteers of this program, these heartfelt notes of thanks are what we are all about. It was our privilege and honor to send the yarn comfort items to these service members who serve willing to defend our country, our way of life. Tim has sent pictures and descriptions of crew members. The pictures of crew members opening boxes and seeing all the yarn comfort items made with our love and appreciation were a joy to behold.
We enjoyed the last group of pictures as the ROOSEVELT traveled through the Suez Canal, past Palma Majorca in the Mediterranean Sea then on to past The Rock of Gibralter as the ship left the Mediterranean Sea entering into the Atlantic Ocean. These are locations that many Americans will never see.
We are looking forward to meeting Tim McConnell on April 27 and to make sure he knows that we here in western NC send a "HUGE THANK YOU for YOUR SERVICE, JOB WELL DONE." He can take back to Norfolk, VA all the warmth and love we have for our service members.
Patricia
Mrs. Patricia-Lee Pirog OPERATION TOASTY TOES, Chapter 7 Chairlady and
Leslie, Ms. Leslie Skowronek OPERATION TOASTY TOES, Chapter 7 co-Chairlady

 

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Our aircraft carrier The USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT passing through the Suez Canal, March 2006.	This was after serving our country for six month deployment in the Persian Gulf
Off the coast of Palma Majorca in the Mediterranean Sea	Going into the Atlantic Ocean from the Mediterranean Sea with the Rock of Gibraltar in the back ground The ship is due into home port Norfolk, VA soon.

Petty Officer Tim McConnell will be
visiting OPERATION TOASTY
TOES, Chapter 7 on April 27 at the
home of chairlady Patricia Pirog
105 Campbell Dr.
Flat Rock, NC 28731

Chapter 7 - Henderson County, NC

www.operationtoastytoes.org