Background Information
HISTORY
Because of snipers, land mines and terrorist activity — there is little for our troops to do in Iraq and Afghanistan. When not on duty, they can't even play baseball.
In late May, Supply Sergeant Darrel Bruner approached Rev. Scott Dryden of First Church of God in Augusta, Kansas and asked: “I need to take some paperbacks and DVDs back to Baghdad. Can you help us as we can’t buy anything over there?”
Rev. Dryden contacted his Associate Pastor Dan Watkins (who has contacts in Southern California).
Once Associate Pastor Watkins made his call to California, the wheels were put in motion which ultimately resulted in Operation DVD
A number of issues then had to be addressed:
COLLECTION BOXES
Specially designed “Collection Boxes” for donated new and used DVDs will be located across the nation at large chains, retail stores, churches and car dealers.
The “Collection Boxes” are 26” high and “vinyl-wrapped” on the four vertical sides with a description of Operation DVD and logos of major sponsors.
Each “Collection Boxes” is designed in such a way that DVDs can be inserted — but not removed. Each box will hold over 250 donated DVDs for our troops.
"Collection Boxes" are transported to sorting centers where "Children Titles" will be separated to be sent to the families (stateside) of soldiers serving overseas.
SORTING LOCATIONS
Objectionable films are discarded. “Soldier Titles” go overseas and “Children Titles” are sent to the Family Readiness Group(s) for distribution to the children of families of troops currently serving.
All DVDs of a sensitive nature which portrays the killing of Muslims are removed.
SHIPMENT OF DVDS OVERSEAS
We currently have many methods of getting the DVDs to the bases and Troops.
WEBSITE DESIGN
We are quite proud of our website design.
ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS
A number of Faith-Based organizations had become aware of the program and started collecting DVDs on their own (so we posted a mailbox on the website).
Postal employees learned of the program and though “word of mouth” and DVDs started being mailed to us.
We learned through the USO why DVDs are their MOST requested item. If you are a soldier in Japan, you can buy DVDs — but they are in Japanese and even though they may have English subtitles — they will only play on a Japanese DVD player.
It seems there are at least six different DVD player systems worldwide. This is due to piracy and counterfeiting. A Japanese DVD player will not play an American DVD. You need American DVD players to play American DVDs.
Many DVD players have been donated and shipped to the Troops.
NEW ELEMENTS
PSAs (Public Service Announcements) have been produced and are now playing on television stations nationwide.
|
