The next year led to the start of McCawley’s unique “Joe’s Coffee Shop” in Tikrit, Iraq, serving more than 2,000 troops. “A cup of joe for a joe” was the theme of the shop, and all the hundreds of pounds of coffee, flavorings, cups, creamers, etc. used in the coffee shop came from Carney and her team of volunteers. The group continued to supply all the needs for the coffee shop through three more tours of chaplains, bringing a little bit of home in a faraway land.
Another shipment of Christmas gift boxes for 300 soldiers went out in 2007. Carney was tireless in her mission, McCawley said.
“For all those who know Sherry, they know she’s a (lovable) bulldog. She gets things done,” he said.
Having a network of chaplains and other officers who sent Carney lists of needs from the warzone and a network of supporters that stretched from California to North Carolina to fill those requests on the home front, Carney and her helpers realized a larger-scale effort was needed to raise funds to buy items and pay the expensive shipping costs.
The Singing for Soldiers concept was created to meet that need. James Metcalf, radio disc jockey at WFJW 1160 in Columbus and a singer/songwriter with connections throughout the Gospel singing genre, helped kick Carney’s fundraising and gift gathering for the soldiers into high gear with southern gospel singings beginning in January 2008. Carney’s goal was to raise money to gather more goodies to send to more troops to make their lives easier and more comfortable in the war-torn lands of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Energized by the success of the initial Singing for Soldiers event in January 2008, Carney championed, spearheaded, recruited, drafted, encouraged, cajoled, motivated, loved and blessed a growing team of volunteers who helped her carry on this task, which they described as sometimes daunting but always worthwhile.
Since January 2008, 13 Singing for Soldiers events have been held in Polk County. Carney attended all but the most recent event, even when her family and friends said she probably should not have gone because of her health. She said she loved the music, the people, the prayers and seeing all of the items gathered by school children and many others being boxed up for shipment.
“I am so blessed to have been sick,” Carney said not long ago. “I have witnessed so many miracles over the past few years. I am so thankful to live in a community that loves God, to have a husband and sons who love and support me, to have a church family who believes in helping others and to have friends in different churches who love and join with us in this mission project.”
In November 2007, Carney was honored by WSPA-TV with the “Caring for the Carolinas Award,” presented by TV personality Jack Roper.
Carney’s friend Kay Essey said, “Sherry is tireless in her efforts. She has never complained. When she starts she never lets up. It is such a blessing to see Sherry do the things she does.”
Another friend, Amy Williams, said, “She’s particularly special in my eyes because she has been in a battle with cancer… and yet never have I heard her say she needed anything. She’s always helping others in the community and taking care of our soldiers.”