Choose a base or unit and then get in touch with them to find out if they still have anything stored from last year, and find out what they'd like for the holidays. (I'll give you an email and APO address, and email them to expect you)
Find out what THEY want to have around to make them feel more Christmas-y while away from home, but don't promise that you can fulfill all the wishes, just that you will try to fulfill some of them.
Do they want...
Stockings with stocking stuffers? What would be popular if included in the stocking?
A tree and decorations (they may already have one stored somewhere)?
A big present for all to share, like an Xbox or Playstation2 or portable DVD player or an assortment of games or movies?
Sports equipment?
Christmas snacks?
Christmas music CD's?
Then figure out what it would cost and how many people it would take to fill those desires.
And then we put out an appeal on the thread or start a special thread for that base or unit, like Christmas in Kirkuk thread. You can hit up your family, friends and neighbors to make contributions, too.
You organize who's going to do what, keep track of who's donating what (money and goods), and keep people on schedule to get little things sent to you for packing efficiently or to mail off themselves their larger items or packages on time to reach the bases before Christmas, and finally use the collected money to buy, pack and mail off other things.
I'll support you with information to pass along on how to mail stuff....as you already know from Operation Popcorn.
Finally, you check with me before giving out an APO so I can screen them. We have a lot more people now that have proven trustworthy troop supporters than we had at the beginning, so it is wonderful now that I don't have to do all this myself, knowing a lot of people now from experience who are good, loyal Americans who want to help our troops in harm's way and can be trusted to mail their packages directly to the troop unit contact.
Any more questions? I also bow down and say "I am not worthy" to anyone who takes on a base or unit for Christmas holidays.
I'll take one of the Kirkuk groups, and yell for help as needed.
Patty-
I would love to help coordinate one of the Christmas units but I'm about to start EMT training (on top of my regular full-time job) and I just don't know what kind of time I'm going to have.
I'll contribute goods and/or money to one of the units, tho.