Couple make sure they ‘leave no one behind’

Published 12:58 pm Monday, May 4, 2009

By By JESSICA SIEFF / Niles Daily Star
Semper Fidelis. It means 'always faithful' and it has been the motto of the United States Marine Corps since 1883. There is little doubt that members of the corps understand that faithfulness. On the battlefield, they never leave a man behind.
It's something Julie and her husband, Marine Sgt. Paul Williams know all too well.
But while she and her husband were stationed in San Diego, Calif., Julie said she noticed another group of soldiers that actually had been left behind.
"We lived in military housing," Williams said. In their community, she said she saw many women living day to day with husbands serving their country overseas.
So she began a program, something to help those who may have needed an extra hand while making it on their own.
"I called it 'Soldiers Left Behind'," she said. "The people at home have to soldier on."
Eventually, the Williams' were the ones doing the leaving. Paul was given orders to recruit and was stationed in Niles about a year ago.
It was a different atmosphere, Williams said, moving off military housing, where everything is, for the lack of a better term, uniform.
'Soldiers Left Behind' changed with the scenery and while Williams continued her mission to be a helping hand, she focused on so many area families and residents currently in need and struggling through recession and unemployment.
Through 'Soldiers Left Behind,' Williams actively seeks out donations of toys, clothes and other goods from area businesses and citizens. At the same time, she set out actively looking for those who need help – using tools such the online directory Craigslist.
Williams then takes those donations to the people who need them. "It's all been donations," she said.
Williams invites people to post what they need and/or what they have to give. "It was a huge eye opener," she said about discovering the needs of area residents and families. "I do make a lot of phone calls. I usually spend hours and hours on the computer."
In addition, Williams has started putting together "shop and swap" events. During the events, Williams sets up donations that have been collected and invites those in need to come along and pick up what they're looking for. No payment. No strings attached.
"If you need something, come on down," she said. The shop and swap events are growing, Williams said, and are starting to become a month to month occurrence.
For the next shop and swap, she said the Niles Inn has agreed to let Williams use their parking lot. The event is scheduled for Saturday, May 23 – and will move inside should they run into inclement weather.
With an eye on expanding her mission further, Williams said she is also in the process of developing a website where donators and those in need can be in direct contact with each other, to make helping out even easier.
It may mean more work for the military wife and mother, but that's something that does not deter her one bit. "I enjoy doing it," she said, adding that she's considering taking the next shop and swap event to hard hit Elkhart, Ind.
"The need for things has gotten bigger," Williams said. Back in San Diego, "most people didn't need anything," with the support of the military.
She said another group of people in need are the soldiers currently serving overseas – and Williams said that she puts together care packages for them as well.
"It's been worth it," she said. "It's really fun."
Currently, Williams said she has been helping more than 45 families and just over half a dozen single residents with over 100 that attended the last shop and swap event.
With so many in need, the shopping and swapping goes by fast. "It lasted maybe 25 minutes," she said. "But it was so nice." People were polite and gracious to each other, she remembered. "We had people crying and people thanking us and people saying ' are you sure we're not supposed to pay for this?'" The Niles Inn shop and swap will take place at 8 a.m. on May 23 in the parking lot (again, weather permitting. Williams said check inside if it's raining.). Tables will be arranged outside for easy access by shoppers.
In an effort to build their donations, Williams said Niles' schools are participating and classes are competing for a chance to win a pizza party at USA Skating in South Bend Ind., and there will be a raffle at the event as well. Tickets are free.
"My husband and I do this as kind of a thank you to whatever community we're in," Williams said. And one imagines, as a way of letting others know even in the toughest of times they haven't been left behind.
If you have donations for 'Soldiers Left Behind' contact Julie Williams at tsoldierslb@yahoo.com or look for her postings on Craigslist.