By Lia Sestric
lsestric@abcnews4.com
MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (WCIV) -- Brand new rubber flip-flops are stacked in Brenda Frye's family room, where she has boxes ready to pack them up and so she can ship them. Her home has officially turned into "Operation Flip-Flops" to help wounded warriors.
Her daughter, Georgina Walton Floyd, is an Air Force Medical Technician currently deployed in Bagram, Afghanistan. She called her mom a few weeks ago to tell her the desperate need hospitalized soldiers have for flip-flops.
"She asked for her next care package if we could possibly mail lots of flip flops. I thought it was a strange request, so I asked her why did she need flip-flops. She explained the soldiers that she cares for in the ER in the combat hospital in Afghanistan don't have flip-flips," Frye said.
Georgina told her the wounded soldiers receive care packages with other necessities, but shower shoes or flip-flops are missing.
"Her patients walk around the hospital barefoot or mixed-matched flip-flops, or too big too small or whatever they can find on-hand."
Her daughter's request has gone viral online, with word spreading beyond the Lowcountry. Frye said she is receiving phone calls from as far as California, and many businesses have also opted to donate or have a dropoff site.
"It's become a full-time job. I'm up until two or three in the morning," she said.
She has launched a Facebook fan page, where as of Friday she had more than 300 likes. She said the mission won't be complete until every wounded soldier has flip-flops.
"We're going to start sending them to all the combat base hospitals in Afghanistan," she said.
If you would like to help you can contact Brenda Frye at 843-864-6423. You can also make a monetary donation on PayPal.
You can also donate at the following locations:
*Broad Street Printing
9730 Dorchester Rd Suite 9
North Charleston, Sc
*Bayer Heritage Federal Credit Union
309 Goose Creek Blvd.
Goose Creek, Sc
*Blackbeard Cove Family Fun Center
3255 N. Hwy 17
Mt. Pleasant, SC
*Bonneau Pentecostle Church
153 murray Ferry Rd
Bonneau, SC
*Agent Ownerd Realty
141 North Main St.
Summerville, SC
*American Legion
116 Howe Hall Rd.
Goose Creek, Sc
*Cordsville First Baptist
1913 Hwy. 402
Moncks Corner, SC
*Curves of Goose Creek
205 N. Goose Creek Blvd
Goose Creek, SC
*Chucktown Tavern
159 Market Street
Charleston, SC
*Crafts plus
203 E. Main St.
Moncks Corner, SC
*CSL Plasma
3725 Rivers Ave Suite 7
North Charleston, SC
*College of Charleston Public Safety
81 B St. Philips St.
Charleston, SC
*Doc's Bar and Grill
Old Hwy 52
Moncks Corner, SC
*Coastal Produce
500 N. Cedar St.
Summerville, SC
*Flip Side Salon
1008 Old Hwy 52
Moncks Corner, SC
*Flip Flop Shop
4840 Tanger Outlet Blvd
North Charleston, SC
*The Harley Shop
57 South Market St.
Charleston, SC
*Ice House
104 E. Doty Ave.
Summerville, SC
*Living Tees
1389 N. Hwy 52
Moncks Corner, SC
*Lowcountry Harley Davidson
4707 Dorchester, RD
North Charleston, SC
*Maui Tan
1585 Central Ave.
Summerville, SC
*Oscars Catering and Restaurant
207 W. 5th North St.
Summerville, SC
*Old Navy (only for June 30th)
1720 Towne Center Way
Mt. Pleasant, SC
*Old Navy (only for June 30th)
4840 Tanger Outlet Blvd.
North Charleston, SC
*Old Navy (only for June 30th)
7620 Rivers Ave.
North Charleston, SC
*Rollie Pollies
9730 Dorchester Rd
Summerville, SC
* Reeves Elementry School
1003 Dubose School Rd.
Summerville, SC
*Russellville Christian Church
1681 Hwy 35
St. Stephen,SC
*Steel Horse Saloon
2003 Old Hwy 53
Moncks Corner, SC
*Sand Shack
5090 Ashley Phosphate Rd.
North Charleston, SC
*Sandlapper Group Real Estate
902 Savannah Hwy.
West Ashley, SC
*Season's OB/GYN
9279-A Medical Plaza Dr.
Summerville, SC
*Santee Circle Church
1258 N. Hwy 52
Moncks Corner, SC
*TJ'S Beef and Brew
214 St. James Blvd
Goose Creek, SC
