Project Rudolph HQ

05/07/2024

Many of you know, or have worked directly with Ray & Cheri Archibald, our Project Rudolph USA Directors. For 13 years, they helped collect donations and assembled Project Rudolph bags from their home in Oakley Idaho. On Friday, May 3, 2024 they were both hospitalized with pneumonia and admitted into the ICU. On Sunday, May 5, Ray was flown to a hospital in Pocatello, Idaho due to complications with pneumonia. He is on a ventilator currently while his wife, Cheri, is still at the hospital in Burley Idaho.

This amazing couple has given so much to their community, our military community and veterans, and right now they need our help.

We are doing an online fundraiser of sorts to help cover some of the costs some of the costs insurance will not be covering and we are asking for help. If you feel inclined, please make a donation or even leave a supportive word and we will make sure it gets back to Ray and Cheri.

Thank you so much - Tawny Archibald Campbell, founder, Project Rudolph

06/27/2019

Ray and Cheri Archibald, Oakley, have been chosen as Grand Marshalls for “America on Parade,” a community patriotic program, sponsored by the Burley Lions Club. The program, centered around a

12/29/2018

“Good Greetings All,

I am the Maintenance Technician in G CO 2-14 10TH MTN DIV Fort Drum, NY. We received so many gift bags and letters from Project Rudolph. I know there was no way you could have been there but I wish you could've seen the faces of all the Soldiers. It was a bright and enlightened moment in their day. The Soldiers are surprised to see all the support we receive from our country. This is my fourth time deploying and it seems to get richer in support from all over America. Through reading some of the letters, I am amazed at the level of understanding that some of these kids have on the world that is going on around them. I know it is a direct reflection of the parents and environment that they are raised in. We greatly appreciate all of the hard work that you put into giving to the Soldiers out here. There is nothing that we need more than your support and we can truly do what we do to the best of our ability because of the support that we receive from the rear. It brings me to tears that some of the volunteers sacrifice so much for us and we are strangers tied together by our patriotism for our country. I feel so blessed and special to have been recognized by Project Rudolph. We wish you nothing but blessings in life and a very Happy New Years. Thank you for everything it means so much to us over here.

V/R,

WO1 Emily
KAF, Afghanistan”

12/26/2018

Service before Santa.

In our family we find a way to get out and serve others before we open Christmas presents. This often means Christmas presents aren’t opened until 4-6 pm Christmas night. As the girls have gotten older, I expected them to argue more and try to find service opportunities that took less time, so they could get back to the “receiving” part of Christmas, but every year, they ask what will our service project be. They don’t complain that gifts are delayed, but instead talk about how neat it is to give and serve on Christmas Day. This year we gave out 200 glass angel ornaments and 100+ homemade treat bags to first responders at Ft. Bragg NC and staff working at the post hospital.

No matter where you are, remember the reason for the season, and take time to serve and to give. The rewards are priceless. - Joseph & Tawny Archibald Campbell

12/25/2018

“Just wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas and say thank you for the
great Christmas bags!! One of our soldiers received some care packages from
you and was passing them out today (Christmas Day) to the soldiers at work.
The smiles were contagious.

Again, thank you for your support!”

6-101st, 101st CAB
TF Shadow

12/01/2018

FLASHBACK!!!

Members of the Kaiserslautern Military Community in Germany gather together to spread some holiday cheer this winter. Also available in high definition.

11/17/2018

Hi All, this is Tawny. I'm the crazy military spouse who started all of this, and put in all the strict requirements that make you spend hours and hours with cramps in your hands from writing so many letters. Each year as we start to doubt, if the Lord will bless us just once more, so we can reach just one more lonely service member. I say "as we start to doubt" because every year we run short of money, letters, and help.

With this being our final year with Project Rudolph, it is very hard on all of us with the Project Rudolph team. Not just myself and my family, but also Ray and Cheri Archibald and some of our amazing volunteers who have been with us since our very early years.

Project Rudolph moved to a permanent home in Southern Idaho back in 2014, and since then it has been Southern Idaho that has carried the most weight of this labor of love. It would seem fitting that is would be someone from Southern Idaho that now has be shaking in tears, gasping for breath, as I watch his story (shared by a volunteer). His story is the reason we are so strict that each letter must be hand written and signed. His story is the reason that we struggle to hand off this charity to anyone else, because we worry it will become less than it was created to be.

So now, I share with you the story that ran on 11/16/18 on CBS news, of a man in Wendell Idaho, who flew in Vietnam and has kept the letter a 6th grade girl wrote him, so many years ago. This is why Project Rudolph was started, and why I gave it all I had.

John Metzler was fighting in the Vietnam War when he got a letter from a girl he didn't know, thanking him for his service

11/14/2018

An oldie but goodie. This is our last year of Project Rudolph. Let's make sure it goes out with a bang!

If you can help donate letters, or a monetary donation, please PM the page. We need all the help we can get.

Thank you all for the last 13 years!

Project Rudolph... what do we do? We bring smiles by way of little bags of goodies during the holidays. To help, visit www.projectrudolph.org if you or someone you know is deployed and you would like to receive FREE Project Rudolph Christmas Bags this year, e-mail: [email protected] or...

11/03/2018

Project Rudolph bagging activity Is Nov 13, just 11 days away. Our goal is to create 3,000 gift bags. However we only have half the letters needed. Please help to spread the word and let's get some more letters coming In! Mail to Project Rudolph / 600 S. Wilson/ Oakley, ID 83346

08/18/2018

The time has come. It is time to close the door. This is the last year that Project Rudolph will be running. The Campbells are dealing with some serious medical issues and have had to completely turn over all physical functions to the Archibalds.

This is year 13, and it is time to spend the the Fall and Winter relaxing and doing for family, instead of running a 24/7 charity. The Archibald's will finish this year then lay down for a long winters' nap. ( hahahahaha!)

Enough materials are on hand to put together 3,000 gift bags for this year. All that is needed are "A" quality letters and cards. Hand written, non dated, signed notes expressing appreciation to our military service men and women and wishing them a Merry Christmas. That's it!!! Four to five sentences or more. We will not send cards that simply say "Thank you for your service. The Jones'.”

You are free to begin your own program in your own local area. For those of you who have helped Project Rudolph along the way you should have a pretty good idea of what can be done. Just remember that Project Rudolph itself will be retired. Come up with your own name, set your own guidelines, and have fun!

We at Project Rudolph have had the most wonderful experiences and met the most giving people. It has changed our lives for the better!! Thank you all for your part in this wonderful program.

With great love and appreciation,

Joe, Tawny, Ceilidha, Rhynli & Rauri Campbell and Ray & Cheri Archibald.

08/18/2018

Project Rudolph has changed so many lives. If it has touched yours, please leave a comment to tell us your experience. This Christmas, 2018, will be the last year of Project Rudolph.