Since writing about Bryce Crandall earlier this month, I've had a dozen or so e-mails from people asking what they could do and how to contribute.

Bryce is the soldier in Afghanistan who decided while on guard duty one night that he wanted to do something for all the people in need back home.

That struck me and many others as a pretty selfless act.

I exchanged e-mails with Bryce several times and he told me a little about his mom and dad in Lake George and how they always worked behind the scenes for charitable causes.

Neither Bryce nor I had a plan.

His mom, Katy Crandall, contacted me and said she would help in any way she could.

I suggested we urge people to contribute to an established charity such as The Salvation Army.

Then Katy got another e-mail from Bryce.

"I gotta be quick 'cause I had to get special permission to use the computer," Bryce wrote from Afghanistan. "Here's what I need you to do. Get a hold of Ken, tell him what's up and that I did get a chance to read his article and it was spot on.

"Then just pick a local charity of some kind, food, clothes, adopt-a-family, whatever and let him know. See if you can get a sort of Post-Star-sponsored charity drive going."

And here's the one that gets you right in the gut.

"Go ahead and take $500 from my account to start it off," wrote Bryce. "Basically, I think the article was a great start, and now if we can just get a specific target group we can hopefully get more people to actually donate rather than think about the idea. Then, spread the word through pretty much your entire address book. Sorry to run this all at you, but like I said, I'm on borrowed time. I love you guys and I'll give you a call next week."

So now mom had her marching orders. And so did I.

Katy Crandall got back to me earlier this week and let me know that she had an account set up and all contributions were tax-deductible. It would be called "A Soldier's Wish" campaign. She suggested that contributions to the account be divided between The Salvation Army and The Helping Hand Fund of the Adirondack Samaritan Counseling Center.

"This way we are covering a varied group, body and soul, so to speak," wrote Katy.

I told her I would write another column and that I would match Bryce's contribution to the fund.

We're hoping many of you reading this today will join us.

Give what you can, but consider this:

This idea was born in the mountains of Afghanistan by an Army private on guard duty who was worried more about his hometown than his own hide. That says something about this place, this community and how he was raised.

We all know how long and cold the winters are here snuggled up in our own beds. We can only imagine the challenges for those overseas.

We have the opportunity to do a little good here at home, but this is also a chance to acknowledge the good heart of Pfc. Bryce Crandall and that bond he has with all of us here, and make his idea of giving this holiday season a
reality.

There will be more shifts of guard duty this year for Bryce. We have the chance to make that long winter in Afghanistan a little warmer and let him know he is making a difference, not only over there, but back home as well.