I actually started my troop support through adotaplatoon.org because an acquaintance told me about it.  However, it didn't take me but through the first soldier to realize that the way they run things was not really for me.  I can't remember exactly how I found anysoldier.com but I like it much better.  I like being able to help more people without having to be tied down to any one soldier. 

I also LOVE the title of this thread ;)

When I saw the post on Sew Much Comfort, that seemed to be something I could do on a part-time basis after the "surge" is quieted down some since we probably will be so broke that I need something less expensive to work on that will be of equal benefit.  I just received the packet explaining the project, and it looks like something I may work on when we slow down a little.

Gran

catstevens -- funniest post on the thread -- maybe because it descibes me at the store!

Like Sarah I can't remember how I found Any Soldier.   Just lucky I guess>

ann 

 

Oh.  We are counting Sew Much Comfort.  OK... maybe I have strayed... just a little. 

I also just got my intro package and I'm going to pick up some boxers for starters.  I'm hoping that if I was able to do a good quick job with this piecework- that I might be able to get some other people locally to donate the new clothing for me to modify.  I don't think I've got the budget to do the work and buy the clothing.

Any Soldier is my bit on the side!   I primarily support British troops, of course.

It's really nice to see you here Helen!

I'm sure we would enjoy knowing what you have to say...anytime day or night.

Stray ehh?  That's really funny!!!!  Well, Im not sure if this is necessarily straying as AnySoldier, Inc. is listed with them, but I frequently use the DoD's AmericaSupportsYou.mil website and send personal messages through that site that are posted.  Ive also posted support notes on the Multi-National Force-Iraq (MNF-I) website.  But when it comes to using another support website, I thus far have not.  I have looked at numeous sites that are out there though.  I dont give negative feedback about any of them, as they are all doing good things for our troops.  Anyone who establishes a program like this one are truely doing a great service.

Helen:

Any Soldier is my bit on the side!   I primarily support British troops, of course.

That is so cool.  I love that we have people from different countries on the forum.  I've been to England.  I remember it being very green.  I was there when Lady Diana was getting married.  Welcome.

TessaJ.

I can't say  that we have *strayed*. However, I can honestly say that we do't have time! I did look at several other orgaizations prior to AnySoldier, but some were SO indepth and time consuming [who wants to wait 2 or 3 weeks to get contact informtion? In that length of time, a package could already be in Iraq!]. And I was trying to find something for the kids to be involved in since I homeschool. There was a great article in Guideposts, which is how we found AS. And once we found it, that was it! We are here, and here we will stay!

tessajangel:

Helen:

Any Soldier is my bit on the side!   I primarily support British troops, of course.

That is so cool.  I love that we have people from different countries on the forum.  I've been to England.  I remember it being very green.  I was there when Lady Diana was getting married.  Welcome.

TessaJ.

For the record, we SO want to do a section for our allies, but that would take a huge amount of resources to manage.

For the record also, many of you may remember that we had a British Special Forces Sergeant as a contact, and we even had a Canadian 2-Star General as one!  He didn't want his rank known or have attention drawn to him, but he was great and we loved having them both.

We ARE looking at allowing an occasional exception to test out how this will work.  We currently have a Polish Major we may accept soon.

Stay tuned, AnySoldier.com will only get bigger and better.  We are determined to give you the best as you give your best to support the folks that so deserve it.

I chanced upon another site while I was searching for something else - Barry's Beanies has a nonprofit organization that accepts (monetary) donations to give beanies to soldiers so that they can give them to the kids in Iraq and Afghanistan.

http://www.barrysbeanies.com/generic39.html

They also have a wholesale fundraiser program - I posted about that under the Fundraiser threads.

(Free Spirit got me started on this with her great AnySoldier.com Beanie Baby suggestion).

Pat

That would be great.  You're always thinking, Marty!  Now - back to that vacation!

Pat

I tried another group that started with a simple mission of comfort to the soldiers (they provided air conditioners, then heaters)  I chose that group becuase it is located near my home and you chose one soldier to deal with.

I didn't like their format as the soldier submitted his 'shopping' list which you filled from their website (so both of you were limited to what they had available)  The site bought, packed, and shipped the stuff while you 'donated' the money for the items to the site and were able to deduct the cost from your taxes as a donation.

I felt obligated to buy everything on his list because once I chose him, his name was removed from the general pool and assigned to me.  I couldn't send him anything else because I never got his mailing address.  I couldn't even contact him.. they sent him my email address and left it up to him to contact me.

The site had some growing pains, and personal difficulties within the family that ran it.  Somehow they also messed up my 'order', (they did offer full refund, but we settled on sending out the stuff 4 months after I ordered it)  I felt so bad for the soldier!

While I didn't have to worry about the difference between BDU and ACUs, or worry about the cheapest place to buy boots, or petzel headlamps, or mechanix gloves, or how to fill out a custom form, I much prefer AnySoldier.com!

Here, I get to see what the soldier wants and can provide as much or as little as I have funds for that month.  I get to put in extra things like local postcards, newspapers, photos, letters... well I don't have to tell you all!

So, yes, I strayed from a site that didn't suit me to one where I seem to feel very comfortable and that seems to absorb my money almost as fast as I can make it and I don't mind at all.  I have written more letters since I joined here, than in the entire rest of my life.  But best of all, I love reading the responses from the contacts when they are overwhelmed by the support, so many of them really don't think anyone over here cares about them.

 

I came to find AnySoldier.com after it was listed in last month's Real Simple magazine.  I'm addicted to that magazine and for those who don't read it, in the front they always have a page of 8 or 9 things you should do this month. (I forget the title and can't reference the page anymore because the magazine was one of the first things in my first box over to Iraq!)

Anyways, 1 or 2 of the items always catch my eye and this was one of them...and being the type of person who jumps in 2 feet first, I went straight to the website, read it for about 2 minutes and decided I had to join.  It didn't even dawn on me to see if there were other websites or similar missions first

So, no, I haven't not strayed since joining 2 weeks ago

I'm curious -- did anyone else find AS from Real Simple?  Kudos to Marty or whoever got AS linked to Real Simple. I'm hoping it brought on a lot of new support from folks like me who weren't involved with the military prior to this.