Karie .......with regards to the cardswap...anything goes (well.....nothing political or overly religious).......some people make cards, some buy them, some use post cards.    This time I bought them (something I bought actually at the end of summer last year) and  I will be writing a message in there to them.   I will probably make it something to do with the 4thof July (since that is the theme).   Then I will enclose a separate letter about me and my family and maybe some jokes on another paper.   I have written poems, or found a nice one on the internet (and given appropriate credit to the writer).    Every cardswap is different and you will see a variety of things.   This is a quick turnaround for this swap (and one just finished being sent to the hostess on May 1).  

As it's been stated ........ a letter can be held onto......re-read and shared by others.    Have fun with it.......looking forward to getting to know you through the swaps.    Oh.....one more thing......you will also make friends from the other supporters on here.   Many of us email each other and are also on facebook (another HINT!!!).   Just a different way for us to keep up with each other.

Have a great time with your cards......whatever you decide.   I need to get started on mine.........

Love peace and blessings......Anne Marie

oops.....must have hit the post button 2x

Hi Karie, welcome!   I started sending packages in at the end of Feb.  I asked my Division (at the end of a staff meeting) for donations of items like magazines, books, cds, dvds, etc. that they might be giving away and for the hotel shampoos, soaps, etc. since a lot of us travel.  At first everyone looked at me in a way that made me wonder what I said and no one said a thing.  A couple of days later I started having magazines slipped under my office door or bags of items hanging on my door when I got to work.  Since I didn't know who was leaving the bags, I started posting the Thank You notes, emails I received and then I received more bags. As someone else said, just talk it up.  I've even received donations when I'm shopping because I've explained why I have so many travel sized items or why I'm buying skoal.  I've also received some donations at the Post Office when the people in line realize what I'm doing.  Just keep talking about it at work and they'll come around.

Good luck!

Anna

 Welcome Karie! I just signed up and sent out my first package a week ago after a long time of thinking about it! Glad to see another new face!

 I'm Juliane Bertagne,

 I am preparing to send my 2nd package out - the first one was sent to a soldier who has not returned in 60 days (hope he and his unit are OK!) so I'm not sure my package even made it over to Iraq.  I got a new address and this time I hope I will have more success. 

I am have an 18-year-old son who will be a freshman at Texas A&M in the fall, and another son who is 15.  Our family resides in Houston TX where my husband works in the oil industry.

 We are all very grateful for everyone in the military and want to show our support in a tangible way.

 Thanks to everyone who helps with this website!

Welcome, one and all.

It is sure fantastic to see that so many people are willing to support our troops -- even when newsbroadcasts try to tell us different.  We (AS JUNKIES) KNOW there is support out there fore our men and women who serve in harms way.

For all those who have sent your first or second package... have faith that the package has arrived!  You may never hear from your contacts... but then again, you might.  You may get "free mail" (an awesome, toe-tapping event!) or an email (just as good as free mail! LOL).  The troops may simply say - thanks.  or box arrived.  OR, you may get a heartfelt letter, card/note, a picture, or a souvenir.  It will surely depend on whether or not the person receiving the package has the time and capability of responding -- (some of my guys are in the middle of nowhere with little or no internet, mail service, etc Even paper and pen are in short supply!).

Tips to remember: 
Always include a pre-addressed envelop with paper in it... possibly also a pen...  it will increase the chances of you getting an answer.
Send greeting cards -- you may get one back with a note on it!

AND

Don't get discouraged... our troops are busy... some have really gruelling schedules and all downtime is spent sleeping or eating.  One of my contacts spent 12 hours on, 12 hours off... his first off duty thing to do was to walk a mile to the mess tent, then another half mile to the showers... half mile back to barracks... sleep for 10 hours... back to showers, back to mess tent... back to tower observation post.  WHAT A DAY!... Day after day after day... six days per week.

On his off day... he slept in... went to meals... did laundry... stood in line for 15 minutes on the comptuer to contact his family. 

Over our 10 months of package support, I got one letter telling me his schedule and the last note saying thanks, I'm coming home. 

WOW!

So... keep the faith!  The troops appreciate EVERYTHING we send!

Take care,

Anna Baltimore MD

Greetings from Mississippi!

I'm Sandy and have been buddies with one of your AnySoldier junkies - Kristen - for several years from a totally different site.  Hi Kristen!  I had no idea you were on here!!!

 I sent my first two packages out today and I just had to post.  I had decided during this long weekend to start a new tradition with my kids - to create a care package for a soldier on Memorial Day.  I inquired as to a place to find info on soldiers and was directed here.  I really didn't know what I was doing, but got items together from around the house that were listed as needed by the soldiers from two different groups, and had enough to send off two fully loaded flat rate boxes.  I got so excited that I left out one of the most coveted items!  A multi pack of chap stick!!!  All this means is that I have a great item to start the next package.

Welcome Sandy from Mississippi!  Your love and compassion will be appreciated more than you know by a soldier on the other end of your package.

Hi Sandy! 

I'm a fellow Mississippian from an area of the state they call the Pine Belt.  I found AS last December and have been "addicted" every since, and it sounds like you are well on your way to becoming a fellow junkie!  Welcome Aboard

Hi ! I'm a retired high school teacher,and have a good high school friend who went to the Air Force Academy.and a student of mine who went to West Point,and is-so I'm told-still in the military.I ahvae been interested in 'doing something' for our troops in Iraq & Afghanistan & elsewhere. After retiring from teaching,I worked in the travel industry,and am now retired from that. While in the travel industry I did several cruises & vascation trips for soldiers returning from I & A. I got to know them,their wives etc. What I would like to do now is open my summer camp in VERMONT-lakefront, & my winter places in Florida & Colorado-to soldiers & their families returning from I & A-for r & r etc.I have recently been contacted thru other websites-by soldiers-some Marines from Jacksonville,N.C-about what I could do & would like to expand.I was emailed from Iraq etc. This would be done for FREE,no charge whatsoever. In VT,I have a large lakefront house,& little company,the same in FL & CO. I would simply like to inquire from knowledgebable/experienced members on this website,if you think that there would be any interest from our returning military-particularly-wounded soldiers-in what I have to offer. THANKS ! Gene

gene5966, Hello and Welcome!

Your idea is quite interesting. It sounds like you have thought about it for some time. I am sure you will get suggestions from supporters. If I can be of assistance, please feel free to contact me. 

Thanks for thinking of our troops, door

Hi everyone,

I am a 20 year old college senior from NY. So far I've sent out three boxes to three different people from this website, but support someone continuously on a different website. All three of those boxes have been sent within the past few days, so I'm hoping they're making their way to where they're supposed to be! It's nice shipping from NY because it costs me anywhere from 6 to 8 dollars for shipping. It took me a little while to learn that, but the flat rate boxes are actually a lot more expensive to send from here- so anyone reading from NY that is a heads up!

I recently got really, really into this when a friend of mine went into the Marines. He is home now, but I love supporting the soldiers. It is kind of an expensive habit, but I'm sure you all know that! It's kind of fun to bargain shop and try to pack those boxes though- haha! Hopefully I will hear something from the people I sent it to- because I'd like to continue to support them!- but if not I'll keep sending and hoping to send some extra off for the 4th of July!

Hello and welcome to the forum.Let us know if you hear back from your groups. We love to share the joy!

This is our third deployment, the oldest was in Iraq twice with 2/1 1st Marine Division, our youngest is a Cav officer serving in Afghanistan. Looks like the oldest will be joining his little brother sometime this year. We have sent four loads of stuff over this year, with another two waiting to go out. We have been looking but cannot seem to come up with a NEMO sleeping bag. Does anyone have a lead on where to find this elusive critter? I do not know if it is an Army bag or not, but if it is anything like the bags we had when I was in the Army (I got out in 1989,) the guys will be awfull chilly when winter rolls around. We have four dogs, two of which the guys in Afghanistan may be familiar with; Central Asia Ovcharka or Koochee dogs as they are know in Afghanistan, a Shar Pei and a Westie.

The youngest got a taste of home when he arrived at the COP. The three Koochee dogs they have there came bounding up to him and greeted him the way our dogs do. They have taken turns sleeping at his feet. I sleep a lot better at night knowing there are three ferocious guardians watching over our troops. They never miss anything and never forget anything.

My sons are the 9th generation of Virginians from our family,serving our country.

Dave

Dave, 

It's good to "meet you" here. How awesome to have two sons serving our country - you must be very proud of both of them! You are obviously their hero and role model, as they decided to follow in your footsteps. I am only a civilian, but I salute you, and your sons - thank you for y'all's service to this crazy, mixed-up, wonderful country we call home. How neat for your youngest son to have been greeted so exuberantly at his arrival by the dogs of the COP... that must have been a real comfort to him, as it is to you as well. Everybody should have a good dog available to them - nothing relieves stress like petting and talking to a dog, and they'll be alert to anything amiss.

Welcome to the forum! Hope to see you in the chat some time.