(Christmas vanity)Adopt a Marine/Sailor/Airman/CG/Platoon this Christmas!

11/30/07 | marticvs

[martin_fierro]

The thought occurred while shopping for Christmas gifts for relatives (that will probably be unappreciated/never used/regifted): Let our troops know this Christmas that we appreciate their sacrifices made for us.

 Here are some links to sites where you can get more information about sending Christmas care packages to the troops:

http://www.adoptaplatoon.org

http://www.anymarine.com/

 http://anysoldier.com/

 http://anysailor.com/

 http://anyairman.com/

 http://anycoastguard.com/

Suggestions that I've seen elsewhere:

• Instant Coffee
• Dry Creamer
• Single Wrapped Candy (tootsie rolls, Halloween-type candy, but NO PEPPERMINTS) (not sure why)
  
• Wet Ones (hand wipes)
• Small, Travel-Size Games (Chess, Checkers, etc.)
• AA, AAA, & D Batteries
• Inexpensive Walkman
• Music CD's (Most of them like Country music, so that would be a safe choice)
• Disposable Camera
• Popcorn (they can never have too much popcorn)
• Disposable Shaving Blades and Cream
• Q-Tips (to cleans their guns and ears)
• Sugar-Free Gum
• Powder Juice Mix
• Copenhagen Snuff
• Cigars/Cigarettes

*NOTE:*   If and when you write a Letter of Gratitude for their services, here are some do's and don'ts:

    Do's:

•         "I hope you have a Merry Christmas."
•         "Happy Holidays"
•         "Thank you for everything you are doing for our country."
•         "Thank you for serving our country."
•         "I wish you all the best."
  

    Don'ts:

•         Nothing political or suggesting they made the "wrong choice" by joining the Military
•         "I wish you weren't there."
•         "I wish you could be home with your family."
•         "Why are you in the Military?"

 

[martin_fierro]

Please post other gift suggestions + legit links.

[pissant]

Thank ye.

[martin_fierro]

Military Ping.

[Live free or die]

I know some guys out here who don’t really have families back home so they don’t get much in the way of mail. Programs like this are more touching than you know!

[grb]

ping

[StarCMC]

Great list of most requested items here.

A new idea for you -- if you're shopping online this season, go to igive.com, register, then shop thru their site with the charity of your choice being one who supports the military.

Proud Patriots, which is a group listed on the front page of FR, is one group that you can choose. It's easy and only takes a couple extra clicks for you. The websites don't jack up their prices, and the donations are usually anywhere from 2-4% of your purchase. Doesn't sound like much, but it adds up.

[StarCMC]

Meant to ping you to my post #6.

[StarCMC]

Thank you for your service! Please tell those guys that they are NOT forgotten — they are in my prayers every day.

[Live free or die]

Thanks very much! It helps immensely!

Oh, and one or two suggestions

1. Rammen noodles

2. Instant cocoa/tea bags

3. Any kind of canned meats (deviled ham, spam, Vienna sausages) and crackers

4. The inexpensive walkman idea isn’t really a good one anymore since most of the guys have iPods nowadays. If you want to spend money like that, may I humbly suggest getting one of those cheap water boiling pots ($10 or so @ Walmart). Its going to start getting oppressively cold out here especially in the mornings and hot water whether for drinks or hygiene (shaving) can be incredibly rare.

5. Chap stick/carmex (the wind doesn’t seem to ever stop)

Thanks for this thread guys! Much love to all!

[StarCMC]

If I can ask, where are you stationed?

[Katydidnt]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1925194/posts
http://www.marinecorpsfamilyfoundation.org/projects.html

Operation Santa-USMC is a project of Marine Corps Family Foundation; I’ve just finished my drive for this year and just mailed out almost 2.5 tons to 900 Marines(and some Army that I know).
Strangers were even giving me money for postage at the post office! Some people are wonderful. You can still donate at the MCFF site above-we have projects going on all year.

Katie

[Live free or die]

Right now I’m at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait but as all things go that can change at almost any time.

[Katydidnt]

Thanks for your service, Live free.

Some other things I just sent are “hot hands”, thick boot socks, DVDs, CDs, eye drops, throat drops, medicated face pads, hand-held games, extra batteries, board games, Sudoku and word puzzle books, beef jerky, Power bars, tuna in foil packs, just to list a bit. Local hunters donated venison jerky. Also, our troops appreciate cards, drawings and notes from people of all ages.

What to send depends on what their MOS’s are-infantry Marines don’t have a lot of space to store ‘stuff’ so consumables are good- plus they carry whatever is sent. When I send to an Army Scout, he has plenty of space in a trailer where he will be for along while. Navy ships are tight,so if you send to a sailor or a Marine in a MEU, keep that in mind. If their mission allows them to give candy to Iraqi children, that’s good, but as a rule, my Marine grunt contacts do NOT eat candy.

Hope that helps!
Katie

[Kathy in Alaska]

We thank you, Sir, for your service to our country.

God Bless you and praying for your safety and success of mission. Thanks for the "update" on first hand things that are on some "wish lists" at this time.

[HiJinx]

so they don’t get much in the way of mail.

That's the same thing we're hearing on our request line from the leadership over there. Those are the people we're sending Care Packages to.

Proud Patriots, Inc.

[HiJinx]

2.5 tons? God Bless you good, Katy.
Getting the postage is sometimes the hardest part of supporting the troops.

[Katydidnt]

Thanks! HiJinx-
I really only planned to send to 300 Marines this time, but people around here were VERY generous. It did put me in a bind for postage, though. We’ll spend close to $3000 this year for postage by the time I get my garage emptied! Thank goodness for people who donate a little bit here and there- because there’s always another Marine.
My state Rep. tried to get our National Guard to pay for it, but no go. Also, this time of year there are too many requests for military transport-anyone have any ideas to get postage covered for next year?

God bless our troops!

[HiJinx]

anyone have any ideas to get postage covered for next year?

It sounds like you're doing this all on your own - have you asked any of the service clubs in your area for help? The Lions' Club, Kiwanis, Rotary, VFW, or American Legion? Even if you only get a few hundred dollars, it's that much that doesn't have to come out of your pockets!

[toldyou]

I have a military dependant ID card...

Was in an AAFES store at Ft. Dix/McGuire a few weeks ago. I asked (separatley) two guys in uniform, what they would recommend for the troops in Iraq, since my charity group was stuffing stockings for 40 guys.

The first thing on their list was foot/baby powder. They said it feels so good in their socks and boots.