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Subject: Mercury Hope and CANPAR IMPORTANT Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2003 13:21:15 -0400 To All: Please ensure this recieves widest distribution. As some people have been contacting CANPAR with incorrect information and asking them for information or clarification on Mercury Hope, I wish to clarify this matter with you all, and ask that you forward this on to your contacts as well. CANPAR is not involved with organizing anything for Mercury Hope, they have simply agreed to move items to Petawawa, at thier convienience. People that wish to send items through CANPAR, should have the boxes already packed and labled as indicated below, walk in to a local CANPAR office and drop the parcel off, thats it. CANPAR has only agreed to assist in transport (muchly appreciated) and we dont want to burden those that have contributed thier time and effort in assisting us with transport, with questions that should be directed elsewhere. Again, please re-iterate to all your contacts, that CANPAR is involved SOLELY with much appreciated transportation, and nothing further. The label for parcels, should be as follows; ATTN : MERCURY HOPE MCpl Storring, KMNB Hq and Sigs Camp Warehouse, OP ATHENA 3 BN RCR : REAR PARTY Bldg S-118 PO Box 9999 Stn Main Petawawa, ON K8H 2X3 Again, thank you all for your assistance, and I apoligize for any confusion and inconvienience this may have caused. Sincerely Russell Storring MCpl RD Storring KMNB CP Kabul, Afghanistan
Subject: Transport Info Date: Tue, 21 Oct 2003 02:26:52 -0400 Hello Everybody: This should be about it. I am enclosing info for shipment of items to Petawawa, and how they should be labeled. It is anticipated that by the end of the week CANPAR should (I stress should) be aware of Mercury Hope right accross Canada. If there are any problems the contact is Stephanie Taylor (hope you dont mind) in Edmonton, and you should be able to mention that Mr John Cyopeck CEO is aware of Mercury Hope at the Canpar office nearest you, to smooth things out. Again, if there are any problems I would go to Stephanie first, as she was the one to make the arrangements with CanPar. Weight restrictions per parcel should NOT exceed 75 lbs (should not be an issue). I am not certain there is an actual box size restriction, but they will be using Mercury Hope parcels to "Top Up" their shipments. The label is simply an address to ensure CanPar is aware of where the parcels go, and then where 3 RCR rear party is aware they should go. This should allow for a rather smooth transition parcels. I would request that you let anyone that is offering to help or send items, be made aware of this address and the information for getting items to Petawawa. Of course for anyone that is close, or inclined, you may simply show up at Base Petawawa, ask the front gate for directions to 3 RCR and simply drive the items there. (SEE BELOW ref Capt Halton) Please keep in mind that it should be during working hours, as only 3-4 pers are there for silent hours at the 3 RCR duty center. Also, for people so inclined, and who may not have a Canpar office near them, they can mail items to the address below. Dave : Could you please ensure this address is added to the website. I am not certain that the Canpar info should be posted, to prevent a mass hysteria of people dropping off items at every CanPar office accross Canada, and they then become swamped with Mercury Hope. Like Stephanie said, "we dont want to look a gift horse in the mouth" Also could you add Stephanie as the contact for Western Canada westcanmercuryhope@canoemail.com This will allow a directed effort from the Western part of Canada, for people out west to liase with. Thanks. We still need Jim Fowlers address on there as well, as a drop off point. This address is in regards to CanPar, and anyone that wishes to send directly to Petawawa. Mom : Can you check with Mr Fowler to see what may, or is required to move items currently in Kingston to Petawawa? Maybe we can look at organizing a run on a set date for areas around the Kingston / Tamworth area? Something to look at. Thanks. Dont forget about the 10th and 11th :o) Capt Halton : Could you please confirm that "dropping off" is acceptable? That way those people that wish to simply drop off items at Petawawa (there are many in Petawawa as well - 20 boxes in my house alone) can do so. If need be, I can do some face to face with 3 RCR when I arrive home on the 1st of Nov. Stephanie - Safeway may contact you, to help in direction for transport of items. I gave them your work address (sorry) but hopefully adding you to the website should alleviate this. I believe that is about it, or should cover everything that is outstanding. If I missed something, please forgive me, and let me know and I will answer any outstanding issues. Again, thanks all for your help. ATTN : MERCURY HOPE MCpl Storring, KMNB Hq and Sigs Camp Warehouse, OP ATHENA C/O 3 RCR CIMIC 3 BN RCR : REAR PARTY PO Box 9999 Stn Main Petawawa, ON K8H 2X3 MCpl RD Storring KMNB CP Kabul, Afghanistan "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing" - Edmond Burke
Subject: Transport Info Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2003 16:15:33 -0400 Hello Everyone: Im not sure yet how the Captain who called me today found out, but if someone gave him some info on Mercury Hope I truly appreciate it. Capt Halton from the CIMIC (Civilian Military Cooperation Det) in Toronto has agreed to help transport Mercury Hope items to Afghanistan. There are some things that we will have to change, but that is minor, and the end result is, it will be a steady supply. Here is the latest info. 1. CIMIC will be bringing over 20,000 lbs of supplies every other week, and of course there will be room for Mercury Hope items, thanks to Capt Halton. 2. To be brought over here, that means that supplies will have to be taken to Petawawa, where the 3 RCR Rear Party (and maybe HQ and Sigs) will inventory it, and prepare it for military shipping. I know this is a few hours from the Warehouse in Kingston, but Pet is closer than Toronto. 3. I know for people that live near a military base, shipping SHOULD be free through the military to Petawawa, but I will confirm for sure. Stephanie, if you can get something arranged for out west to Petawawa, or possibly to Trenton (will confirm if that is the departure point) that would be excellent. 4. For ease of the military pers doing the loading in Petawawa, and because military transport requires it, the boxes will have to be itemized. I know, I am sorry for this one, but if they are not, then they have to be opened by the military pers, and it will just get mixed in and sent to Camp Julian, not here at Warehouse. 5. For Mercury Hope items they will have to be marked as such: MERCURY HOPE MCpl R Storring, KMNB HQ and Sigs CAMP WAREHOUSE OP ATHENA C/O 3 RCR CIMIC 6. We will be working hand in hand with all the CIMIC teams here, as they are the experts on where things need to go, and who needs what and how fast. If they inform me of a shortage of certain things, or something else that is needed, I will get the word out asap. For now, I think that is about it. Again, thanks all of you for the excellent job so far. There is a light at the end of the tunnel Russ MCpl RD Storring KMNB CP Kabul, Afghanistan
Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2003 13:37:46 -0400 Hey Everyone: Hope all is well. We are doing okay here, everyone is kind of down, but you keep at it, and try to stay focused. Here is where we currently stand. 1. Ariana can pick up items in Frankfurt, but Air Canada seems to be having some difficulty right now finding room to move items from Toronto to Frankfurt. This is a BIG CONCERN of mine right now, as we are having lots of stuff arrive and I know there is quite a pile at home already!! I am starting to look at other options of moving supplies as well, such as shipping companies, and international moving companies. Of course I cant expect everyone to volunteer to move stuff for free (but would like to lol) so I may seek out a few select corporations to see if they may foot the bill. I have found out that to ship a 20ft seacan with approx 10,000 lbs of stuff from Toronto to Pakistan and then overland to Kabul would run around $5500 Cdn. This is not the route I want to go, but I will pretty much take what we can get. 2. I have contacted both Aeroflot and the Russian Ambassador to Canada, and laid it out to them, to see if they can chip in and help. 3. Cheryl Gallant MP - has replied once, and is bringing it up with her collegues. 4. Mr Rodney Semotiuk of Natural Resources Canada, has some pretty influential people that are on the board and the chair of the RMC Alumni. There are about 10000 of some of the most influential people in Canada that are on that alummni. I have some hi hopes for them. 5. I think its pretty obvious, the biggest concern right now is transport (yet again) Im not blaming Air Canada, as they are a business and obviously paid freight comes before free stuff (not my idea lol) Anyways, rather than sit and wait till they can move it, Im going to go ahead with any options that look feasable to get the supplies HERE where they are needed. I do understand that we may still have to wait and hold some stuff for a bit, but as long as I know a date (roughly) and a method, Im happy. So, for anyone that you may talk to, this is where we stand right now. Everyone in Canada and the US is doing an awesome job, and we are thrilled to see that so many people really care. Now we just have to get a few BIG companies to help out with getting it here. Dave, if you have any companies that want to help in that manner, although we are not a charity, they are more than welcome to help out with transport, and if they so choose, will have the public made fully aware of their generosity. Last point. One of the civi guys here, who just got accepted the the University of Colorado Head Coach position, happens to be one of the familys that are part owner of WalMart, and they are the company that brings the army people their Christmas parcels. He thinks they may be able to help out with the transport. More tommorow Thanks again. Russ MCpl RD Storring KMNB CP Kabul, Afghanistan
Subject: What to Donate and Pictures Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2003 05:51:55 -0400 Here is a basic list of what is needed: Clothes (infant to age 16) Shoes (all sizes) Jackets (infant to age 16) School supplies (paper / writing books / hand held chalk boards / general school wall hangings - charts etc) Toys - simply to bring a smile and a little bit of joy Bedding - blankets etc Socks, mittens (yes it is starting to get cold here) If the list changes, I will send further updates. I have included more pictures of the kids :
photo by C. Paquet
At 02:11 PM 9/28/2003 -0400, Russ wrote: Great News ! I spoke with the President of Ariana Airlines today, and they will be more than happy to assist with Mercury Hope. I have some final paperwork to do with AirCanada, and Ariana and some contact information, and we should be good to go ! On top of the regular Ariana flights, the Afghanistan Ministry of Transportation has 1 x weekly to 1 x bi-weekly flight from Frankfurt to Kabul of an Antonov (the worlds biggest plane) and there is always room for more items. Will send a final update shortly Thanks everyone for both your support, and your great assistance. Russ MCpl RD Storring KMNB CP Kabul, Afghanistan
*Mercury Hope* 26AUG03
first *Pics from Afghanistan* 13AUG03
READ Russell D. Storring's published CBC NEWS Articles !
*Mercury Hope*
Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2003 13:47:57 -0400
Hello Everyone:
I am asking you all as friends and family to help me with Mercury
Hope, and you are under no obligation to help, but it would definately be
appreciated. I have started Mercury Hope, simply so I can put my head down
at night and close my eyes. This is a place that needs a little bit of hope
and we are the ones that can give it. I am asking that those of you who
have some time, can you contact some transportation companies on behalf of
Mercury Hope, in an effort to secure non military transportation from Canada
(or USA - Dave and Devin) to Kabul, Afghanistan.
We are also looking for donations of clothes, toys and school
supplies, with my mother (Heather) heading up the drive in Tamworth, ON
(613-379-5399). Can you possibly bring this idea up at your workplace, and
see if there is some support your businesses can give. Tell your friends
and family, as every little bit helps.
I have contacted all of the companies that I am including their
emails, but with some pressure from friends and family may help as well. If
there are companies that you know of personally, then please feel free, with
the point of contact as my mother (Heather Atkins) at the Tamworth Legion.
Dave and Devin, can you please run this by the squad and see if any
one wants to help out? Im not sure if this is something the squad can do,
but individually some of the crew may be able to help. Can you please
forward this for me to the gang. Thanks guys.
Again, thanks to all of you for what you have done so far. I am
including some pictures of why I do what I do.
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