VANITY: Operation BAEN BULK 2012 Kickoff

I don't like shilling my own stuff, but this is a little different. So here we go. . .

I’ve been here on FreeRepublic for 12 years now, and also the founder of a small informal organization that delivers support to the deployed troops in unit-size lots, instead of individual CARE packages. We’re kicking off our annual push tomorrow, and are asking for your support. . .

I’m including our standard one-page “elevator pitch”. Our current outfit being supported is the 60th Ordnance Company, aka the Wolfpack, which recently deployed to Afghanistan.

OBB is a different kind of support for the troops. Instead of focusing on individuals, we support entire UNITS, by finding what they need, or want, and can’t easily or quickly get while deployed. . .and get it to them. In LARGE quantities. Think of it as the Warehouse Club approach to Soldier Support: we use the power of buying and shipping in bulk, to maximize the stuff delivered to our troops, out at the pointy end of the spear, and minimize things like waste, shipping costs, etc. And in the process, generally deliver a lot more to the individual soldier than normal “CARE Packages” do.

Operation BAEN BULK started in the fall of 2009, when the founder got a 90-day layoff notice, and moved into the Layoff Pool. With nothing to keep him busy, he corresponded with a few deployed GIs, and noticed that while they had individual requests, there were a number of things they mentioned their entire outfit needed or wanted. And he needed a project to keep him sane while looking for a job with the economy going south And thus, was BAEN BULK born: a bunch of SF fans, all of whom read the military SF that Baen Books published, pooled our money and resources to insure the ZombieKillers (a training detachment somewhere in Afghanistan) could have some Christmas Trees and good coffee. And kept him busy, productive and sane. (and yes, he did find another job. A BETTER job, in fact. . . )

Since then, we’ve provided for the oddball requests and creature comfort needs of several deployed units. . . and now, we’re moving on to a crowd-sourced model for raising funds, with achievement tiers so as soon as a threshold is reached, items will be ordered and sent off to the Ammo Dawgs. . .

First, we get in touch with an individual at a given unit. We talk to them, and find out the specific needs and wants of the unit. Then we find the best buys we can find to deliver those wants. We then raise the funds, and when we get enough, we order the stuff, and send it to the troops.

This one’s easy. You go to our website at http://OBB.TeddRoberts.com You make a donation, using a major credit or debit card, or PayPal. And then, once we pass the “tipover” point, it’s on. We keep collecting donations until the scheduled end of campaign OR we hit $2500. (if THAT happens, we cut off donations, and prep for the next unit we’re helping, and re-open as soon as we have their needs. . .) , then PayPal turns the money over to us, we order the stuff, and it ships to the soldiers. Anything over the “tipover” allows us to send more stuff, which we list on the site. . .The next step. . .is up to you. We’ve been doing this for three years. We’d love to have you join us. . .

1 posted on 07/12/2012 6:45:11 PM PDT by Salgak

Salgak and Tedd are good friends of mine and they have done a lot for the troops with this program. Currently, my nephew is in the Stan with the 4th ID.

2 posted on 07/12/2012 8:07:56 PM PDT by ClayinVA ("Those who don't remember history are doomed to repeat it")

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