CARE PACKAGES for our Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, 2006

patriciaruth ^ | 1-21-06 | patriciaruth

[patriciaruth]

Okay, we'll divvy up the goodies tomorrow so everyone knows who's mailing what where and what the shortfalls are for the 4th of July mailings to Tal Afar, Mosul and Stryker at the border.

I'm bleary eyed, so someone please notify anyone else who is interested in contributing to the 4th of July care packages.

[patriciaruth]

This is my ongoing effort to help soldiers in the war zones that started in the summer of 2001.

We do a little work with the wounded on the side, but mainly we send things to our adopted units in the field.

[SENClander]

Yep, the lemonade packs are the same as the Crystal Lite. Our local grocery store, Food Lion, had them.

[Abigail Adams]

Here's an article about the new Stryker unit that's going to be taking over for our current Stryker unit in Mosul:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1630194/posts

[patriciaruth]

FOURTH OF JULY organizing attempt:

Looks like snacks and drinks are covered for Tal Afar if you add up these packages. They could use 40 more flag plates and napkins. They have enough cups.
TAL AFAR
Kattracks mailing May 15, 2006, to Tal Afar
2 boxes Pop Weaver Popcorn (4 packages per),
2 pkgs. French's Potato Sticks,
1 bag Chex Mix,
1 bag Chex Sweet & Salty Mix,
2 pkgs. Rolets Fried Rinds,
10 boxes Slim Jims (5 per),
1 tub of Tang (makes 6 qts.),
1 tub of Country Time Pink Lemonade (makes 8 qts.),
1 tablecloth (blue with stars border),
20 red plates, 20 blue plates, 20 Flag plates,
60 napkins (20 each R/W/B) ,
100 cups (50 red, 50 blue),
2 Flag balloons (w/string),
1 tabletop decoration (R/W/B streamers).

Fanfan mailing May 11, 2006 to Tal Afar
1 package of Dare 'Ultimate Maple Leaf' cookies. 350 grams.
1 package of Dare 'Ultimate Cinnamon Danish' cookies. 350g.
2 packages of Crystal Light Pink Lemonade, 2 pouches/box. Each box makes 3 litres.
2 packages of Crystal Light Cranberry Breeze, 2 pouches/box.
2 packages of Werther's Original hard candies, 198 g, ea. (maybe 20/bag).
1 large bag Strawberry Twizzlers, (red licorish) 454g.
1 package Excel sugarless spearmint gum, (4 packs)
1 box Higgins and Burke green tea. 20 bags.
1 personal size One Step hand sanitizer.
1 box of 50 Cottonelle unscented personal wipes.
Book: Net Force (Tom Clancy series)
a pack of cards,
some USA flag stickers and skin tattoos
a red Frisbee with Canada logo

DrDeb mailing around May 12, 2006, to Tal Afar
2 books:
Rebel in Chief (Fred Barnes)
Saddam's Secrets (Georges Sada)
2 Burt's Bees 'Lifeguard's Choice' lip balm
1 deck of playing cards
Beef Jerky
6 Candy/Gum:
bag of Jelly Belly 'Bunny Corn'
box of Dubble Bubble bubble gum
giant tootsie rolls
Necco wafers and Smarties
Jelly Belly bubble gum
Pop Rocks candy

SENCLander mailing around May 9, 2006, to Tal Afar, 6 boxes
2 boxes (100 ea) of Slim Jims,
36 pkgs Orbit gum,
35 Nature Valley granola bars, 35 Nature Valley trail mix bars,
36 pkgs Welch's dried fruit,
60 pkgs Oreos,
45 tube pkgs Planter's nuts,
4 boxes (10 ea) Country Time lemonade on-the-go,
6 boxes (40 ea) Bigelow tea-in-no-time,
an NFL draft magazine, 3 Cabela's catalogs, and 1 Ducks Unlimited catalog.




STRYKER on the Syrian border needs a lot more stuff, or we could just send these items of kattracks to Mosul instead, and Coop and I could send our lemonade mix and plates and cups to Stryker at the border. And then get a couple volunteers to send food items, like cookies or cans of stacked potato chips.

Kattracks mailing May 15, 2006, to Stryker near Syrian border (but may want to reroute to Mosul instead.
4 pkgs. French's Potato Sticks,
1 lg. box Crunch n' Munch,
10 boxes Slim Jims (5 per),
1 jar Roasted Peanuts (1 lb.),
2 pkgs. Rolets Fried rinds,
1 pkg. Chex Ceddar mix,
pkg. of Chex Cheddar mix
1 tub Kool Aid Cherry mix (makes 8qts.)
tub Kool Aid Tropical Punch mix (makes 8 qts.),
30 Flag plates, 36 cups (12 each R/W/B),
36 Flag napkins
1 tablecloth (blue w/ stars border),
2 Flag balloons,
1 tabletop decoration.

Patriciaruth has these items which could be sent to Stryker at the border
3 canisters (96 qts) Country Time lemonade
10 3x5” flags on wooden sticks
200 flag napkins
212 small flag plates
180 large flag plates

Coops has offered to get 200 16 oz red and maybe some blue plastic cups and maybe some filler food items to send. He could send these to Stryker at the border, too.



Stryker at Mosul
MOSUL
Kattrack could send her package here, and JoyjoyfromNJ could divide her decorations up, and send half to Stryker at the border and half to Mosul

SENClander could help send some food items, like cookies or canisters of stacked potato chips in a box or two.
JoyjoyfromNJ has posted her decoration items, and here they are. She can put these lists together and give us an update of what she’s got and how she’s going to divide them.
200/250 small flag "toothpicks" ; about 6 RWB "star" thin wire garlands (18 to 25 yards each); 4 RWB-flag banner/pennants (12 feet each)
Updated decoration list for Mosul from memory:
LOTS of flag picks (300+); 5 metallic flag banners, approx 11 ft each; 1 flag banner 12 feet; 1 plastic "bunting" banner, approx 12 ft;10 RWB wire garlands approx 18 to 25 ft each; 200 napkins;70 RWB "chinese" yo-yo's (they flick in and out from a stick);5 RWB tablecloths. Will be checking out another party supply store this afternoon and will post updates, probably tomorrow afternoon. I'm aiming to get this all in the mail Saturday May 13. Will post when mailed

a 500 ft roll of RWB crepe streamer and 7 bags of RWB balloons (15 total balloons per bag)

[Coop]

I'm going shopping tomorrow evening. Let me know if there's anything else specifically needed (besides the cups). Otherwise I'm just gonna use my judgment as to what they might enjoy for a party.

[patriciaruth]

Your judgment sounds good to me.

Let us know what you get, and then we'll get a volunteer to fill in extras.

[fanfan]

You are amazing Patty!

Thank you so much for all your hard work.

:-D

[Coop]

Thanks. Do you know if my destination has a microwave?

[fanfan]

I got a request for home made cookies and brownies.

Ack! I can't cook!

[fanfan]

Hi Coop!

[Coop]

Howdy! Break down and bribe a friend/family member to bake the brownies and cookies! :-)

[patriciaruth]

They are living in tents there with limited electricity and very little internet access. I assume that means no microwave.

[fanfan]

Good idea!

How do we keep them fresh without shrink wrapping, and preservatives?

[omegatoo]

Hey patti,

Believe it or not, I still have 2 big boxes of popcorn that don't expire til the end of June. If you freepmail me the addresses I'll send them out with this batch.

omegatoo

[patriciaruth]

We can't send homebaked stuff to our APO's because of the time delay and for security reasons.

Most homebaked cookies sent to Iraq come moldy.

We can only send commercially wrapped cookies and brownies with an outdate of at least 1 month ahead.

[Coop]

Double Ziploc 'em, and have the boxes pre-addressed and ready to go prior to baking. As soon as they cool, load 'em and ship 'em! :-)

[Coop]

Thanks, that helps. Jiffy Pop instead of microwave popcorn! :-)

[patriciaruth]

BUY some good quality commercial brownies and cookies in boxes with an outdate of at least one month ahead of your mailing date.

It is nuts to do otherwise.

[patriciaruth]

Terrific!

Send them to Tal Afar! I just promised them some popcorn. I was going to get about 50 bags to use as filler for some TV series boxed sets I'm sending them. Your boxes will complete the amount needed perfectly!

FReepmail coming.