Steve-0:

 Its not about how much you send to us soldiers...it isnt. I cannot rightly sit here and speak for all of us, but i am sure i can speak for a vast majority of us when i say...a simple letter is great. . . . . .

Please dont feel like your letting your guys down because you have to cut back sending stuff to them......really..dont get bummed out or depressed over it. If they are on a FOB (Iraq)....they arent going without.

Steve -- thanks so much for your words -- I know that most of us want to send you guys EVERY-thing to take care of you -- and it hurts when we can't -- and so we feel bad -- and frustrated.  We become so attached to our contacts -- you're our sons & daughters -- brothers & sisters -- our FAMILY -- and family takes care of family, you know.

So -- it MATTERS to hear this from you -- that the letters and e-mails and pictures we send are so important.  And, that when all is said and done, the *stuff* we send, while received with gratitude, pales in comparison to words that reach out from our hearts --

Love,

--Marilyn

this is a really nice thread.
 

JoCee, I think home made touches are wonderful - for your soldiers and your family! I try and personalize at least some of the things in every box or envelope I send. Just little things to remind the men and women that the things are coming from a real person who cares and is thinking of them (and not a corporate donation, which is of course also helpful). Like little notes on items, pictures, and bright stickers and doodles on the outside of boxes. It's sounds like you are doing a great job with your packages - "storeboughten" is great, but home made is special in it's own way.

btw, JoCee - is your pic a thistle flower?

Steve-O, thanks for your feedback - very helpful input. It's nice to hear that you do like JoCee's personal touches and that you recognize budget pressures. I'm glad to see soldiers participating here, too! 

Yes, and some of the costs (like at the post office) are ridiculous.

I want to send my guys a microwave.  They don't have one.  I bought it already.  Then I plugged in the info on the PO site.

Microwave: $101

Transformer for it to run in Iraq: $179

Cost to send the two: Over $200.

So instead of spreading my rebate wealth around it is going to one thing.  They need it, but I wish the Government would get in the spirit of support.  If it is going to an APO/FPO for a warzone it should be free.

Lisa

Kristen,

I too am feeling the economic pinch. I am hoping that rebate tax thing from the goverment will allow me a little play money. Since I don't have a lot of money right now, what I did was enlist (heh) my sister and a group of her co-workers to get donations together and pick a few contacts. I think it's important to pass the word and promote the site as much as possible because even if you can't right now  - there's SOMEONE out there who can.

 And Gran--  They will be thankful for the noodles and whatever else you can send. I really think it is more about the fact that we "care". That we think of them at all and their families.A lot of them say they really do appreciate the letters. And so many ask us to pray for them if nothing else. Keep up your good work Gran. You could be sitting there feeling sorry for yourself, but you are thinking of the soldiers instead. Thank you for that.  Blessings. 

Kay:

 You could be sitting there feeling sorry for yourself, but you are thinking of the soldiers instead. Thank you for that.  Blessings. 

Also, Gran, your advice is invaluable! You are amazing. Helping soldiers and us. :)

Steve-O, thank you so much for saying what you said.  Most of us wonder, "Does a letter REALLY mean that much?"  and then I have to say, "Well, Zoanna, how does it feel when YOU get a letter from someone?"  The feeling ? Elation. Makes my day and I float for days after. Best mail I get is FROM my contacts, and I sure don't sit there saying, "Boy, I wish they'd included something else."   No, I go around telling everyone, "I got a letter from Sergeant ______" or "WooHoo! A note from my seabee in Kuwait!"  it's a thrill beyond measure and I hope that is being communicated back to the troops. 

 Honestly, though, I have wondered about talking about stuff that seems "normal" to me but might make their homesickness worse?  Graduations, weddings, that kind of thing make me feel "privileged" considering my audience. But you're saying it takes you out of your world for a little while and into ours, huh?

Hello Everyone!

Many of us have been feeling the increase in costs of living these days. No one is immune to it.

I started talking to people I knew in my town and they offered to pitch in. Actually they asked if I would let them pitch in.

A neighbor knew that one of my contacts liked hazelnut flavored coffee creamer and bought one every shopping trip.

Another offered movies. It all helps.

Write up your contact wish list and hand it out to others.

Post it at the local ad board in the store. Talk to the manager.

I have found many that want to help but don't have the time to go online to pick a contact and buy the goods to ship and send.

You may not have the money but you have something more important - Time!

In this society many don't have time. Time is valuable.

You might consider yourself wealthy in time.

A woman had said to Mother Teresa that she couldn't physically help anymore. Mother Teresa said to her that she could still pray and be a spiritual support.

You might consider being a spiritual support of us and our troops.

One of our contacts on Anysoldier said he was caught out in the open and under heavy fire. He said it must of been the prayers because there was no way that he could of avoided being hit - a bullet never touched him.

Children who have almost died and been revived have said that they saw the colors of the prayers being said for them.

It seems to me if you have time to pray for our soldiers then you are very wealthy indeed.

Blessings, door

Yes, the current economy is affecting the material side of (my) junkie-hood.  I've been back to using my AnySoldier "jar" for awhile now. That's the container where I empty my pockets each evening, or physically where the dollars go when I decide NOT to spend on myself. I haven't sent any Tactical Items since Christmas.  I loved saving for them - it was such a big spash (smile) and I enjoyed the sensation of filling specific needs of seemingly unobtainum. Another item is those "theme box"(es) I so enjoyed - well, as much fun as it is (for me) to include a funny hat, rubber ducky or unnecessary toy (or to double this or triple that) I've just packed best I could. Sometimes just hygiene, sometimes just food. Of course this is good, it "just" feels good to do more.

Recently my grown kids were working offsides yet unthinkingly, I automatically made budgeted monthly purchases. Since they were not at home, I packed up the vitamens/creatine/casin-protein to some ground grunts, Vegfuel/oatmeal to AFG, and their Muscle Milk to Maj-B there in Dirt Land. Wow -last year, would have sent repeated times without blinking. But this year, these felt special and were (for me) costly boxes. What a treat is is to share.  BTW: local gas $4.09, bread $4.98, and housing = the GNP of a small country. OH - I should mention - there's no WalMart in San Francisco, none.  Mach-3 = $9 at the PX, $18 otherwise. So fewer boxes, but letters every week. Still opt for writing a letter. When in doubt, I write a letter.  When the larder is fat - I write a letter... and when it's lean, well, I still think a letter means something, so I write.  In the hospital, I hear it often: "thank you for talking to me, it's the best treatment."  which kind-of prompts me.  Day-to-day is plenty different in field, but sure do hear similiar responses, "it's 140 degrees today, and your letters are a cool breeze".  Writing is good.

 When I read how much your bread is I looked to see where you are from. I figured it must be California.  We talked to my cousin from northern Cali and they said the same thing. I guess we are lucky in little old Nebraska.  It is still any where from $2.29-$2.99.And local gas is $3.43  That gives me more money for my troops.  Thank you so much for all you are doing for them. 

Hi Everyone,

Just remember Marty's quote that it is about support and not stuff!  

It is hot over there, so if you sew, try making cool ties and include one in your letter.   There is a link on anysoldier for the instructions.  These are really needed right now.

I feel the same as all of you.  Junkies to the max and proud of it!!!! 

Hey Vicki!!  PRECISELY what I wanted to say a couple days ago, but I've been busy with making cool ties [pretty overwhelmed with my real job too].  Just in the "Frequently Asked Questions" page alone, [http://anysoldier.com/FAQ.cfm], there are at least six questions that Marty, right away, answered with,

'It's not about STUFF, it's about SUPPORT.'

• "How does this work?"
• "Can I just send a letter?"
• "What is better, one big box or a bunch of little ones?"
• "What is the most critical or best thing I can send?"
• "Why not have a registration service?"
• "Why not work with (fill in the blank) Company for a better deal?"

And that's just the FAQ page!  I know I've heard him say it many other places too.  Also, He personally reminded me the exact same thing a couple years ago when I was 'mrs. gung-ho junkie maxi-mus extremist'.  I know it's heartbreaking for us to not be able to 'do it all', especially since our passion to support our Heroes comes from hearts full of the UTMOST thankfulness and generousity.  But the Horns never intended this site to be a 'give til you're tapped-out' journey for us.  Sidenote here:  I'm the guy who sells those expensive groceries that have hindered our budgets.  I get melancholy more often than Ben Rumsen ["Paint Your Wagon"], when I see, over & over, the looks on the faces of the folks, [especially those of 'the Greatest Generation'], when they're deciding whether they really need eggs or wesson oil this week, since they still have to pick up their prescriptions.  Well, I've blabbed long enough; but I did want to add that cool ties ARE a great project!  I estimate my cost to be 50-80 CENTS for one [depending on the fabric bargains] and who can put a price on the TLC.

Hang in there fellow junkies!!!

 Kristen,

Yes, feeling the pinch as well.  I have dropped down to working part time to go back to grad school and we have had some doozy un-exspected medical bills pop up.  Not being able to send packages bums me out too.

I have kept up with my letter writing! 

 But, I have gotten creative........I have asked my local Kroger store manager to call me when they have powered laundry detergent that busts open.  Rather than throw it away, they give me the busted boxes.  I salvage the detergent into individual bags of detergent and send the bags and what is left of the box to my AS contacts.  Kroger will also sell me books with slightly damaged spines for 10 cents each, which is a great deal.

I have also resorted to begging for magazines from the reps that stock magazines at Krogers.  I don't get a lot of magazines this way, but I do get current fun ones to send. 

I have other junkie hunting on the fly tricks, but I am probably boring everyone.

Best, 

Hey Sue,

You are not boring everyone, you are helping us out so that we can have different ideas on what to send so we don't end up in the poor house.  Even though I am already on my way.

The fact that you have kept up the letter writing--Priceless!

So let the other "junkie hunting tricks" fly----tee hee!

Love, Mimi

 One of my favorite junkie hunting tips is to ask my son's eye doctor for current magazines.  Turns out, he was a "doc" in his Army days and very supportive of what I am doing. The Dr. has his office manager get me brand new magazines before they are even put out for the patients.  HUGE SCORE!  Last time we were there, he handed me cash to help with the mailing costs.

Another thing I have done is let all the greeting card representatives at my local grocery store know what I am doing.  They call me occasionally and give me some lovely cards and envelopes to include in care packages.  I can just imagine some wives, husbands or kids of our soldiers getting an unsuspected card in the mail from their deployed loved one.

Of course, everybody at work knows what I am doing and they save me their current paper back novels.  I try not to over do it at work or I will end up with duct tape on my mouth. 

 I must have contagious AS Junkie Soldier Supporter fever, because I spread it where ever I go.

Best,