You can try contacting your local branch of the USO. Last Spring when we had our anniversary sale at the shop, we collected donations for the USO and sent them a check. I had wanted to collect "stuff" but was advised by the USO that they were overwhelmed with "stuff" and couldn't send stuff without a specific person's name on it.
I did send a care package to a friend's son who's a Marine - he never got it
I jokingly said I had hoped he'd be home before he got it - and while there was plenty of time for him to get it, he did come home
I just hope that whoever did get it, needed it more than Ryan did. I was told that it was probably picked off in transit. Ryan is most likely going to be going back to Iraq. Doesn't have orders yet, but his CO told him to get his gear ready.
I have a customer who's a reservist who is presently in Afghanistan. He left ATL in July, for Ft. Stewart, and was shipped out in August. He just found out that his tour might be extended another 3 months beyond the initial time - I don't know how long the tour was supposed to be - a year perhaps? I did send him a care package several weeks ago, and he did receive it. He works in supply and he has email access, so I hear from him regularly. He's got a gift for writing, and his letters paint a clear picture in my mind's eye of where he is and what he is going through. I do appreciate his perspective on it all. In my next care package, I'm going to put some goodies for children - when he goes into town, kids come begging to the soldiers for whatever they have - he gives them candies and such. Think a trip to the dollar store might be a good way for him to make some kids happy next time he's approached.
I think it's admirable that folks here want to help - especially with the Holidays coming, now would be a great time to show a service man or woman that you care about them. It's going to be a rough time away from home and family for many, and regardless of how you may feel about the politics of it all, these are men and women who have risen to the call and are honouring a committment to do a job. We owe them our gratitude and respect for this.
Jenn
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Member of the "J" Crowd & the BRW Crowd!
LFS Owner:
Imagine Ocean
Just keep skimming, just keep skimming, just keep skimming, skimming skimming! What do we do? We skim, skim, skim!
At the very least, they could give you an address of local military personnel who might be able to answer that correctly. Surely there is a way to send a Care package for general good will overseas.
