Teresa Nightingale, left, stands next to Sandi Parquette, social service specialist II in front of one of the many patriotic decorated donation areas in the Tulsa-McLain County Office 72-B.

By Lauri Hanna, Associate Editor

Sandi Parquette, social services specialist II, wanted to do something to make a difference in her community. Parquette spoke with Jina Vietta, Adult Protective Services supervisor, whose son Toran Vietta, E-2, is set to deploy July 28 for Iraq. Jina Vietta suggested Parquette contact the organization Blue Star Mothers.

Parquette thought it was an excellent idea and rallied her co-workers to coordinate a donation effort in honor of the military and Independence Day. Parquette and other office staff decorated the office in red, white and blue, placed donation boxes around the office and created a wall of fame with photos of employees who serve or photos of relatives and friends who serve.

Throughout the month of June staff collected monetary donations and three large boxes filled with facial tissue, toothpaste, magazines, DVDs, wet wipes, lotion, antibacterial hand sanitizer, lip balm and sunscreen. The donations were presented to Teresa Nightingale, representative from the Oklahoma Chapter I of Blue Star Mothers of America, at a cookout celebration in July.

Parquette said she would like to see the event happen again next year and would like to see other county offices get involved.

“Regardless of how a person feels about our involvement overseas, those are our sons, daughters, neighbors and co-workers who need our support," Nightingale said.

Oklahoma Blue Star Mothers sends donations weekly to individual military members overseas. For more information about Oklahoma Blue Star Mothers visit http://www.okbluestarmothers.org/.