South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

St. Timothy pupils show their support for Marines serving on the front lines

St. Timothy pupils show their support for Marines serving on the front lines

When Capt. Christopher Purschke of the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, e-mailed his sister-in-law Julie Purschke, an eighth-grade teacher at St. Timothy School, about basic items that were hard to get in the desert, Purschke decided to get her pupils involved.

Purschke currently is stationed in South Korea, but many of his fellow Marines from Twentynine Palms, Calf., are on the front lines now in Iraq. They already have spent several months preparing in the desert of Kuwait, and basic supplies like lip balm, soap, batteries, and toothpaste often run low, according to a news release.

After the problem was presented to the eighth-grade pupils at St. Timothy School, they decided to take up the cause. Notes were sent to the teachers and parents, and pupils were asked to use their own money to purchase at least one item to show their support for the Marines’ sacrifice.

The eighth-grade decorated boxes for each classroom and spoke with other pupils about the project.

During Purschke’s classes, pupils kept up to date about the 7th Marines’ activities through local news articles.

As the project came to a close after a few weeks, the eighth-graders were able to pack 14 large and small boxes with a wide variety of items, including batteries, hand cream, lip balm, pens, notebooks, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes and toilet paper.

Besides the basic necessities, a few “luxury” items were included such as chips, candy, and cookies. This was all possible because of the generosity of the 200 pupils and staff members at St. Timothy School.

One kindergartner stood out above the rest. Anna Miller, with the help of her mom, asked her friends to bring items for the Marines instead of gifts for her birthday party, the release stated.

Her friends responded generously with a box overflowing with many of the items that were donated. She enclosed a personal note for the Marines thanking them and letting them know of her nightly prayers for them as they protect our country.

Pupils from all grades also wrote letters and made cards for the Marines with news from back home, good wishes of support, and prayers.

More to Discover

St. Timothy pupils show their support for Marines serving on the front lines

St. Timothy pupils show their support for Marines serving on the front lines

When Capt. Christopher Purschke of the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, e-mailed his sister-in-law Julie Purschke, an eighth-grade teacher at St. Timothy School, about basic items that were hard to get in the desert, Purschke decided to get her pupils involved.

Purschke currently is stationed in South Korea, but many of his fellow Marines from Twentynine Palms, Calf., are on the front lines now in Iraq. They already have spent several months preparing in the desert of Kuwait, and basic supplies like lip balm, soap, batteries, and toothpaste often run low, according to a news release.

After the problem was presented to the eighth-grade pupils at St. Timothy School, they decided to take up the cause. Notes were sent to the teachers and parents, and pupils were asked to use their own money to purchase at least one item to show their support for the Marines’ sacrifice.

The eighth-grade decorated boxes for each classroom and spoke with other pupils about the project.

During Purschke’s classes, pupils kept up to date about the 7th Marines’ activities through local news articles.

As the project came to a close after a few weeks, the eighth-graders were able to pack 14 large and small boxes with a wide variety of items, including batteries, hand cream, lip balm, pens, notebooks, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes and toilet paper.

Besides the basic necessities, a few “luxury” items were included such as chips, candy, and cookies. This was all possible because of the generosity of the 200 pupils and staff members at St. Timothy School.

One kindergartner stood out above the rest. Anna Miller, with the help of her mom, asked her friends to bring items for the Marines instead of gifts for her birthday party, the release stated.

Her friends responded generously with a box overflowing with many of the items that were donated. She enclosed a personal note for the Marines thanking them and letting them know of her nightly prayers for them as they protect our country.

Pupils from all grades also wrote letters and made cards for the Marines with news from back home, good wishes of support, and prayers.

More to Discover