Montel Show to recognize local woman for good deeds

Factoid:More information about the SI Yellow Ribbon Campaign can be found at www.siyellowribbon.com

It has been a few years since Amy Oxford and her mother, Kathy Williams, have been to New York City.

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When Oxford was in eighth grade, a short story she wrote was chosen by Scholastic Books to be published and the two earned a free trip.

Oxford, now an adult, was again chosen for a free trip to New York City for an appearance on the Montel Show, a humanitarian talk show, as a part of the “Voices” campaign, which recognizes women for great accomplishments.

Oxford and Williams run the SI Yellow Ribbon Campaign in Harrisburg. The campaign sends care packages, cards and letters to men and women serving in the military overseas. From replacement boots to toothpaste to underwear and playing cards, the women have been sending as many packages with as much packed in as possible for about three years.

Amy’s husband, Jamal, is in the National Guard but was not deployed to Iraq with his troop because of a number of open-heart surgeries.

Williams picked up an application for her daughter at Fashion Bug and filled it in and mailed it without telling her.

A few months later, she and four other women are finalists on the show and will be judged for a $100,000 grand prize. The show will be taped Wednesday and air Dec. 1 nationwide.

“We’re not ready,” Williams said late Monday afternoon of the 6 a.m. Tuesday flight. “We haven’t packed or anything.”

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Williams said the show sent a gift certificate for Charming Shoppes, the parent company of Lane Bryant and Fashion Bug, so Oxford could buy an outfit for the show. They are flying for free and staying in the Belvedere Hotel – all of which Williams said was like a vacation before the holiday season donation drives start.

On Sunday, during an open house at the campaign headquarters, Oxford said the stress of both the upcoming holiday season and the TV appearance was intense.

The night before, she had a flare up of lupus, an inflammatory disease of the skin, joints, bones and kidneys. Oxford spent Sunday night in a hospital waiting room, hoping to receive a saline IV and some steroids to help the pain.

Eventually, she decided to go home and rest instead of battling what Williams jokingly called “50 million other sick people.”

By Monday morning, Oxford’s attention was back on the trip.

“She had a bad, bad night, but she’s feeling much better,” Williams said. “She spent the night with me last night totally zonked out.”

Lisa and Mitch McRaven, of Herrin, came to the open house on Sunday to show their support for both Oxford’s trip and the campaign itself.

The pair own Fast Print in Marion and has been involved with helping gather donations for Williams and Oxford. With a little help, they sent 60 disposable cameras to the campaign last week for distribution to soldiers.

Their son, Jory, is stationed at Scott Air Force Base.

“Anything they need, all they have to do is ask,” Lisa McRaven said.

Reporter Kate Galbreath can be reached at [email protected]