Support our Troops

In April, 2010 a group of approximately 10 Reservists from the Lincoln and Welland Regiment deployed to Afghanistan for a tour of duty. We as a Regimental family felt especially close to these individuals as they were all close friends of ours and we supported their efforts overseas. Shortly after their arrival in Afghanistan the power of Facebook emerged. We could now get more communication to our boys. One of those troops sent home a list of items that he would like his girlfriend to send to him as they were hard to acquire. The list was posted on Facebook and I took up the Cause.

With the help of my Sparkwatch Dog Training students, their families, church groups, local schools, local dentist offices and concerned individuals, we began collecting personal items for our troops. These items included: local newspapers, waterproof bandaids, powdered drink mixes for water bottles, instant oatmeal, candy, gum, toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, baby wipes, powder, deodorant, small stuffed animals, colouring books, pencils, crayons, capped pens, paper. We had a very specific list to follow of items that could and could not be sent as well as how these items were packaged.

Over the course of their tour, our local soldiers received over 68 boxes all individually addressed to them! It was important to me and all involved that our soldiers knew we were thinking about and supporting them overseas. They couldn’t believe all the items!

Sparkwatch has a board on the wall dedicated to our troops and all the pictures they sent back to us of the children who received the toys and school supplies. I’m very proud to say we at Sparkwatch made a difference to these children and our troops overseas and we will continue to support them where ever they go.

This is Ch. Sparkwatch Pumper First Alert, CGN's son, Charlie, who is now a bomb detection dog. He's been in Afghanistan for 2 years and is now in Brazil doing his job.