Treat Any Soldier Care Packages
Thanks for the Link - Easiest way I found to get something to the troops ASAP!
Posted on 12/03/2004 5:03:09 AM PST by dubie
My Soldier is a program that puts politics aside and lets U.S. soldiers know that someone back home cares. When a person enrolls in the My Soldier program, they agree to adopt a soldier. They receive a “starter kit” containing guidelines for letter writing and care package preparation, a red My Soldier bracelet, and a specially designed My Soldier baseball hat to include with the first letter they send to their deployed United States Armed Serviceperson. The first letter/care package they send is addressed to their soldier's platoon contact who then distributes it to their soldier. The soldier then replies and direct correspondence begins (about 80% of soldiers respond, but 100% appreciate getting the letters). The program is free. To sign up, click the link above.
The program was created by Juan Salas, an active U.S. Army Sergeant who also is a Manhattanville student. Salas, a naturalized US citizen originally from Venezuela, served for almost two years in Iraq, where he saw active combat duty and was commended for his part in saving the life of a child. Though the experience changed his life, today Salas is back home on campus, playing soccer and going to classes. For Salas, the My Soldier program is a way to give something to his fellow soldiers who are still in Iraq. See the media's coverage of My Soldier.
“Juan thinks about the basic needs of the members of his platoon every day,” said Manhattanville College President Richard A. Berman, who was determined to find a way for Manhattanville to help. Together, and with the help of other students and Manhattanville staff, Berman and Salas devised My Soldier.
(Excerpt) Read more at mville.edu ...
Just saw this on Fox and I have just signed up. Thanks for the post.
Another great site is
http://www.anysoldier.com/
Done, with great pleasure.
I saw the segment too- it's a fantastic idea.
My son is a US Marine in Iraq, and I just contacted them to ask about a Marine bracelet (you know they don't like to be called soldiers!)
I imagine they'll get a great response.
bump
What is a Marine bracelet?
Bump for our troops!
My family has supported operationac.com. I even used my memorial money from when my dad died in June to support operationac.com. My dad was a WWII vet. My sister used the memorial money from her friends for the same charity.
BTTT
Absolutely Fabulous!!
Thanks for the link. We signed up.
mark
Ping to sign up later. Thanks for the post!
It's a very user friendly web site.....and it helps that my husband attended Manhattanville in the 60s.
BTTT
Thank you very much for the link to the care packages. I "adopted" a soldier thru operationac.com and with no experience in this I had a heck of a time dreaming up what my soldier would want. This is a very big help.
Bump to the top.
Let's overwhelm them with responses.
The bottom line is that it will really do wonders in bucking up the morale of our boys and girls serving to keep us free.
You're very welcome. I have been using those treat packages as guidelines in sending my own packages, that and what the particular unit asks for.
There are several good sites out there, but for convenience, you are right, those treat any soldier packages are just the ticket.
You can also adopt a sniper.
http://www.adoptasniper.org/
Thanks for posting this.
bttt!
Interesting...under FAQ's, I saw this:
What are some restrictions?
The armed forces do not want unsolicited mail. It may be returned. My Soldier deals only with soldiers who have solicited letters. Every My Soldier platoon contact/soldier has voluntarily signed up with OMP to receive letters and care packages from folks back home. Also, the following items are restricted from inclusion in care packages:
Pressurized items like shaving cream
Sexually suggestive material (NO: Playboy, Penthouse, etc.)
Liquor
Non-Islamic religious objects (They usually get confiscated at customs).
Also, watch out for holiday-themed stamps. Pork products Chocolate/candy that melts easily
More information is included in the starter kit.
http://www.mville.edu/news/NEWS_My_Soldier_FAQ.HTML
So anything that is Islamic is okay? Everything else is NOT?
bttt
Signed up with pleasure!! Thank you so much for the link!
:)
Bump!
Signed up...heck, I'll send 'em 10 bucks, too.
I don't have the money for Operation AC, so this is better for me.
How about Santa figures for Christmas?
I just signed up and donated $ 23 for a care package. I hope it isnt sent to me. Do you know if they send it to a soldier or they send it to the person who bought so they can send it to a soldier. I hope it is not the latter - would be a waste of time and money. If it comes to me I guess I'll just donate it to the salvation army.
marking
It also said no more than 5 packages a day to the same address.
The post office tells me, no spray cans (pressurized), nothing flamable - no finger nail polish or remover. Nothing that includes 'alcohol' an an ingredient. Baby wipes need to be 'non alcohol'. I did a search and 'SD alcohol 40' came up as being the same as 'alcohol', so I avoided them both.
No chemicals. One of the groups I send to wanted cleaning supplies. Not sure what type and since all that I checked had alcohol, I didn't send any. They also asked for Rainex, but the post office said no to that item as well.
When you go through checkout and come to the shipping section you can:1. Put the soldier's full information in the shipping section (when you get to city make sure you enter both APO and AE - or whatever it actually is) For the state you can just leave your state in there because I will ignore that - there is no way around putting an APO/FPO in the shipping section without customizing it.
or
2. You can just check the box that says ship to billing address and then put the soldier's name & info in the message box.
If you are selecting a soldier from the AnySoldier.com site you only need to put their full name in the message box. I have all the addresses from the AnySoldier list.
It looks like IF you did (1) it will go to the soldier. IF you did (2) it will come to you, since it says to ship to the billing address.
I checked out any soldier and one of the items requested was X-Box games. I have about 25 of these that my nephew used to play. They are older games (within 2 years I think). Do the troops have access to X-Boxes? Do you think these would be received well if I just packed them all up and sent them to the contact who requested games?
My guess would be to look for for those units that ask for them, since that would indicate that they have the means of using them.
I think they would be thrilled to get them. Things do NOT have to be new. I have seen where they ask for old baseball mitts, old footballs, old hand held games that people's kids have outgrown, old books. Anything to help break the boredom when they are not on duty.
atomic_dog,
Click the link below then scroll down slowly and look for the submit box. Type in X box and submit and a list will come up of units that have requested X box games. You can click on any of them to get their full address. You might have to read down their page to find their x box request, but this search feature is really great! Hope this helps.
http://www.anysoldier.com/WhereToSend/
My daughter has adopted a soldier. They met on an online dating service.
It turns out that they went to neighboring high schools. They plan to date when he (hopefully) comes home from Iraq in a couple months.
Thanks for the clarification!
I can't wait to get my packages and send stuff.
Good Cause bump! ;-)
place marker
I'm on my third soldier. My first two have already returned home.
I've sent over things like sunscreen, paperback books and chapstick - oh, and socks and personal care packages.
http://www.anysoldier.us/
and
http://www.operationac.com/
We are doing
www.soldierangel.com
bump!
OK FReeper....I've been a member here for sometime and have never asked for help until now...I would greatly appreciate help in contacting the families near me that have a husband/wife/father or mother serving on my behalf in the middle east. I realize that a direct contact would be inappropriate due to security reason but a third party contact would be in line for what I'm asking for. If I were overseas serving my country and had family in the states,I would appreciate someone who lives close to my family and one I could trust to help with general needs that I would normally perform if I were at home...Lawn mowing...general house hold repairs and just a call to make sure everything is OK on the home front. Are there any organization out there that I could contact to offer my services to help these fine people that are keeping the Peace here at my home?
Great Sites, ALL
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