Phone card drive for troops begins June 1

A drive to collect phone cards to be sent to U.S. service members in Iraq will begin June 1 and continue through Aug. 16, when the cards will be collected and packaged for delivery.

The phone card drive is part of the Safford Saturday Night Stampede, a rodeo dedicated to the men and women in uniform, said Renee Miles, rodeo coordinator.

On June 1, 55-gallon drums will be set up at local businesses to collect the cards.

“The military is just as supportive of this as we are of them,” Miles said.

She said the cards will go to troops deployed from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Fort Huachuca and Yuma Proving Ground.

The rodeo, set for Aug. 16 at the Graham County Fairgrounds, will provide a venue for family fun. In addition to showcasing local rodeo talent, the event will feature food booths and a display of military vehicles, Miles said.

The program book for the event will include names of rodeo sponsors and local Armed Forces members serving in the active duty military in Iraq or Afghanistan.

The competitions will be open. This means membership in a professional rodeo organization or association is not required to become a contestant.

“This is the only rodeo that takes you, your neighbor, your family (as contestants),” Miles said.

Each fan is encouraged to bring a telephone calling card that will collected at the gate. The cards will be distributed to members of the military serving in Iraq, who may use them to call their loved ones at home, Miles said.

Miles talked about why she wanted to honor the military by collecting phone cards for the troops.

“When I have a bad day, I call my mom and daddy for support and hear ‘I love you.’ These troops don’t have that privilege,” she said. “I just think, ‘Why not?’”

Miles said she is a stay-at-home mother who likes to put on the rodeo each year. She does not own a business nor does she belong to any organizations.

She is looking for volunteer help and sponsors for the rodeo. For more information, call Miles at (520) 253-2010 or (928) 322-9443.

Diane Saunders is a reporter for the Eastern Arizona Courier.