January Packing Party Recap

On January 21, we held our first large packing party for 2012. A special thanks to Daren, Rick, James and Jenell for their assistance and use of the USMP warehouse.

We packed 171 care package boxes this past weekend for our soldiers serving overseas in Afghanistan. In  addition to Valentine themed items, we also shipped snacks, coffee, toiletries, blankets, DVD's and assorted other items.

There are still roughly 100,000 American troops serving in Afghanistan.

For our troop contacts in Afghanistan who were not recipients of the above January care packages, we will continue to make smaller shipments throughout January, February and March. Our next large packing party is tentatively scheduled for the end of March, and will be coordinated with our receipt of Girl Scout cookies.

As always, thanks to all the volunteers and donors who helped make the packing party a success.

For those inquiring about our special requests, we now have a special request for a large number of pillows, twin mattress pads and sheets.

New requests from soldiers arriving in Afghanistan

This past week, Joanne, Amber, E.D., Sarah and Nancy worked for 2 days boxing up and mailing off initial boxes containing approximately 70 mattress pads, 30 or so sheet sets, dozens of throw blankets, blankets from the Carrollton Senior Center,  bed caddies and a couple boxes of fabric softener sheets.

As the remainder of the unit arrives, more of these items will be needed. We have been purchasing twin mattress pads at Target ($6.99) and WalMart ($6.96). Keep in mind the other items mentioned. In addition, we have been amassing pillows for Zach. We found pillows at WalMart for $2.50 each (standard, deep pocket).

Below are some comments from our contact (pertaining to the above shipment) who has just arrived in Afghanistan with a huge contingent of soldiers.

Nancy, You're awesome! No, we don't have the ability to do our own laundry, we have to turn it in in laundry bags and have the locals wash it. Therefore, Soldiers prior have said they just throw in the bag one of those washer/dryer sheets and their laundry comes back cleaner and smelling pretty :o)

I still haven't moved into my permanent quarters so I'm still unsure what my actual living area is going to be like, but I think the mattress pad and sheets will be a good start for me and all. Don't want any bugs regardless of where you're living!!! Oh, and the heater you mentioned would be great right now for my office. It gets so cold in here - brrrrrrrrrr! But luckily they said the weather should warm up by March :o)

Other things I noticed:

Soldiers respond to Christmas care packages

Nancy, I am forwarding a simple Story Board that, in part, reflects the overwhelming generosity and the incredible benefit that your group has provided to the Soldiers of Task Force Lobos.  You will receive this in
a much more formal way, but I wanted you to see what my Task Force Commander was shown this past week.

He has seen us out and about, sharing the packages that you have sent.  Truth is, there is no way to give you the true story of how these supplies have benefited the Soldiers out here.  I hear a lot of "Wow! You have these?" and "This is the kind I like to use!" and "Who sent all this out here?"  So I tell the story of Airborne Angel Cadets and your sacrificial giving to the cause of Soldiers.

Thank you again and again.
V/r, James, Camp Marmal, Afghanistan

* Additional photos of our 2011 Christmas care packages being received in Afghanistan can be seen on our Feature Pages website.