Below is the text of an article from the Aug 16th Brantford Expositor
Hobby heaven
Local donors come through for soldiers in Afghanistan
Posted By SUSAN GAMBLE, EXPOSITOR STAFF
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Hobby supplies donated by Brantford and area citizens have reached the Kandahar Model Club in Afghanistan.
In a letter received this week, Capt. Bruce MacKinnon of Paris reported that model glue, paints, paintbrushes, sandpaper and other supplies, along with an infusion of cash, have been safely delivered to the Kandahar Model Club.
The club provides a pastime for its 270 members that's sorely needed in the war zone.
Although a large number of model kits had been donated to the soldiers, MacKinnon and his friends found that it was the small supplies needed to finish the models that were either impossible to find or ridiculously expensive to purchase.
A $2 bottle of paint in Brantford
costs about $15 to buy in Kandahar, if it can be found.
That's when one of MacKinnon's buddies, DJ, decided to try and rustle up a duffel bag of paintbrushes, glue and paint.
GET INVOLVED
The effort turned into a community-wide one with various area suppliers and stores donating boxes, the city, fire halls and police departments collecting donations and area military clubs urging patrons to get involved.
"I would like to thank the citizens of Brantford (and Hamilton) who have generously donated funds and supplies to our club," wrote MacKinnon in a letter this week. "You have given something wonderful to our soldiers that is well needed here in this volatile area of Afghanistan."
MacKinnon is an environmental assessment officer in Kandahar. He was home on leave in July and returned to Afghanistan with as many of the supplies as he could carry. Others were flown out through CFB Trenton.
SPECIAL THANKSMacKinnon sent out special thanks to the South Brant Legion, Naval Vets Club, the Army, Navy, Air Force Veterans Club, honorary Col. Donald Wilkins, 56th Field Regiment, Hamilton Police Services, Brantford Police Services, Brantford Fire Services, and members of the city and county councils.
"With all the support, you have helped me raise more than $2,500 in cash and supplies for the Canadian troops in Afghanistan."
Currently there are about 2,700 Canadian troops, representing almost five percent of NATO's 57,000 troops.
"Your support is very important to us all."
DJ continues to collect similar items. He hopes to make a further donation of supplies to the troops at Christmas.
He will ensure donations are picked up if anyone gets in touch: http://djwbee.blogspot.com
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