Sunshine committee Sept/Oct project for the holidays.

#46
Fabulous Mary!!!!

Oh and as a tip for people: Try to cram those priority mail 'Flat Rate' boxes to ship the heavy stuff!!!!! Potentially breakable (or could be crushed food stuff) I'll be sending in a different box!

Mary: Could you describe a typical box for us (the ones you actually send out?

I think that'll help me visualize more what the soldiers are getting!
 
#47
twiggers said:
Fabulous Mary!!!!

Oh and as a tip for people: Try to cram those priority mail 'Flat Rate' boxes to ship the heavy stuff!!!!! Potentially breakable (or could be crushed food stuff) I'll be sending in a different box!

Mary: Could you describe a typical box for us (the ones you actually send out?

I think that'll help me visualize more what the soldiers are getting!
Click to expand...

Yes, do use the flat rate box for anything heavy, there are 2 sizes a flat on and deeper one. I find the deeper ones work well.

I try and balance the boxes out pretty well, also I obviously label for men or women.

A typical box for each male soldier contains: at least 2 -3 items of 'comfort' food (soup, chili, hamburger helper, mac-n-cheese, etc), 2-3 items salty snack (chips, crackers, etc) and 2-3 items something sweet (cookies, candy, etc). 1-2 itmes personal care item (deodorant, toothpaste, Q-tips, razor, lotion, etc), 1-2 'extras' socks, a dvd, video game, something to read (a magazine or book), and note cards or christmas cards.

A female soldiers box is usually pretty close, but I make the personal care stuff girly, and often inlude hair bands or sticks.

I will take pics next week when I build some more.

***the dvds, video games, books and mags are often used...they are more than ok with that, as they share them and swap them around, as you can imagine.
 
#48
:idea: For those of you still sending contributions, I just had a thought halloween candy will work great!

Also, just want to be clear...I don't expect you to build a whole box....of course you can, but don't need to. Any contribution will be great, I will fill in any holes and mix and match as needed .

Thanks, again!
 
#50
Is it too late to participate? I'd like to send some things to you. I might order something online and just send them to you. Maybe a bunch of holiday cards or candy. Thanks
 
#51
joie16 said:
Is it too late to participate? I'd like to send some things to you. I might order something online and just send them to you. Maybe a bunch of holiday cards or candy. Thanks
Click to expand...

Thanks! That works fabulously! Contributions have been a little slow, but I know there is still time and people have been together things :smile: I am still optomistic we can do 100 boxes :smile:
 
#52
i just spotted this project today, but i'd love to help! i have tons of mags to send to female soldiers, and i'll head out to get snacks and chap stick and anything else on the list that i can find.

just thinking about the war ticks me off, but hearing about these soldiers over there without body armor, with worn-through boots....oy vey! we need to do something!
 
#53
Hi all! I just got a PM from a member who thought to participate she had to send 100 of one thing, so I am sorry if I have been confusing...

I am putting together 100 boxes, people are sending in any contributions that suit them...this and that and I will sort everything and fill in any wholes and my husband's company is paying the shipping to get the boxes to the soldiers:smile:

So far 10 done and 90 to go :smile:

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask :smile:
 
#57
:crybaby:

Reading just bits of Mary's post made me cry. My DH was in the Marine Corps and went to Iraq in 2003 and then again in 2004.

I will definitely be sending you some care items as we have been living a civil life for the past two years and our military lifestyle has somewhat become an echo in our memories.

God Bless our military families- esp. those here on tPF-

:flowers:

this brings me back to a time when I had no idea what purses were about. my goal was to stay sane and raise our baby while he was away.

ok- :crybaby: sometimes I still deal with the residual stress from those times he was deployed. but - thank GOD he came home safe.
 
#59
boxermom said:
I mailed 5 boxes last week and 3 are going out today. Is your post office going to be mad at all of us, Mary?? Those flat rate boxes can get very heavy.
Click to expand...

Thanks so much!

It is a pretty small PO, there are only 2 -3 people who usually deal with the PO box's (and the package P/Us), and it is almost the same girl everytime I go, so I warned her about the project...when I told her it was for the soldiers she smiled and said no problem at all...and she would keep an eye out for them :smile:
 
#60
Thanks to everyone who has been sending stuff in. I have only got emanu1016 and passerby's boxes so far, but many people pm'ed me or e-mailed me to let me know they were on their way :smile:

I will be sure to update people as to what we are short on, for those who still want to send something as the boxes start arriving. One thing I do know we are in need of is more socks. White crew sox. The nurses just e-mailed me and said they are really low, and they like to give all the incoming soldiers at least 2-3 pairs when they are admitted.

Thanks again to everyone :smile:
 
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