Mom has hand in Iraq tool drive

SANDPOINT — At 35, Kym Holbert’s son, Marine crew chief Christopher Morrell, is far beyond the age when he needs care packages from his mom.

“He knows his way in the world,” Holbert said.

But as a mother who feels helpless with her only child serving in Iraq, Holbert wanted to do something.

She needed a connection with him.

Then in a letter, Morrell provided that tie.

He and his buddies really could use some hand tools to assist in unofficial building projects, he said.

“We would trade a couple of goats and a day’s worth of food for a power tools set,” he wrote her.

Holbert, who works for the city of Dover as a deputy clerk, began talking to people in the community about donating tools to the effort.

She also lobbied the Inkwell to serve as a drop-off spot for the tools. They readily agreed, said Holbert, who used to work for the business.

Morrell is an air wing logistics crew chief with the Third Marines on a three- to 13-month tour of duty at the Alasad Marine Air Base in Iraq, having served there since January. He also is a Desert Storm veteran.

He and his wife, Lisa, have two children, Jordan, 5, and Lexie, 2. His family lives on base in San Diego.

In 1989, the single mother and her son moved to Sandpoint. He had just graduated from high school and at age 19, signed up with the Marines.

When his request for tools came through, Holbert began trading on her community connections to help her son.

Locally, individuals and businesses have been quite generous, she said. One man donated several items from his own shop.

Needed items include screwdriver sets, drills, bits and blades for power tools, Phillips screw drivers, staplers, finish hammers and socket sets.

The items should not be expensive because they will stay in Iraq for the citizens once the soldiers leave, Holbert said.

Some people opposed to the war have been a bit cranky over donation cans she has placed at different locations.

Although not a fan of the Iraq War, Holbert said helping her son and his fellow soldiers has nothing to do with politics.

“I can’t start a big political battle,” she said. “I’m just getting him what he needs.”