Daily Herald Article - September 7, 2007

We Do Care - Group's 4th Annual Family Freedom Festival a statement of support -- not politics -- for U.S. troops around the world

By Chad Brooks | Daily Herald Staff

"This is not a political thing," said Dirk Bevridge, the event's organizer. "If you are for or against the war, that isn't the issue."

"We know this gets back to the troops and lets them know we do care and that the entire community supports  them," Bevridge said.  Those behind We Do Care, a Barrington based non-profit organization, want everyone to know that supporting America's troops is not a political statement.

As a way to show the 1.4 million troops around the world they are supported, We Do Care is hosting its fourth annual Family Freedom Festival at the Metra train station parking lot in downtown Barrington.
The free event is scheduled for noon to 10 p.m. Saturday.

"This is not a political thing," said Dirk Bevridge, the event's organizer. "If you are for or against the war, that  isn't the issue."

This year's festival is packed with entertainment for the whole family and will give those who attend the chance  to let the soldiers know they are not forgotten.   "We know this gets back to the troops and lets them know we do care and that the entire community supports  them," Bevridge said.

This year, the event will feature the classic rock band Old School, the 12-piece show band The Blooze Brothers  and Joe Cantafio and the 101st Rock Division.

A highlight this year, Bevridge said, is a crew from the Pentagon Channel will be in Barrington recording the  event so it can be broadcast to all the troops.   "We are really excited about that," Bevridge said.

A new feature this year is the festival's participation in Operation Iraqi Children, which collects schools supplies for the children of Iraq.  Those who attend the event are encouraged to make a kit of their own to be donated.   Each kit should contain one pair of blunt-end scissors, one 12-inch ruler with metric markings, 12 new pencils with erasers, one small pencil sharpener, one large eraser, one box of colored pencils, one package of notebook paper, one composition book, three folders with inside pockets and one zippered pencil bag.

The kits will be sent to Iraq, so they can be passed out by the American soldiers.  "This creates a lot of good will for the troops," Bevridge said.

The festival will also give those who attend several other chances to get involved and help the troops.
The Yellow Ribbon Support Group, Soldiers Angels, 85th Division Family Readiness Group and the USO of  Illinois will all be on-hand offering opportunities to get involved.

"We understand their sacrifices," Beveridge said of the troops. "This is the least we can do for them."
We Do Care is a not-for-profit, non-political organization founded in 2004 to support the men and women of the U.S. military.

For more information or to volunteer, visit www.we-do-care.org or call (847) 381-7797.

If you go
What: Family Freedom Festival
When: Noon-10 p.m. Saturday
Where: Barrington's Metra train station parking lot, 201 S. Spring St.
Admission: Free; food and drink available for purchase
Visit: www.we-do-care.org or call (847) 381-7797



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