You are so right Marilyn!  I was just coming to post but you beat me to it.  The guy is a real hoot and a real sweetheart too!   How said to be in a situation to try to help kids and need to dodge sniper fire...what are those people (the snipers)  thinking????

Junkies!  Another update from John (4/18/08) -- good news about our packages being received, along with some bad news, sadly. 

--Marilyn 

 Received a email and pictures from John Pethel. Packages were well received

Hi:

I just packed two boxes for LCDR Pethel. Hygiene gear for men and women. I'm doing another box of toys and candy for them to hand out to kids. I was wondering, does anyone know if they could use snack items? Do they have a microwave or fridge? Kind of itching to pack a box of snacks and food too.

Thanks.

Jen

Hi, Jen -- John is one of my contacts -- yes, both microwave & fridge available (I'm not certain about freezer, but I'm betting they do).

Thanks!

--Marilyn

Jen,

I have sent LCDR Pethel hygiene stuff, too but snacks as well-canned fruit, nuts, gum, etc.He is representing awhole bunch of folks and I figure that if getting hygiene stuff is hard at an FOB, then snacks are hard to come by as well. Nothing will go to waste that is for sure. Thanks for helping out! 

Marilyn and Iwo... I have to get rid of some of these snacks so I will pack another box. Good to know they have a fridge and a microwave.

Thanks for the info!!!

Jen

Hello, my Junkie Friends!  Please see LCDR John Pethel's post of Apr. 27.  They're gearing up for a HUGE health fair for the children of the Afghan soldiers on base, to help them learn to be healthy.  He's asking for toys and hygiene gear specifically for kids.  The kids' health fair is the third week of May -- so we don't have a whole lot of time to pack and ship -- but if anyone can help, I know John and his crew would really appreciate it -- and put the items to good use.

By a great coincidence a friend just gave me a large bag of beanie babies and stuffed animals -- HAH!  Guess we know we're they're going  

Thanks to all!

--Marilyn

Hey Marilyn:

I'm checking with an old client who manufactures stuffed animals. Also checking out Oriental Trading to see if they have any deals on small toys.

I have three cases of toothbrushes I will be sending. Will need lots of toothpaste to send along with it so if any of you Junkies have toothpaste on hand or know of a deal on toothpaste, please let me know!

Packing up two more boxes of toys today for them.

Marilyn, if you have the time (chuckle) can you please ask LDCR Pethel if there are any other items he could use for the health fair and post it here?

Thanks very much.

Jen 

inkydigits:

Marilyn, if you have the time (chuckle) can you please ask LDCR Pethel if there are any other items he could use for the health fair and post it here?

Thanks very much.

Jen 

  My pleasure, Jen -- consider it done!  I already e-mailed this morning to double check on whether or not they had freezer/s.  I was planning to check with him about this health fair gig anyway -- sounds like a great thing they're doing for the kids!  thanks for all the stuff you're sending.

Oh -- and you (and any other interested junkies) might want to check into those cool websites Marine5/Glen told us about -- www.federatedcares.com and www.minimus.biz for the toothpaste.  I have a box packed up for him with some candy and a few toothbrushes and toothpaste, etc.  Plus my friend's bag of beanie babies/stuffed animals will be going out soon.  Gotta see what else I can scrounge for the kiddies

Hugs & love,

--Marilyn

 Marilyn,

I have some cute little Strawberry Shortcake sunglasses for the girls and some beanie babies any toys that

I can sent on Friday.  What size of toothpaste is needed - the small travel size or the 4.6 oz.

Joy 

Joy -- those sunglasses sound adorable!  thanks!  I have an e-mail out to John now -- I'll let you know what he says -- these are kids though -- maybe the small size toothpaste?  Just a guess on my part, though.

I'll post as soon as I hear back from him!

--Marilyn

joy:

 Marilyn,

 

I have some cute little Strawberry Shortcake sunglasses for the girls and some beanie babies any toys that

I can sent on Friday.  What size of toothpaste is needed - the small travel size or the 4.6 oz.

 

Joy 

I would say they probably need a little of both, or whatever people can send. Optimistically you would want the kids to have enough toothpaste to keep brushing past the month the little tube will provide. Realistically though, most people cannot afford to ship 50 full sized tubes at a time.

I am going to try to send some items out on Monday. Things are getting tight here in the mmmjava household and I am struggling to adequately support the 5 contacts that I have. I am a sucker for kids though!!

-Tricia

Hi Marilyn and fellow Junkies:

I was at the grocery store (Safeway) this afternoon and they had a special on full size tubes of Aim toothpaste...a dollar for a large size tube. They only had 10 tubes left so I cleared the shelf. I asked the manager if they had anymore in the stock room and he said they didn't but he could order them for me at the same price and have them available for pick up on Saturday. So, I cringed and ordered 50 tubes, handed him an AS card and then he asked me to please put the 10 tubes back on the shelf so he wouldn't be out of stock! I grudgingly complied. :)  So, if you have a Safeway nearby, you might want to check to see if this special is available in your area and stock up on toothpaste for your future hygiene packages.

Thanks!

Jen

Jen,

At least the manager honored your request and will get you 50 at a great price! Years back I had a HUGE issue with a manager of a store when I was trying to get stuff for a nursing home Xmas party. He told me that he did not even sell over the limit to a nun to which I screamed' "Well, wait till you have to answer to her boss"!! stormed out of there without the little Christmas tree dishes, I went home and wrote a letter to the President of this well know drugstore chain which begins with a " W".. shortly I recieved a letter and a phone call asking me to return to the same store where the manager then GAVE me the items no charge..JUSTICE but more importantly, the right thing to do. I can't help but think that me photo is all over this store's list of " watch out for this one, she stands up for her cause!"

And well, I always shop that chain now so it was a small price for them to pay.

So maybe , just maybe...there may be a nice surprise for your efforts! Good work!!! Perhaps he will throw in some toothbrushes... you never know!

diane