{image1}In less than a year, Bernie and Kathy Hintzke have reached more than 5,000 soldiers with their project, Operation: Take a Soldier to the Movies. A movie package is sent to each soldier in the military units in Iraq, Afghanistan and other war zones that have requested to take part in the program.
The New Berlin couple started the project last September. Their son Adam, 23, was stationed overseas in Iraq with the 1st Infantry Division, and his parents wanted to send a bit of America to him and the rest of the unit through "Saturday Night at the Movies."
The Hintzkes wanted their son's battalion to have a special Thanksgiving and thought that since many people in the States have a Thanksgiving meal and then catch a movie, the movie packages might be appreciated.
The soldiers work long, hard hours and have little recreation time so the movie concept allows the soldiers to kick back with their buddies for a few hours and unwind. The soldiers trade and share their movies, in what Bernie calls "the Iraqi version of Blockbuster."
"It was supposed to be just for our son's battalion of 630, but because of publicity, this thing has taken on a life of it's own," Bernie says. There are now project managers in Texas and Germany with another one interested in Minnesota.
When asked how long the operation will last, Bernie was adamant.
"We're going to keep the program going as long as there are other sons and daughters in the war zone area," he says. "We'll keep it organized as long as people want to support it. The biggest thing is that the soldiers know the people back in the States are supporting their effort."
Schools around the country get involved with Take a Soldier to the Movies as service projects and raise everything required to assemble the packages. But while school is out for summer, the requests are coming in faster than the supplies, leaving a number of units waiting for packages.
"We're having a hard time filling the orders," Bernie says. Donations of supplies and money to make and ship the packages are always welcome and needed. So far, the Hintzkes have spent over $9,000 on shipping alone.
If you want to donate a little bundle of entertainment, the patriotic movie packages include a message from Take a Soldier to the Movies and from the donor, a new or used DVD, microwave popcorn, movie theater-style candy (no chocolates), and artificially sweetened powdered drink mix packets (like Kool-Aid or Crystal Light).
The DVD is most central to the project and is usually most often needed, but letters, candy and drink mixes are also in high demand. If you don't want to get the supplies yourself, you can also donate $35, the cost of an average package.
To get involved or make a donation, go to soldiertomovies.org or call (414) 543-4010.
