Manteca couple to sponsor baby shower for military wives

Oakland Tribune, Jul 30, 2008 by Jennifer Gokhman

Chuck and Teri Palmer of Manteca will be hosting a baby shower for military wives living on the U.S. Army base in Baumholder, Germany while their husbands are deployed in Iraq for 15 months.

The physical baby shower, called the Baby Boom Extravaganza, will be in Germany in September. The Palmers are currently collecting items to be sent to the base for the event, and those interested in participating may send items directly to the base in Germany.

The Palmers got the idea from their daughter Jeni Kopp, whose husband Caleb Kopp is part of the Alpha Company 1-35th Armor Division in Iraq. She is expecting her second child in October, and noticed that nine other soldiers' wives have had babies or are soon to give birth.

The Palmers have been supporting soldiers in their son-in-law's company since May, sending personalized care packages with the help of anyone interested. Their children -- Jeni and her brother Jason - - started Operation Home Front Support Team, based on the Adopt-A- Soldier program.

"I'm really proud of my children," Chuck Palmer said. "It was the kids who got this thing rolling. We just joined in."

Chuck and Teri Palmer have a personal connection to the soldiers because they lost their son, Marine Cpl. Charles Palmer III, during a tour in Iraq on May 5, 2007.

"Passion was ignited by the loss of our son," Teri Palmer said. "There was a huge outpouring of support from Manteca. We have to keep passing it forward. That's how our son would want it, too. (The soldiers) still need to know we support them, and we love them."

"It's like adopting a whole new family," Chuck Palmer said.

Donations for the baby shower may include bottles, blankets, bibs, towels, clothing for newborns to 18 months, socks, shoes, hats, coats, baby toys, stuffed animals, story books, photo frames and any other baby things.

Donations should be sent to Family Readiness Group Leader Jessica Ramos at the base in Germany: C/O FRGL Ramos/Kopp, Alpha Company 1- 35th Armor, CMR 405 Box # 2203, APO-AE 09034. Gifts should be sent no later than Aug. 20. Monetary contributions, to offset the cost of shipping, should be made payable to U.S. Marines Corps Cpl. Charles Palmer Memorial Fund, Delta Bank, P.O. Box 1900, Manteca, CA 95337.

For more information, contact the Palmers at 209-239-3088 or Chucklespal@aol.com.

Reach Jennifer Gokhman at 209-832-6144 or jgokhman@bayareanewsgroup.com.