For Those of You Who Have Adopted Soldiers and Are Sending CARE Packages...

[TwinMom7]

Thought you'd like to know....

We received our first phone call last week from our son. He sounded great and very upbeat. The phone call only lasted a few minutes, but one of the things he said was that he had been at the "port" for a few days and had to bring back some heavy equipment. When he got back to his camp, he had 2 boxes and 5 letters waiting for him. He said, "It was just like Christmas, Mom".

So, think of it that when you send these boxes!! It doesn't matter WHAT is in that box, it will feel like Christmas to these soldiers!!!!

I also read on a military board, where a former Desert Storm Marine wrote that when these boxes are received, many guys just sit and hold the box for a few minutes before opening them. It's like by holding the box, they have a link to "home". He also said that they don't "tear" into the box, they open it very carefully and examine each item removed. He said it doesn't matter if it's a box full of junk - it's the thought that is so appreciated.

So....just remember this as you purchase and pack and mail.

 

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

Great!

As we currently have only 5 "adoptees" some of them will be having more than one "sponsor". It will really be like a holiday if they get more than one package from more than one person!

Thanks for sharing this with us!

 

[Mishetta]

I have 2 boxes ready to go today (one to Bobby & the other to Nick) and one more left to put together, for a serviceman from the military pride website! I think I'm getting the most joy out of doing this though! (Hope that didn't sound too selfish!)

 

[airhead]

Sounds like they're very happy to get a little bit of "home" when they're so far away. I'm more than happy to do that! We have to keep sending,no matter how small the package or how short the letter!

airhead

 

[debster812]

*note to self, do NOT read Patty's soldier posts at work, makes for awkward explanations as to why I am snuffling, sniffling at my computer*

Seriously, thanks Patty. I have 3 boxes ready to go to Bobby, and there are more on the way!!!

 

[4greatboys]

I was so happy when I got my 2 names--I feel like I have 2 more sons. I have to control myself atthe store because I want to get everything on the list. I just remind myself that I will be send more packages so control myself, lol. One of my guys has 2 kids and a baby on the way, i cant imagine how bad he must feel being away from his kids and missing the birth of the new baby.

 

[CourtasanSatine]

I'm working on my box little by little,just have to find the right sized box

 

[sncbird]

How did you get names of soilders and how do you know where to send the boxes to? This sounds like a great idea!!

 

[TwinMom7]

Some DIS folks have adopted my son who is a Marine stationed at Camp Coyote - 20 miles from the Iraqi border. A lot of others have "adopted" a soldier from an online source. Here's the link:

Operation Military Pride

 

[newmousecateer]

Well, that definately brought tears to my eyes.


My box of stuff is on the way to Debster who so graciously offered to co-ordinate a group effort.

 

[Pam]

TwinMom/Patty,
I am heading out to the Post Office today to mail your son's box(es) out to him. I had difficulty containing everything into one box - so I'll just send two small ones out.

My DS and I had a lot of fun shopping but he was in disbelief about the soldiers wearing flea collars on their ankles!!

 

[RUDisney]

I sent more things into the school today for the soldiers. One thing that really hit me was when you said about female hygiene being catch as catch can and the creativity that females may have to resort to. (paraphrased from what I got from your previous posts.) I wrote a note to my DD's teacher to explain why I was sending in feminine products. DS took in other necessities for men and women.

 

[sncbird]

Thanks TwinMom7 for the link. I think it's wonderful that so many people are supporting your son and other members of the Armed Forces. I would love to send your son a care package as well. Could you PM me on items he might need or like and where I can send it too. I think I'm going to have my Brownie Troop adopt a soilder and put together a care package. They would enjoy helping out and writing a letter to show our appreciation.

 

[smiley]

Wow, this is a great program. I have a nephew who is in the Army and was stationed in Kuwait on September 11th. He has now been transferred to the DMZ in Korea. I have been sending him care packages all along and always include things for him to share with other military people. He says there are several guys who never receive packages or letters from their families and ask him if they can read his mail to help them feel more connected to home.

One thing he said when he was stationed in Kuwait is not to send anything that would melt. He loves chocolate, but we were not able to send it to him. Of course the DMZ is a whole different story and I can even send him home baked chocolate chip cookies which are his favorite.

I'm glad we have Operation Military Pride for our service people, they definitely deserve the support.

 

[Keli]

I think we may have messed up in the care package Ashli sent to Titus this week (got to send our first one out on Monday, yea!!!!) I'm afraid some of the food stuff we sent will melt. I guess we'll find out how badly we messed up when he gets it and has time to write back, lol. I'm going to stress to Ashli that we have to be careful with the next one, lol.

 

[Jeafl]

At Walmart today, I had a cart load of stuff for the 5 soldiers that I am sending packages to and I was telling the woman in back of me in line what all the stuff was for, and how excited my kids were to be sending it. She told me she was a prayer coordinator (or something like that) for a nearby church and would be happy to add those names to her list of people to pray for. She runs a prayer circle of some kind and is interested in adding as many soldiers' names as possible. I thought that was really nice.

Unrelated question--are we supposed to send letters or cards along with it, or would they think it's kind of odd getting letters from people they don't know? I wouldn't want anyone to feel obligated to write back.

 

[TwinMom7]

Letters/cards are strictly up to you. If you just want to stick in a note introducing your family - maybe where you're from - I'm sure they would enjoy knowing a little bit about the family that has "adopted" them. If you have small children and they want to send a picture they drew, I'm sure our soldiers would enjoy that. I think anything that makes them feel closer to the good old USA will mean a lot!!!

I think those who are sending goodies to my son are just including a note stating that they are an online friend of his mom's. Just tell them whatever you want!!!

 

[CourtasanSatine]

I'm going the online friend route in my note(and siging as CourtasanSatine)

 

[ChiTownZee]

Of course the DMZ is a whole different story and I can even send him home baked chocolate chip cookies which are his favorite.

Wouldn't home baked things get stale by the time they got there? One of my girls requested oatmeal cookies and I thought of baking some since they are better than store bought, but figured they would go bad by the time they got to her.

 

[smiley]

ChiTownZee-

Luckily my nephew has been getting his packages in less than one week. I bake the goodies, package them up, and send them either that day or the next morning. It's not as fresh as it would be if he were getting them out of the oven, but he's never complained. One thing I have to be careful about is that he will leave for training missions which last almost 3 weeks. During that time he does not receive packages. If I know he's out on a mission I ship boxes of non perishables. That way he has surprise waiting for him when he returns.