SPRINGFIELD - It may seem a little early to be thinking about Christmas, but across the country, Operation Santa is gathering up gifts for soldiers in Iraq.
This is the third year Mary Lou Webb is doing Operation Santa in Springfield, and for her, supporting Marines hits close to home.
Mary Lou Webb's son, Greg, served two tours in Iraq.
During his second, Greg was away from home for the first time on Christmas.
"We were over there so are families could celebrate Christmas. We knew the sacrifice we were making when we signed that paper," Webb’s son Greg Sullins said.
Webb wanted to make sure not only her son, but other Marines in Iraq felt support from home during the holidays.
"These guys are over there risking their lives everyday for our freedoms here, and if that's not enough reason, I don't know what is," Webb said.
She started getting together letters and gifts to send overseas.
Through donations, Webb got things from chapstick, to magazines, to stockings, and Christmas boxer shorts.
"Anything to make them smile, to give them fun for a few minutes away from what they are doing over there," Webb said.
She said the time and money she spends to do this is worth it.
"When you have a child in harm's way, or anybody in the military in harm's way, and you know the sacrifices they're making, what I'm doing is nothing compared to what they've experienced," Webb said.
So whether it is letters or packages…
"Letter, lots of letters. It was good getting packages, but the letters made it even better- handwritten," Sullins said. "It's more than appreciated."
Webb plans to continue.
"I'll keep doing it as long as there are Marines in Iraq. I'll keep doing it as long as people keep giving,” Webb said.
This year Operation Santa in Springfield will be sending packages to about 400 Marines in Iraq.
Webb plans to send these packages out mid-November, so the Marines will get them by Christmas.
Webb is trying to get all donations collected by the end of the month.
To donate, you can call Mary Lou Webb at (417) 860-8997.