I Have More Help For Any of You Still Wanting to Adopt a Soldier...

[TwinMom7]

At our Family Support Meeting on Saturday night, I was introduced to a local woman who heads up a program called, "Adopt a Platoon". She's a very nice lady and she's doing a terrific job! Today, our local paper is doing a HUGE article on her and what she's doing.

Anyway, she has a list of soldiers who are not receiving mail and she will definaltely match you up with someone. She told me on Saturday that she has received over 2000 emails!

Adopt a Platoon

You can also email her directly at tbears650@aol.com. Her name is Pam.

To make the entire process go a little quicker, in your initial email to her, give her your name, address, phone number, age, marital status, and the number of soldiers you want to adopt. You might also mention in your email that you got her information from Patty Knight in South Bend (that's me).

They ask that you write once a week, and send a package a month. The reason that they ask for marital status is that they try to match a family with a single man, rather than a single girl and a single guy....not trying to play "match maker".

If you have any other questions, I'll do my best to answer them. Pam's a wonderful lady and she will help you make a lonely soldier's life just a little more special!!!

 

[TwinMom7]

Here's the article about Pam in our local paper...

SOUTH BEND -- When Pam Brunette was looking for ways to help America after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, she happened across the AdoptaPlatoon Web site devoted to providing support for troops overseas.

Few have probably taken its message to heart as deeply as the South Bend resident.

Not only did she sign up to be a surrogate "mom" for several individual military members, she went on to adopt several platoons and, recently, an entire Marine company.

The AdoptaPlatoon organization was founded in 1998 by Ida Haag of San Benito, Texas. Looking for ways to boost the spirits of members of her son's Army platoon, then deployed in Bosnia, she began sending letters and packages to soldiers in the unit who had been receiving little mail.

The effort was so well received by the military that Haag began recruiting friends to take part. It eventually grew to a national program, with some 22,000 members supporting about 96,000 troops deployed overseas.

For Brunette, a member of the St. Joseph County Voter Registration Board, becoming a surrogate military mom was a natural fit.

"The day after 9/11, like most, I was shocked at the attack against our country and its citizens on our soil," she said. "I wanted to do something to help, to make a difference. That night an ad for AdoptaPlatoon popped up on my computer.

"I never read ads on the computer, but this one caught my eye," she continued. "I checked it out, and right then and there they had me hooked."

The site (www.adoptaplatoon.org) allows individuals to agree to support individual soldiers, squads of 10 to 15 soldiers, or platoons of 25 to 40 people. They can adopt a soldier, which requires sending weekly letters and monthly care packages, or be military pen pals, which require only weekly letters and occasional packages.

Brunette signed up to adopt a whole platoon.

"They were absolutely great. We had great communication and established great camaraderie," she said. "I always refer to my soldiers as my 'kids.' "

Knowing she collects teddy bears, members of the platoon surprised her with a pair of new ones for her collection and one of the specially minted unit coins.

"I was so honored, it brought tears to my eyes," Brunette said.

Brunette, who has a 23-year-old son, has a cousin with the Army's 101st Airborne Division stationed in Kuwait and another family member now in basic training at Fort Bragg, N.C. Her father served in the Navy.

The AdoptaPlatoon program allows individuals, schools and other organizations to support individuals or military units in all branches of the service.

Brunette is putting the computer skills she's honed on the vote board to use helping maintain the group's national database. She is one of some 20 volunteer senior staff members with the nonprofit organization.

"It's a big operation, but it's also a labor of love. Many of us work full time and devote our spare time to our AdoptaPlatoon duties," she said. She estimates she spends about four hours on weeknights and 10 to 15 hours on weekends helping link military members with stateside supporters.

"We know that mail call is the highlight of their day. We try to bring a bit of home to our soldiers stationed overseas," Brunette said. "We have a lot of schools who have adopted a squad or a platoon."

Brunette recently adopted Company B of the Marine Corps reserves 6th Engineer Battalion, based in South Bend. The company now is deployed to Kuwait to help with the war against Iraq.

"I didn't sleep much last night," she said Thursday after watching hostilities begin in Iraq. "Fortunately, I got to see them before they left."

Grateful letters from soldiers overseas and their families here at home thanking the group for its adoption program let the members know how valuable it is, Brunette said.

"Our mission is to ensure that U.S. service members around the world are not forgotten and to promote patriotism in our schools and communities," she said.

She urged anyone interested in signing up for the program to visit the AdoptaPlatoon Web site.

"No matter what people's feelings are on the war in Iraq, I urge them to support our soldiers, marines, and sailors," Brunette said.

 

[leahannpen]

Thanks for the info. I'll check into it!

 

[ChiTownZee]

The web site says it takes a few weeks to be contacted about your soldier

 

[TwinMom7]

Don't go through the website...email Pam directly and I think it will go much quicker!!!

 

[Justhope]

Thanks Patty!! Ijust sent her an e-mail. I have already adopted one from operation military pride but was looking for another for my dd preschool class. Thanks

Hope

 

[TinkHappy]

Thanks Patty!!! I just emailed her. I will be waiting.