An Opportunity to Help Our Wounded Servicemen and Women

Self | April 21, 2004 | Brad's Gramma

[Brad’s Gramma]

Freepers, I have been sent an email from someone stationed in Iraq regarding an urgent need by our wounded servicemen/women. For security reasons, the whole email can NOT be posted here. Read on, please.



Today I went to visit the military hospital here in the Green Zone. Yesterday my boss (a Marine) had gone to visit some of the Marines brought here from the Fallujah fighting. When he asked one of the wounded Marines if there was anything he could get for him, the Marine requested a razor so he could shave and be within standards again before he was discharged from the hospital. My boss also found that the hospital basically was lacking phones for the patients to be able to call home and talk with their loved ones. I think they only had one that the chaplain carried with him and let the patients use when visiting them. We were able to scrounge up a few razors and got a couple of our cell phones signed over to the ward. I took the items back today along with some candy folks gave me and spent some time talking with the patients.

Afterwards, I talked with the ward personnel and they gave me a list of items they can always use. Our hospital is the largest surgical hospital here in Iraq so most of the patients are evac'd here for their initial care until they can be stabilized and evac'd to Germany or returned to duty (although it is not a big hospital-more like a clinic sized unit).

Of course most of the wounded come in with only what they were wearing in most cases. As such, they don't have things like toothbrushes, etc. A lot of you are always asking if there is anything you can send me. There really isn't anything I need, but these folks could use some things for the wounded. It really is humbling when you think about these young men and women who have been wounded, some of them terribly, and they are really excited about getting a razor or some chocolate candy. So, following is the list of things the ward personnel said they could really use for their patients.

On the hygiene items (toothpaste, shampoo, etc.), they are interested in the travel size products because the wounded are normally only here for a short period of time before they are transferred out to bigger hospitals that have better supplies of these items, or back to their units where they have access to their stuff. If you would like to donate any of these things (or start a drive for these things) just mail them to me. My office will sort the items and make sure they get to the hospital. If you would like to send food items, we'll need individually wrapped or single serving items. And, chocolate is okay if it's mailed soon before it gets too hot (but to tell the truth, we've been known to lick it off the wrapper when we want it bad enough!).

Razors
Shaving Cream
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Dental Floss
Mouthwash
Soap
Shampoo
Feminine Hygiene Products
Underclothes (male and female)-okay this may sound like a strange item, but remember they normally only come in with the stuff they are wearing and normally those are ruined
Slippers/FlipFlop type of things (in large sizes-apparently the things on the local economy are pretty small)
Hospital PJs
Candy
Crackers
Snack Items
Anything else you can think of

Additionally, we like to go out and give our young Marines pulling post duty candy/cookies, so we can always use that type of stuff. We had a great time delivering our Easter candy stash Sunday and we left a lot of Marines grinning from ear to ear.

* * * * * * *

MoJo20001's husband's division is going to be collecting the items and sending them via transport to the hospital in Iraq. IF you feel so inclined, and the need IS urgent...please let one of us know.

We also are coming across names...MANY MANY names of servicemen who need care packages, a letter, sometimes depending upon the branch of service, an email. If you can commit to being faithful with the correspondence, PLEASE let us know about that, too.

[radu]

I never got the other link to come up, but our computer is running sloooow tonight for some reason. This link came up fine.
Off to submit!

Hopefully these folks won't get away with this abuse of Freedom of Speech. There are limits to everything and this site goes well beyond, IMHO.

[radu]

Complaint submitted. Let's hope something is done about that vile site.

[boxerblues]

Little Jimmy the orginal poster of this might be in for a surprise hehe

[radu]

I certainly hope so! heh...heh...heh!!

[glock rocks]

BTTT

[E.G.C.]

BTT!!!!!!

[E.G.C.]

BTT!!!!!!

[Blue Eyes]

Helping support the troops BUMP.

[american_ranger]

My company is sponsoring three units in the middle east. One in Iraq and two in Afghanistan. These units have former employees in them. I have organized it and we are receiving some good support from various businesses. Here is what we have done.

We sent out requests for support to area hotels, dentists, and stores. Copied the names and addresses off of an internet search directory, put them into an Excel spreadsheet, and then mail merged them into a Word letter. Cost was about $20 for postage. These letters went out less than 2 weeks ago.

So far we have received word from 2 dentists who are gathering items right now (We pick one package up today), two hotels (3,000 mini-bottles of hand lotion, 544 bars of soap, 244 bottles of shampoo, and 144 disposable razors.)

We also sent out a flier to my company;s suppliers and insurance companies. In less than two weeks we have reccieved 12 bottles of insect repellent, 10 boxes of ziplocks, 24 cans of shaving cream, and 5 bags of miscellaneous stuff. And we know two other companies are collecting stuff to send to us.

Employees are just starting to bring stuff in. We have 100 employees and we are getting about 4 large bags per week.

The key is getting organized and then keeping everyone involved and feeling proud. I am even posting what we are sending and what organizations have contributed on my family website. Freepmail me if you want the address.

My wife will be mailing 8 boxes today. We have already sent 10 boxes in the last 4 weeks. And we are storing items already donated for future shipments.

[Quix]

i AGREE.

I hate making laws but I'd like that to be a criminal offense.

[Coop]

Awesome work, Ranger! A big hug to you and your better half for taking such good care of our troops!

[Coop]

My package is going out this morning, heading south on I-95 to the Richmond bypass and then east on I-64. :-)

[Coop]

How do they get away with these kinds of postings? Indymedia is the same one who were calling Pat Tillman a "dumbjock" and "babykiller"

Unbelievable.

The only difference between these idiots and Al Qaeda is these morons use pens and keyboards as weapons.

[boxerblues]

I notified Soldiers Angels as well as the authorities about the hate crime postings at Indymedia. The poster "Jimmy" may be in for a bigger surprise.

This was their response.

Dear Pat,

Thank you for taking the time to inform us of these terrible references to our foundation and our mission. We immediately strengthened our selection process for incoming volunteer Angels and have notified the proper authorities both Federal and Military.

We will do everything in our power to prevent these "things" as I struggle to find an appropriate name for them, from causing any demoralizing actions to any of our Military Heroes.

If we can be of service to you please feel free to contact either the Founder, Patti Bader or myself.

May GOD bless,

Kim Scofi
President & CEO
Soldiers Angels Foundation

[Coop]

Good work. I've tried accessing two of your links above, but so far had no luck with either of them.

[boxerblues]

www.fbi.gov comes up but is very slow. I thought it was my connection but Im getting a slow response even from work

[kimmie7]

I checked out your line, BG. I'm absolutely sickened. I'll be skipping lunch today to buy more stuff to send you as a direct result! The little weenie that started that can should be investigated by the proper authorities. How dare he -- I am just finishing "A Table in the Presence" and am more than ready to help all I can. My pockets are not very deep, but my faith is!

[mrs tiggywinkle]

**The gist of it is to sign up with an organization called "Soldiers Angels", get an email or address from them, make friends with a soldier, and then express your utter contempt for the war and them and what they as soldiers are doing.**

Wolves in sheeps clothing. Despicable but not surprising. sigh.

[kimmie7]

My goodness! Can you tell by that post that I'd only had 1/2 cup of coffee? Sorry about all the typos!

[windchime]

Brad's Gramma, I am sickened, but not surprised (btw, you are not overusing your ping list as far as I'm concerned).  Boxerblues, you have the right connections in your post # 572.  

I copied the post and archived the webpage.........just in case they disappear.

 

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