Operation Toasty Toes regional coordinator Patty Donlin delivered her largest shipments of handknitted slippers ever. All 12 boxes will be going on the servicemen and women aboard on the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan. Here she received assistance from the Le Mars Post Office's Henry Beitelspacher. (Sentinel photo by Earl Horlyk) [Click to enlarge]

With temps blasting past 90 degrees, it's hard to be thinking about crocheted slippers and ear muffs.

But that's exactly what Patty Donlin was doing Friday morning.

Donlin, the regional coordinator for Operation Toasty Toes, was getting ready to deliver her chapter's largest shipment of knitted goods ever.

"We are sending 610 pairs of slippers and 150 ear warmers to our servicemen and women on board the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan today," she explains as she lugged the last of the 12 boxes containing her homemade handiwork.

What is Operation Toasty Toes?

According to Donlin, it's a grassroots way for people to assist in America's fight against terrorism.

"Besides warming the feet of our service people, we are also sending them a message of support," she explains. "They know that a complete stranger would take the time to make a pair of slippers for them."

"They know that someone is out there thinking of them," Donlin smiles.

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She takes a letter out of her purse.

It is from Master Sergeant James Hazelip who is in charge of fire and emergency services in Kirkuk in Northern Iraq.

"Dear Ms. Donlin," Hazelip writes, "your golden fingers have put my feet into something other than tennis shoes or combat boots. We received this huge box of Toasty Toes and I tell you, it came at the right time. It's been raining here in our little part of Iraq and these have made it nicer for all of us to get out of the 'military' and go home for a little while."

"When you get responses like that," Donlin says softly, "you know you're making an impact on someone's life."

In fact, many people who haven't knitted or crocheted in years are suddenly digging out their needles and hooks, she contends.

"This is an all-volunteer effort," Donlin explains. "From the knitters who make the slippers to the businesses and individuals who supply the yarn, we couldn't have done it without their generosity."

Donlin, who represents Operation Toasty Toes in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Kansas, Illinois, and a portion of Minnesota, says the project has been a huge success.

The organization, she explains, was founded by a 78-year-old grandmother from Ohio who wanted to knit her famous "bootie" slippers for her grandson and a couple of his buddies.

"We're too old to get out there and fight ourselves," Operation Toasty Toes founder Irene Sillimann said, "but we can make a difference another way. We'll fight but with our knitting needles."

"This is how crafters can leave their mark and make a difference," she continued.

"People tend to forget how cold winters can be in Afghanistan and in Iraq," Donlin offers. "It's even colder when you're thousands of miles away from your loved ones."

"We wanted to send our service people a warm little reminder of home," she says, "when they can't be home."