I've been doing this for about a year and I struggle with how to pick...I want to help them all, which of course I can't do.  So I find myself going back and forth between sending to as many as possible  (maybe only once); and really concentrating on one group/person.  I wondered what other supporters thought about.  Thanks!

Hey, great question. I just started about a month ago, and I have already sent stuff to 6 different contacts.. one should have gotten his a while back, but I never heard anything BUT I dont' expect to. The others I at least put delivery confirmation so that I can at least tell when it got there, though not necessarily to the person. Yes, I include all of my contact info, letters w/ packages inside of cards, and just recently I orderd the anysoldier post cards. I will use those for my return address and ask maybe they just write.."got it" as well as include some blank ones for them to use to send home (postage is pre paid).

Anyway, I too, want to help all. I may never be lucky enough to establish a steady contact, and if not, I will continue to pick "at random". what I do is read what they wrote first and foremost.. if they put some content in there for me to know what to do, that gets a point (lol).. Then I look at # times requested,, I tend to make the ASSUMPTION if high # then lots of support, but I double check the filter by last email to read updates.. great info there!

I do read what they want.. if it is something I know I cannot get, I will tend to look to another. Or, if they are in a good condition , I might tag them as a smaller package. But when I read something that someone took the time to say who they are, they don't have much, and directly ask for things, I tend to go to those.. and for me, NC gets an edge  lol

I know that helps you absolutely none,, I am just saying there are some of us newbies that are still random  lol

 But, if I am ever blessed to establish a contact, then I will support them first and foremost and maybe ask them for ideas. who know.. or maybe keep random for secondary contacts.. it is HARD TO PICK!!

That's nice to know.  I also have personal conflicts with which branch...I have a son-in-law in the Army; another son-in-law in the Navy; a step-Dad that's retired Marine and brother-in-law that was Air Force 

I have a really good contact right now and it tends to be much more personal and I seem very focused on him/them. 

I love'm all! 

I tend to pick just from what they say in their posts.  I never even pay attention to where, or what branch, there is just usually something someone will write that will get to me.  I never seem to pick those that just make a list of what they want, it's just too impersonal for me.  Thanks to whoever does pick those though--they need support too! 

There have been several that I've ended up corresponding with, that turned out to be from Alabama, even though there wasn't initially anything on the site to indicate that.  That's always fun, and always a nice surprise.

There are some people I've noticed have the same "tastes" in picking names as I do--If the contact mentions names in the post, certain names tend to show up on almost everyone I've picked too.  I keep scanning the "introduce yourself" posts to see if this one certain person who has been mentioned ALOT has come on board with us.

I've gotten a lot of great info off here in the last week or so--thanks to everyone who posts and shares!

This is the hardest part!  I can't tell you how much time it takes me to decide.  The first time around, we chose 4 -- one with each of the first names of the 4 people in our family.  I think that helped our kids feel connected.  Two replied, two did not.  It is so hard to know if you should continue sending packages to a soldier that does not reply -- and does not update their anysoldier page.  I know we should not expect a response, and we know many do not have the time or energy to be a penpal -- and that is completely fine.  However, it is nice to get a "got it" email or have the soldier mention that they rec'd packages on their page.  We stayed with 2 of the soldiers until they ended their duty.  

We have also chosen soldiers based on their home states and occupation.  We enjoyed sending packages to people listed as social workers and clergy -- knowing that they would distribute the items to those with the most need.  There have also been times when we look at the size of the group and # requested and also whether or not there were women in the group. 

Hope these ideas help!  Each time we look for a new contact, we end up choosing for a different set of reasons.   

 

 

 

 

I can identify with all the previous posts!  I agonize over all the postings when I am looking to choose one.  It's a bit cheaper to ship to APOs than to FPOs from Oklahoma, so that is one criteria I often look at.  I also look at how many have requested a particular group.  (That feature wasn't available to us until fairly recently, and it sure has been a big help to me.)  Like RoomMom, I enjoy working with MWR or chaplains/assistants because they are obviously people oriented and fairly easy to connect with.  They are good at letting me know what the folks they represent are needing.  I, too, struggled with whether to keep sending to those who didn't respond.  I realize they are busy and might not be able to, but I decided that since I can only afford to send to so many, I would use that as a sort of checks and balances for myself.  I sent out a LOT of packages to different units at the beginning, but finally disciplined myself to keep up with four to five regulars at a time, plus I send a few smaller packages or just letters to another four or five.  That has worked pretty well for me.  When one rotates home, I choose another.  I also try to choose folks who are going to be there for more than a few months, since the conversation back and forth is more valuable than the items I can buy.  I enjoy building friendships, and that takes time.  All that said, there are times when a post will just grab me and I MUST respond to it, either because it touches my heart or because they need something unusual I can provide.

I look for people whose groups need things I can send, and I have a soft spot for those stationed way out in the boondocks or without a PX.  I also like picking units from different areas.  I have learned a lot about the rest of the country by becoming friends with folks all the way from Alaska to Florida.    Sometimes I choose someone because they are stationed where I had a previous contact, and I'm somewhat familiar with the area and conditions they will be dealing with.  If I'm including letters from my students in a package, I am looking for people who say they welcome correspondence from kids and that they like to write back, as my middle schoolers LOVE getting  any mail, and mail from a soldier is a HUGE deal to them.

I guess there are as many different reasons for picking someone as there are troops to pick and supporters to do the picking.    That's a good thing, because it means - hopefully - EVERYone gets supported by someone.

 

I am sure you have seen soldiers tell of the spooky frequency which a guy in the unit will need something and then as if by magic- a package will arrive soon after with that item. 

I hate to sound like a flake, but maybe I need to just face facts and accept it... but I believe that some other power may be guiding us, from the contacts we "choose" to the things we might decide to put inside a package, or the words we write in a letter. 

I may think I'm picking names, but there have been times when I have requested an address and was not able to get to it for a few days... and then when I go back to review the person's update- to remind myself why I chose them- I will not find any signifigant identifying feature that would make that update stand out from others to me... this confuses me to no end because at the time I request the address I feel very, I don't know the word... directed.

Also, I usually try to pick people from other states- maybe it sounds odd- but I feel like my support would be register as "National" (my country supports me) rather than local (my hometown supports me)   ... for example- I know our Local VFW keeps a list of our hometown soldiers and sends them care packages from here- I am sure that is very meaningful to them and they need support from home- but I figure between the VFW and their family- they have Hoosier support - but what would it mean to one of them to get a letter from Wyoming or Maryland that says, "We care"   ...well, that's my theory- so - I'm going to send support to someone else's small town or big city soldier... and you send one to the Hoosiers K?

I do this with my friend.  We pick our contacts differently.  She tends to pick younger guys of lower rank, as she is a mom of four boys.  It pulls her heart strings.  I tend to pick contacts that are older, higher rank, and have the gift of gab.  How ever that being said we have agreed that we both have to agree on the contacts.  We have five contacts, plus my brother in Kuwait and my cousin in Afgan.  We have had two ladies in two of these units wrote us about our ladies boxes.  They each get two boxes from us a month,  more if they are sharing with other ladies.  They get a toiletries box and a fun box.  They always let us know what they need.  We have also agreed that we will support these units till they are home, then we will begain again.

I have a soft spot for female soldiers and younger guys. 

The female soldiers seem to have a rough time getting any kind of "girl stuff," from pantiliners to hair clips to sports bras, or anything that makes them "feel like a girl for a change." I hate feeling grubby, so I sympathize with their situation.

I am unapologetically sexist and believe that most younger guys don't understand and have trouble dealing with the emotions attendant to being far from home in miserable conditions fighting an unpopular war.  My heart goes out to them, especially those that never get anything from friends or family.

I am also inclined towards the soldiers who seem to be far away from a PX, or have a very small one that rarely has any little treats and is often out of the most basic necessities.  I think they need our support more than those who are living on a large base. I also like knowing I can make a big difference on a limited budget, and that I'm sending stuff to someone who really needs it.  (How many of the people we give gifts to here at home really need anything?  If anything, most of us have much too much!)

Like others here, I also look for soldiers who need something I either have on hand or know where to get at a bargain price.

Finally, I'm inclined to soldiers who want things for the Iraqis. I'm so moved when a soldier living in very difficult and primitive conditions says they try not to complain because they know that the Iraqis have things so much worse than they do.  Now there is a hero!

Sarah:

Also, I usually try to pick people from other states- maybe it sounds odd- but I feel like my support would be register as "National" (my country supports me) rather than local (my hometown supports me)   ... for example- I know our Local VFW keeps a list of our hometown soldiers and sends them care packages from here- I am sure that is very meaningful to them and they need support from home- but I figure between the VFW and their family- they have Hoosier support - but what would it mean to one of them to get a letter from Wyoming or Maryland that says, "We care"   ...well, that's my theory- so - I'm going to send support to someone else's small town or big city soldier.

I guess I never thought of it in that way... but you make a good point here!  I like the way you think!

We choose certain criteria first.  We try to first get to the medical units - hospitals, medics, aid stations, etc.  Then we look for units from our state because there are few whole units from Arkansas.  Next we look for the ones in remote/new outposts that don't have amenities like PX, running water, electricity or chow hall.  We don't worry as much about the ones who sit at the base and do office work mostly although we still care about them.  We don't ignore them, but they aren't our first priorities.  We like to pay special attention to the young ones who have nobody that sends anything to them and don't get mail at all.

Gran

I am similar to most of you, it seems, in that my choices vary. My first few contacts were Navy SeaBees, because my brother was a SeaBee that served in Op. Desert Storm; a few from my home state; a few based on their requests, such as board games (which I had a bunch of at Christmas time); and I also chose one soldier who is not in either Iraq or Afghanistan, figuring that there is less support for them.

But I really have to agree with Sarah: I feel like my contacts were meant to be MY contacts:

I chose a male soldier in Afghanistan because he had the same name (first and last!) as a little boy I know, and his living conditions were very primitive. He also had 1 female soldier, so I sent 1 male and 1 female package. He posted on the site that he'd received packages, and it sounded like he'd gotten mine, so as I was preparing another male package to send, I got a small package from a female in Afghanistan. She was the recipient of my package, and just happened to come from my home state, and has the same last name as my sister! She sent me a lovely letter, and 2 bracelets from Afghanistan: 1 for me and 1 for my niece who sent a drawing. So I believe she was supposed to be MY contact, and she's not even the one who signed up for AnySoldier!

:)

Jenifer / Jenifer_one_N

I have specific criteria:

1. They can't have had a lot of address requests (this often happens at the end of the alphabet!) - I usually look back a day, since I believe generally speaking, people tend to look at today's listings when searching out a potential recipient.
2. They either want what I already have on hand, OR don't specify.
3. Ideally, they have a large amount of Soldiers they can get the box to.
4. They are in Iraq or Afghanistan. This isn't to say I don't think the soldiers in Kuwait or Germany aren't worth attention! But I want to get things to the ones who are more apt to be in immediate danger.

 I tend to send more times to male soldiers, as the females tend to get more requests, but one in a while I will, like if I have Estee Lauder samples. ;)

Boy do I feel your pain!

Sometimes I can't bear to read the posts, because I just can't get to all of them!

Generally, I read a bunch and go with one that jumps out to me.  If I'm at a complete loss, I pick the one with the least requests to date, from a couple days ago.

My fear is someone slipping trhough the cracks.

 ETA, right now I do concentrate on Iraq and Afganistan as well.

Like most everyone else here, it kills me that I can't support each and every contact.  I've been doing this for a few years now, and I choose my contacts based on a gut reaction to their posts.  I don't know that I can expalin it... like someone else has already said, sometimes I feel like I'm being led to a certain person/group.  I almost always use the flat rate boxes so I don't concern myself with whether it's an APO or FPO address.  I've had some contacts that I have supported almost their entire mission, others I've only sent one letter or package to.  Truthfully, I'm more likely to send multiple packages to contacts that I know are receiving my stuff because they contact me.  It doesn't stop me from sending a package because I haven't heard back, but I'm just more inclined to send to contacts that let me know the package arrived.