Send a care package to a soldier

In January and then in March, I sent a box of supplies to my niece in Iraq. I hope she was able to use (or pass along to someone there) the items. I included powdered drinks, Skittles (her favorite candy), tea, kleenex, lotion, a couple of books, and some recent issues of our hometown newspaper.

I hadn’t seen this goal until I saw the entry from “Cheryl’s Heart Will Go On”. I ended up using a website that did the shipping for me. If it were my husband or son overseas I’d be doing this several times a week. Oh my goodness, I just realized my “Jump Planet” friend’s husband is overseas. I’ll get an address from her for future care packages.

Mailed off this morning!

I am going shopping for packaged food
snacks that various soldiers have requested.
My goal will be to make 3 medium sized boxes.
I found a sight but still am confused on how
to do this. But I’m still going to buy
the food this week.

I know that in most ways we are fighting to stay the
super power and keep our homefront safe but isn’t there
a way we can do it differently.

Of the subject but I wish we could spread the wealth and
end ugliness, famine, disease, poverty, cruelty…

Does anyone have an address or website on how to do this?

I really need to get going on this goal.

“Re: soldier adopting

I’ve helped several soldiers through Adopt A Platoon, since 2001. The site, which can be found at http://www.adoptaplatoon.org/ has several options for adopting, including one that is solely for pen pals.

It’s worth checking out.”

Thanks again Lizadoo76, this is good stuff.

American soldiers have done so much for so many in places across the globe and it is just too easy for the average American citizen to forget that these finest of our men and women are out there everyday saving lives, rebuilding countries, fighting and even dying with the hope that they can make a difference for people that all too often hate them for their efforts and for just being the best example’s of American’s that they can be. I have just Googled this goal and came up with literally hundreds of sites that claim to send care packages, e-mail and letters to the troops in the field which is why you may want to look into http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/ if you share this goal. Americasupportsyou.mil, which appears to be a centralized service provided by the military itself to ensure that things are getting to where they are supposed to, also provides the following advice.

“The Department of Defense is honored to connect with so many nonprofit groups through the America Supports You program. These groups offer military members and their families a variety of services and assistance.

We’re thrilled by the work that we’ve seen by these groups over the past several years, but we want to emphasize that being affiliated with America Support You does not imply endorsement of these organizations or their business practices.

While we welcome the support of these organizations by the American people, we also encourage potential supporters to be sure and connect with the groups individually and to ask questions recommended by leaders in the nonprofit world.

The Independent Sector at http://www.independentsector.org/, for example, recommends 22 different principles that nonprofits should adopt. The Combined Federal Campaign at http://www.opm.gov/cfc/, and Charity Navigator at http://www.charitynavigator.org/, among others, say that charities should operate with 35 percent overhead or less. The Better Business Bureau at http://www.search.bbb.org is another good source to contact.

Be sure to ask how groups are specifically helping military members and their families, and to ask how the money they raise is being used. Be sure your support reaches the people you want to help.

Allison Barber
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense
For Community Relations and Public Liaison “

to the store yesterday and bought everything I’m going to be sending. Hoping to get it in the mail this week.