this site was posted back at Thanksgiving time by someone, and I have forgotten who. But itis important enough to post again, and I hope the original poster will chime in and get credit ( and forgive my poor memory)
Please take a moment to visit this site.
www.AnySoldier.com
Marines are my "pet" so that is the group I looked into. I am sure the situations are as bleak formanyof the other branches.
Pick a Armed Service Branch under Where to Send. Select a representative and see what they are requesting. Many are heartwrenching. If you can remain unaffected, you must have a heart of stone.
PLEASE take a moment of your time and a little bit of your money. A "large box Priority" costs 12.50 to mail. Teh weight doesnt matter inthese boxes. The customs form takes about 5 minutes to fill out. The boxes are free at the post office. Buy a roll of packing tape.
Go to Walmart and see what youcan fill the box with. Tobacco if you do not object ( but they said not to list on customs as it is stolen from the boxes - PATHETIC!). Razorblades, disposable razors, body wash, baby wipes, Listerine to wash their feet. Tube socks, underwear, hand warmers, thermals, gloves, microwaveable, non refrigerated meals, cans of soup, ravioli,Ramennoodles things not requiring can openers, tuna in packages, beef sticks, jerkey, cookies, Twinkies, gum, hard candies, cough drops, chapstick, hand lotion, Protein bars, coffee, powders to add to water, teas, magazines, frisbees, footballs , feminine items for the women, MOUSE TRAPS,
envelopes to write home and paper.pretty much anything you send they will use or pass along to others. Ball point pens and note pads and Beanie babies, these things are given to local children.
These men and women are living in some really bad conditions. Some sleep in tents on the ground. Afghanistan is COLD and WET. I am sure Iraq is not any more fun to live in either.
These are our children. If we are lucky, these are NOT our children. Many do not have folks to send them things they need. The PX runs out immediately assuming there is one anywhere in the viscinity. The government provides little for them.
No matter what your opinion is on the rightness or wrongness of our involvement, these are OUR KIDS and they deserve a bit of help from us. It would take an hour of your day and maybe $50 of your money to send a box. Please drop along a note of appreciateion to whoever opens the box. It would mean a lot to them. We have enough money to buy expensive shoes, to spend a couple of hundred on an hour visit with a lady, or at a strip club. Would it hurt you that much to forgo these pleasures , just one time, to do something for a stranger that is in the service to OUR country.
Please take the time to go look at the site. I don't know how you could NOT be affected by what you read. Then do a little something for one of them. If even HALF of us sent one package, it would be a good start. These kids do not need remembering just on holidays, but all thru the year. Please help. just ONCE????
If you have a kid in the service, you know how things are. Let the rest of us in on their plight.
The "community" is very generous with our own, so please help out if you can.
http://www.anysoldier.com/
If you have participated or are participating, please chime in . It does leave you with those warm fuzzies.
LT