Posted on 02/19/2005 12:40:42 AM PST by patriciaruth
Time for a new thread!
Our Merry Band of Patriots has seen a psy-ops unit at Bagram, Afghanistan, help educate voters in Afghanistan and come home successfully, while we supported them and special forces in the field by sending over 100 movies and many packages of snacks and toiletries and Hallowe'en candy. A Christmas tree and decorations (Daybreakcoming) and stockings (Ican'tbelieveit) and cards and over 400 candy canes were sent for their follow-on unit, and a box with movies and magazines and misc is just beginning to fill for their next care package. The movies and books we sent previously went into the Special Forces library there.
We've seen Beast Battery at Kirkuk, Iraq, through till their deployment home, sending them over 100 movies and dozens of books and a microwave and DVD/VCR player (from arjay) and many big boxes of snacks. Plus a huge wave of goodies was organized by McLynnan for Christmas in Kirkuk (2 prelit trees, ornaments, Santa suit, many stockings with stuffers, many cards, and a couple thousand candy canes to share out with all the forces there).
We've supported the 411th Engineers at Baghdad in 2004 with about 70 movies and several dozen books, a Playstation 2 and a Nintendo console with a couple dozen games (from asgardshill and ican'tbelieveit), a 4 foot Christmas tree and ornaments and boxes of snacks and many cards and 600 candy canes. In the next couple months we will be bidding them Godspeed as they return to their homebase in Hawaii.
We've sent over 50 movies, a DVD/VCR player (from arjay), and a dozen and a half books to an MI unit near Kirkuk, plus some Christmas decorations and stocking stuffers, and many cards and 156 candy canes. They have mostly left for home now and we just sent a package with more movies to their follow-on unit.
Also we have sent some packages to an Aviation unit at Balad, Iraq and to an Infantry Medics unit, and a small Christmas package each to another AVN unit and an MP unit.
Stryker Infantry company formerly at Fallujah and now at Mosul since November has been the major focus of our care packages these past months. All of Stryker at Mosul has taken fire, and our adopted company has suffered a KIA and some soldiers with severe injuries.
Early on we sent food items (mostly power bars and dried fruit and nuts) then Christmas stockings stuffed with goodies and many cards and 200 candy canes, and since Christmas have begun sending movies. They recently received a DVD/VCR player (from arjay) and with the movies just mailed today their collection will total about 75 movies and a dozen books.
And all this happened because our grassroots volunteer group began forming in the early summer of 2001 to send care packages to Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo, when the 101st Airborne and then the 10th Mountain were there.
The contents of packages just mailed will be listed in post below.
GMTA :o) After reading last night of the generosity of FReepers on this project, I was hoping the same thing.
A friend's son is headed for Iraq in December - will be getting an addy from him later on and see if his post is on your list. He is the uncle of the little girl that was killed in the accident I think I told you about.
I had a note from Tel Afar last night after I notified him of what was coming. He was very very happy about the new Cabela's catalog being included. :o) Other items included were:
5 bags of individually wrapped candies -
3 bags of 100 each Double Bubble gum (for the kids) -
plastic Christmas tub -
Christmas tablecloth -
3 bunches of silk poinsettas and holly.
9 paperbacks (spy/action/thrillers) including the Cabelas Christmas catalog
Here's an update on items shipped to Mosul:
From LittleSpotBlog, shipped 11/16:
50 packets of hot chocolate = 50
48 granola bars
various candy (hard candy and assorted Hershey's)
4 packages of tinsel
multi-colored plastic snowflake ornaments
small glass ornaments and hangers
3 CDs of Christmas music
From The Right Stuff, shipping 11/18:
15 packages of hot chocolate (10 individual packages each)
72 cups of pudding snacks
3 tree garlands
1 string of lights
playing cards
the John Wayne movie "Chisum"
4 boxes of unbreakable ornaments
tea and coffee sets.
We will be shipping our stuff, along with things bought on behalf of musicman, early next week. I'll list the items when they are shipped. Just FYI, we did buy the "A Christmas Story" DVD.
God bless our troops!
Would you please see my post #1021 of what I sent earlier this week? Just realized I did not copy to you on it. Started out talking to Patty about something else and and usual......I'm sorry.
Also - Louisiana Legislature Staff Members have donated between 50 and 60 bags of individually wrapped candy for Tel Afar. Postal cost was $60 which they paid for.
That's great news about all the candy going to Tal Afar from the Louisiana legislators!!
How about sending a few of those packs to a baker's dozen remnant of soldiers we have left monitoring and forgotten in Kosovo?
I can FReepmail you the APO.
You've mastered the art of shilling for the troops evidentally!!
Cheers!!
Can you remember the titles or the singers on your 3 Christmas CD's. I'm trying to keep a record so we don't send duplicates.
You all are doing a fantastic job!
They are going to love your package!!
News:
Daybreakcoming is going to be hosting the "Send a letter or Christmas card to the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan" thread this year as I am down with a cold.
I previewed a donated DVD movie Elf (Bob Newhart, Will Ferrell) last night and was surprised to find I enjoyed it.
So, reasonably good modern Christmas movies that one can get to donate to the troops are
A Christmas Story (about Ralphie and his Red Rider gun)
The Santa Clause (Tim Allen) - the first one is the reasonably good one.
Elf (Bob Newhart, Will Ferrell, James Caan)
We have been getting some very generous donations, and thank you to all.
If a few people could send some modest donations to help nina0113 out with postage expenses, it would be appreciated. I've delegated purchasing the Xbox for Bagram's Special Forces to her and also getting some multi-player adaptor accessories for the Playstation2 already with the Engineers in Baghdad.
I am sending her the donated money for the purchases, but she'll have additional postage on top of the $100 or so she has already incurred sending out a lot of regular Christmas care packages lately.
Oh, that is so great that you are remembering our wounded at Walter Reed.
THANK YOU so much for doing that!!
I've got the best teacher!!! :o)
Sometimes people just need the opportunity put in front of them to show their caring support. Candy is still coming in from them so will get this next batch out to Kosovo.
Drink lots and lots of water to flush those old cold germs out. Hey even doctors need reminding. lol
Okay, I'll go swill some more juice and fluids.
Then I'll FReepmail you the APO for Kosovo.
It's an honor, and I'm happy to say that there are quite a few folks that participate.
5.56mm
Mailed today, November 19, to Psyops in Baghdad:
Box 1
Value--$100 Postage--$23.35
1-Velveteen Deluxe Santa Suit
Box 2
Value--$57 Postage--$35.75
2-2lb. cans of Mixed Nuts
2-2lb. cans of Cashews
12-Snowflake Lanterns
36-Foam Holiday Masks
3-Hanging Santas w/tissue beards
2-Snowflake Garland
12- Hanging Metallic Snowflakes
Box 3
Value--$47 Postage--$43.92
1 box with 60 pkgs of Swiss Miss Hot Choclate
50-Napkins
2 Xmas Cards & Rush Limbaugh CD's from Patty
3 LB. Plastic jar of French Vanilla Cappucino
1 box with 48 pkgs. Spiced Apple Cider
2-Red Velvet Wreath Bows w/bells
4-Blue Velvet Bows w/bells
12-Hanging Snowflake Cutouts
1-American Pride 2006 Calendar
2-Santa Claus Candles
Box4
Value--$40 Postage--23.35
2-Spiral Christmas Tree tealight holders (very cute)
48-Plastic Holiday Cups
3-Snowflake Candle Holders
18 Tealight Candles
2-6ft. Strands of Blue Garland
(Sending final boxes out on Tuesday) :)
Mailed today to 362nd in Bagram:
Box 2 – food – wt. 30.32# - postage 19.55
40-pack Rice Krispies treats
60 pack Swiss Miss Cocoa
36-pack Act II Butter Lovers Popcorn
180-pack Twizzlers (individually wrapped)
2# Italian fruit flavored hard candy (700+ pieces)
7 10-packs cider mix
38 oz. honey roasted peanuts
White cheddar popcorn salt
box of 20 chai teabags
24 oz. Oriental snack mix
28 oz mixed almond & cashew Roca
52 oz plain Holiday M&Ms
Box 3 – food – wt. 32.92# – postage 20.65
30-pack Oreos
58 oz. Goldfish
50 Almond-pistachio biscotti
40 oz. Mixed nuts (no peanuts)
54 oz canister Swiss Miss cocoa
5 10-packs cider mix
can of 60 Pirouline cookies (chocolate/hazelnut)
2# soft peppermint sticks (82 count)
28 oz almond/cashew Roca
52 oz peanut holiday M&Ms
Box 4 – food – wt. 39.30# postage 24.25
36-pack Act II Butter Lovers popcorn
40-pack Rice Krispies Treats
58 oz. Goldfish
30 oz Poppycock (like Crackerjack)
24 oz Oriental snack mix
28 oz Almond/cashew Roca
cheddar popcorn salt
2# soft peppermint sticks
52 oz Holiday peanut M&Ms
Box 5 – food - wt. 30.22# postage 19.55
36-pack Butter Lovers Popcorn
30-pack Oreos
50 Almond-pistachio biscotti
30 oz Poppycock
60-pack Swiss Miss Cocoa
4 10-packs cider mix
28 oz almond/cashew Roca
butter salt
40-pack Constant Comment teabags
Box 6 – food – wt.31.38# postage 20.10
2 30-packs Oreos
1 40-pack Rice Krispie treats
50 Biscotti
180 Twizzlers
30 oz Poppycock
52 oz plain Holiday M&Ms
28 oz almond/cashew Roca
2 24 oz bags Oriental snack mix
Box 7 – food & games – wt 32.86# postage 20.65
2 – 2 # Italian fruit hard candy
2 canisters of 60 Pirouline cookies
38 oz honey roasted peanuts
4 10-packs cider mix
2# peppermint sticks
40 oz mixed nuts (no peanuts)
24 oz oriental snack mix
board game set (Chess, backgammon, etc.)
Pingpong for 4 set
Box 8 – music & movies wt. 18.46# – postage & insurance 16.40
Karaoke machine
Extra microphone
Assorted karaoke cds (didn’t inventory before taping box, sorry, I know there’s Christmas, party & sevaral others)
DVDs – It’s a Wonderful Life, Christmas Vacation
A careful reader will note there is no "Box 1" listed - that's because Box 1 was three inches larger than the size limit of 108" so it got rejected. I didn't bother to measure it because it didn't look big enough to be an issue. WRONG!! I'll have to find another box & break it up & send them as Box 1 and Box 1A. Of course those were the Christmas decorations.
If you need more ideas, look at the list of treats that nina0113 just posted that were mailed to Bagram in Afghanistan today.
Goodnight!
Are you declaring bankruptcy next week?
That is overwhelming! Their jaws are going to drop!
And then later they are going to have one great party!!
MJY1288 got their Christmas tree today and will mail before Thanksgiving. Our local optometrist benefactor is mailing Mike a check Monday for his expenses.
Are you up to getting the stuff at Circuit City/Best Buy before Thanksgiving or are you in intensive care now?
Wow! I feel so unimaginative ;-)
BTW, I saw some DVD players today at Wal-Mart for $36.00.
WOW!
Just WOW!
That all sounds so GORGEOUS!
If they don't send us a picture, I will feel so cheated.
I really have to see these things, they sound so fantastic!
Are they DVD players you have to hook up to a TV?
What is a Cabela's catalog?
I'm never afraid to look totally stupid.
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