By Laura Mazur
Community Post
Minster youth Laura Timmerman has decided she is going to help support fighting U.S. troops by keeping them cool this summer.

As her Girl Scout Gold Award project, Timmerman decided to enlist the help of community members to send “hugs and kisses” to soldiers. Completing the project will earn Timmerman the Girl Scout Gold Award, which is the highest award a Girl Scout can achieve.
“I thought it was a way to get the area involved,” said the Minster High School junior.
Timmerman's project revolves around sewing fabric together filled with crystals that, when soaked in cold water, expand and keep a person cool. The fabric is sewn in two different designs, one as a longer piece to wrap around the neck�"the “hug”�"and one that is designed as a small satchel that is inserted into a helmet�"the “kiss.” These devices can be reused again and again after they dry, even.
Timmerman, who is the daughter of Pat and Diane, of Minster, found the idea at a quilt show before Thanksgiving and with Rita Farrell as her advisor for the project, she got started from there. Farrell was a member of an online group on Yahoo! that has sent this craft to troops for a number of years. She helped Timmerman get started by showing her the pattern. Timmerman then started by getting some fabric and asking for the assistance of her mother’s quilt club to get the project off the ground.
She also put out flyers in the area, news releases into local newspapers and in the St. Augustine church bulletin.
When it came down to people showing up to help with her workshop to make the pieces, however, a heavy snowfall had come down on the area and she wondered if she should postpone.
“I was afraid of the weather and debating if I should cancel,” she explained.
But a full house of helpers from the community showed up at the Minster American Legion Post to assist her in sewing duties.
“I'm grateful for the way it turned out. It shows everyone wants to help,” said Timmerman.
Needing to fulfill her requirement of hours for the project, Timmerman put in time not only assembling pieces herself but preparing pieces for others to continue the work at the workshop on the afternoon of March 9.
Timmerman said the most difficult part of completing the project thus far was, “Preparing for everyone and getting ready.”
Her goal is to send out 1,000 packets, each with a “hug” and a “kiss” to troops this summer through her project. She is currently asking residents in area communities for addresses of family members in the services who would benefit from these cooling devices.
A number of community members turned out to help, as well as support Timmerman's efforts for the troops.
Norma Mertz, of Minster, was one parent who helped. Her son, Tim, is currently stationed in Germany with the U.S. Air Force, which he has been a member of for 23 years.
Also supporting the afternoon's efforts were Tim and Mimi Burke, of Minster, who have a son, Chris, who will soon be on his way to Iraq in his first deployment with the Army National Guard.
“It shows their support getting anything from home. We take it for granted, but they appreciate anything,” said Tim Burke.
Tony and Sue Beckman, of Minster, also have a son in the U.S. Army. Brian Beckman has been in the service for five years and has been at his current station in Iraq since November.
The serviceman's mother commented on the Girl Scout project, “I think it's wonderful. Brian is truly surprised and impressed with things that are sent. He has received letters from people he hasn't seen in five years,” said Beckman. “Anything that supports the troops is good.”
Timmerman thanks the help of the American Legion, the American Legion Auxiliary, Knights of Columbus Youth Fund, the Mission Commission and all others who donated time and money to her project.