Care Packages for Soldiers: January 2010

1/25/2010

More January responses from our soldiers contacts

Below are some more recent responses from our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan:

I hope this not too late. I was hurt also by the UT game, but the Cowboys game made me forget about the UT game (quickly). We have 220v. We also have converters. We also need antibacterial foot powder, shaving cream, scented fabric deodorizer (nothing expensive....some
people don't get a chance to wash clothes like they should), more of those things that you put on your corns to get rid of those suckers, deodorant, toothpaste and baby wipes. That is all I can think of.

Thank all of you again. All of you are such blessings. I thank you very much (my aching corns especially thank you).

SSG Ricky B
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i am on r&r in arkansas. i leave to go back to afghanistan on the 3rd of feb. i apologize for not replying about the care packages, but we did recieve the christmas boxes. again thank you, the guys had such a funny time with all the decorations. i will compile all the photos from this deployment and send it to you when we return. i hope all is well in texas and the ladies of the airborne angels.
M.G.
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THANK YOU SO MUCH! The soldiers out here received some packages from your organization and I have to pass down about 10-15 thanks your way from other soldiers. How can we help you guys!! You truly are making it easier and more relaxing for us out here! We use to have a trailor
store (USO) out here and they took it away because our fob has been taken over by the Iraqi forces so we have nothing except mail to get us by.

Samantha F.
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I would like to thank you for all of your support and help throughout our deployment it has really meant a lot and I know the packages have meant a lot as well to all of us.

Just to think sending out one email got everyone phone cards and food and stuff for the whole time we were here its been awesome I will have to get yalls address so whenever I come through I will stop and meet everyone.

John W
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I know for a fact that the Dunkin Donuts Coffee are well received here. I'll be sure to take a few pictures of the guys with some of the coffee. I'm sure that the store and the customers will get a kick out out of some pictures sent from here.

Princeton
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1/14/2010

January responses from Jacklyn and Jerry

Below are some more comments and photos from our soldiers overseas:

Thank you for what your organization is doing! Every Soldier who has received something has a huge smile on their face!

They are just amazing ... when we go out to an orphanage I will take some pictures of the kids getting the items that you sent. I am then going to take the other items out to another more isolated FOB that doesn't have a PX and set them up with some of the stuff you sent.

Just know that everything will have a happy home and we can not thank you enough for your support and what you do. Your organization is wonderful, you are doing great things for the Soldiers.

Jacklyn

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Thank you again so much for sending us so many goodies! The people here love everything that has been sent. Every time a package comes I set out the goodies so people can grab whatever they want or need as they are exiting the dining facility. It has worked out very well!

The hand warmers have come in pretty handy here, there are nights when it drops into the 40's and we have people standing guard outside 24/7 so I'm sure they really appreciate it. I think it will start warming up again around March so if you do have more hand warmers I'm sure they will get used!

Thank you again for the time and energy you have been putting toward taking care of us ... I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your doing. It really means a lot for us to know there are people back home thinking of us! Oh yes, and by the way, Happy New Year!

Sincerely,
Jerry

1/07/2010

HAPPY NEW YEAR/HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!

Happy New Year everyone and Happy Anniversary to us!!
Hope everyone had a great holiday season with family, friends and loved ones. With my holiday decorations put away for another year, it is time to get back to the care packing business. My shoppers and I have scoured the "after Christmas" sales and stocked up on many of the holiday stockings, mini trees, cards and decorations for next season. Amazing how much money we can save doing this and I love a good bargain! We look for items that can be sent for other holidays as well....red lights for Valentine's day, blue for 4th of July, etc.

January marks our 5th anniversary since the start of Airborne Angel Cadets of Texas. We adopted our first platoon of 35 soldiers from Ft. Bragg in January 2005 and haven't looked back. 2009 was a banner year for us with over 2500 boxes sent, reaching over 5000 soldiers thru our rotations of 12 adopted platoons almost doubling what was sent in 2008. Some of our past recipients have returned for another deployment and have contacted us asking for our care packages once again. Of course, we say "yes" since they are now part of "our family" and we support them for the duration of their deployment!

Many of our soldiers are in the more remote locations or FOB's (forward operating bases) with very little amenities or access to basic goods such as deodorant, toothpaste, soap, etc. These are the soldiers that we try to reach and assist. Of our cash donations in 2009, more than 50% went to postage costs, which remains our biggest challenge. Trying to get boxes directly into the APO system to save on those costs has proved challenging and unsuccessful.

If anyone has any ideas out there or can assist us, please let us know. We would love to be able to use those funds to purchase items that soldiers need or have requested.