By:Nicole Falco
She's done it. As of last Tuesday afternoon, Cindy Nevader was only $70 short of her goal of raising $1,740 to purchase 174 phone cards - one for each soldier, including her son, in the 306th Military Police Battalion, based in Uniondale.
Nevader expects to meet and possibly exceed her goal, with the help of the Jackson Main Elementary School in Hempstead. A teacher there read about Nevader's cause in the Herald and decided to donate a portion of the money the school raised during its Penny Harvest to her effort. Jackson Main planned to present a check to Nevader this Thursday.
And Nevader said her idea is growing. Bowling Green Elementary School in East Meadow recently contacted her to ask how they could start a similar project.
Nevader's son, Army Spc. Joseph Macchia, 19, a South High School graduate, and his battalion are now stationed at Maguire Air Force Base in Fort Dix, N.J., awaiting deployment to Iraq. The battalion is expected to ship out before Christmas to begin an 18-month stint overseas.
With her son as an inspiration, Nevader decided to purchase phone cards for the men and women of the 306th so they could call home during the holidays. She called the project Operation Heart and Soul. Students at the William L. Buck School, which Macchia attended, cut out stars and hearts made of felt, which were sold for $5 and $1, respectively, by South's Key Club during members' lunch periods. Nevader, her family and friends also sold the hearts and stars around town. Donors wrote messages on them, and they were glued to a giant felt flag.
Nevader will present the flag and phone cards to her son's battalion this Friday, Dec. 17. One of Nevader's other sons, Nicholas Macchia, will read a poem he wrote in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, tragedy as the flag is unfolded. The 306th Military Battalion plans to take the homemade flag with them to Iraq, Nevader said. Each $10 phone card will allow the soldiers approximately 66 minutes of talking time, depending on where they're stationed and where they call.
"There has been a phenomenal response to this," Nevader said. "Everybody that's seen the completed flag says it's gorgeous, and I've been getting beautiful letters in the mail with the donations."
Besides her own efforts and those of family, friends and schools like South, Buck and Jackson Main, Nevader has received donations in the mail, and the Valley Stream Republican Club recently donated several hundred dollars to the cause.
"We in Valley Stream should be very proud of all the men and women who are sacrificing so that we can enjoy our freedom here at home," said John DeGrace, of the Republican Club. "I am particularly proud of Joe Macchia, a young South High School graduate who represents the very best of Valley Stream. We all join with his mom, Cindy, and his family in praying for his safe return and wishing him Godspeed."
Though she has nearly reached her goal, Nevader is still accepting donations, which she will turn over to the Woodmere post office. Checks can be made payable to Postmaster, Woodmere Post Office or U.S. Postal Service, and mailed to Nevader at 9 Liggett Road, Valley Stream, NY 11581. Donations can also be dropped off at any local post office. The U.S. Postal Service's Long Island District has been collecting money to buy phone cards for soldiers since last April. To date, Long Island post offices have raised $500,000 to purchase more than 55,000 phone cards for troops overseas, according to Carole M. O'Donnell, Woodmere postmaster. The Woodmere post office's phone number is (516) 374-3776; the Valley Stream post office number is (516) 825-8739.
In addition, Andrew Fatscher American Legion Post 854 hopes to donate phone cards it has already purchased for troops. Anyone with a family member or friend serving in the armed forces can contact Roger Colena, a Legionnaire, at (516) 837-9609 for information about obtaining a phone card.
Comments about this story? NFalco@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 208.-4000 ext. 208.
