We hear from about 1/4 in general of contacts or sometimes the person who receives the box, but there are some who will stay in contact with you whether you send any more packages or not.  You can send a self-addressed envelope or post card or else some note cards and may get another reply or two.  Are you aware that AnySoldier.com sells post cards especially convenient for that?  I mention in my notes that I put inside each package that I am aware of how busy they are, but if there is anyone who likes to write back that it really makes our day to receive a reply.  Most of them are able to email, though, more easily than write, especially if it is a male recipient.  You know that more of the females like to write than males.  They come nearer writing back if you have something in common with them such as sports that they are passionate about.

Gran

Thanks for the reply. What I had been doing was including my postal, as well as email address, as well as a blank note card. I didn't pre-address is, so as not to waste it in case they didn't write back.

Hi dmin

It's nice to see you here posting.  I "hear from" just over 10% but in several different ways.  Email and snail mail (letter or postcard return) less than 10% directly reply.  Those are about evenly split males to females.  But, another 5% update on the site with direct thanks for sending X, notes on the items they have received or hints to such.  I can often glean that the items arrived and the postings are often coincidentally timed with the ETA of my package.  This is based on over 125 packages.  However, I remind each that no reply is required and only ask for a reply if I have sent something they can't use or no longer need. (I've never gotten a reply saying don't send more X.)  Some will reply even if they don't have to. (Well, two have replied for their superiors and cc'd the contact on the message, so I guess they had to...)

Don't worry that the packages were lost or stolen. Some post that they can't reply until they get home.  One of these could be yours!  I used to worry in the beginning when my earliest contacts never reposted and fell off the list.  Between them I had sent over a dozen boxes--each with 4x the postage in contents along with notes and postcards. 

I stopped worrying about it.  If lost, they will be found--one box showed up a year later according to an anysoldier quote and other boxes have followed soldiers all the way back to the States (Hi Gran!).  If it's stolen just assume whomever stole one of the boxes needs it more than the contact.  Pack each of them with lots of love!  I include love, hugs, warm thoughts, extra fun, etc. on all of my packing slips taped inside the boxes with my name and address on the back so, that USPS might recover all of the contents if the package breaks open! [I once had a backpack stolen with a bible and a legal tablet with a semester's worth of notes...my classmates quickly helped me to recover the course notes by sharing theirs and the Instructor replaced the bible. Insurance paid for dad's car window. I was truly blessed.  After that I knew that thief only got what s/he needed at the time.]  

Try selecting soldiers that post that they reply to supporters or try to anyways.  Many of these are highly requested contact addresses.  Or you might select soldiers that thank supporters by name in their posts (and include your permission in your note.) I can't promise but it might increase your odds.  If I had to bet...my money says one is aleady in the mail and headed your way.   Just in case, check your spam box/folder, I almost missed one because the filter picked up the Yahoo address.

-betc

 P.S. I imagine a wife, mother or girlfriend got your notecard and she thanks you immensely and shows your card to everyone, "Look, I got a card from ..."
 

I don't expect an answer but I am thrilled to get one. I usually say something to the effect of 'Don't worry about contacting me' or 'write to your family first.'   I send a self addressed anysoldier.com post card along with the package and if they want to cross out my name and send it to someone else more power to them.

I'm not worried if my care package doesn't get to the contact. Remember this is 110% voluntary.  Someone somewhere is going to make good use of the items I send.

Dan

dmin;  I will first state that I am glad you found this site.  I am glad that you find it in your heart to send to our soldiers.  BUT...you coment that you are disheartened that you do not receive responses back from the soldiers that you have sent concerns me.  One of the first things you will read (if you truly read the terms) about AnySoldier is that you are sending without expectation.  I believe it says someting like, "Remember these young men and women have more important things to do than writing 'thank you notes. They are trying to stay alive!" 

My roommate and I found this site back in October.  We have ten groups we mail to about twice a month.  Yes, we have heard from some members, but other's we have not.  We specifically chose a casuality unit due to the fact they needed uplifting. We have not and do not expect to hear from them.  We send because we know in our hearts that they have a smile when they receive one of our boxes, always laced with a bit of humor.  One of our contact's name and address disappeared two days after he posted a wonderful thank you to his senders.  We can only hope that he is safe somewhere. 

AnySOldier requres that the contact post consistantly and reminds them if they do not.  Look for their letter.  Parts may be addressed to you...but if not relish in the fact that they are safe!!  Please keep sending BUT without expectations.  Do this out of the goodness of your heart, not the desire to gain a pen pal!

Dmin: First, welcome and thanks for taking the time to support the troops! I'm happy to say I have had about a 90% response to my packages to my adopted troops. I'm not sure what I do different. I do enclose a self addressed postcard. I make sure my e-mail and return address are on my letter; the Army requires that return addresses on boxes be destroyed. Occasionally, the troops rip the box apart before whoever is in charge can get the address!!!!! Even if you don't get a response from a soldier immediately, continue to send. They will appreciate that you've continued your support without a thank you. I'm not sure how familiar you are with living conditions in Iraq, so I'm sorry if this is elementary: Mail delivery in certain areas is sporadic. Outgoing mail as well. Also, not all soldiers have internet access. Some have to stand in long lines for it. Also, depending on type of job, a soldier may be in the field for extended lengths of time, without mail or internet (and a whole host of other things!!!) You can be confident your mail is getting there. I know people in the logistics section that oversees mail. They understand what mail from home means. It isn't stuff - it's a little bit of the heart and soul of America. It's imperative for troop morale. Continue to send. Know in your heart you are doing a good thing. Some day, some where you will get a response. It may be one of your postcards. A letter. A patch from the unit. Or - like me, one day you'll be in the grocery store buying items and a soldier home from Iraq will figure out what you are doing (the 12 pounds of coffee and a cart full of razors is a dead giveaway!!) and he will thank you in person even though he didn't receive your package but one from another supporter!!!! And when it happens Dmin, you might want to have some Kleenex handy!!!! If I can help you further, let me know. Otherwise, Charlie Mike!!! (Continue Mission)

I understand your feelings, be patient.  Your doing a good thing and you can feel good about it with someone telling you that.  But here's a suggestion for you.  This is what I do.  I here from about 75% of my contacts the first time I send a box either by email or snail mail.  In that first contact along with my letter I send a self addressed envelope and a brief typed thank you note (Hey Cheryl, We got the box.  Thank you!) and I invite them to send it back to me to let me know the packages are getting to where they need to go.  The guys really get a kick out of it, usually adding a sentence or two and put it right back in the mail to me.  That way they don't have to take the time to actually write the note themselves.  Once I know the mail process is working I have no expections of continued correspondence and I leave it up to them to write again or not.  Some do and it is rewarding to hear from them, but most do not have the time and that is ok, I continue to send packages as long as they are posting and sometimes even if they are not.  I'm not all that good at writing letters myself so I understand completely and feel for them.

This method has also tipped me off a couple of times to my packages being rifled in the postal system.  My letter and the note have been sent back to me as being found loose in the mail from inside the US and I have evidence to register complaints.  But by far most of the packages reach their destinations no matter how remote or dangerous.

Thank you for what you are doing.

I have sent out 44 packages to 42 different groups in the last three months.  I received 5 "thank you's" - one by mail, four by e-mail. 

Paula

Some of the contacts have embarrassedly confessed that they had full intentions of replying but had various "accidents" with the addresses they had kept.  One mentioned that they were moving from one place to another on base, and during one of the flooded times, dropped them into the water.  Another mentioned that there was a particular "laundry accident" with the addresses. Another said that the addresses had been misplaced and not found until he was clearing his desk to try to get some work done ahead of redeploying. That kind of thing has probably been repeated many times over for the ones who actually had intentions of replying.

Gran

Hearing back from a contact is always exciting.  I have limited funds with which to purchase goodies and postage, but - according to my military friends - it's my gift of gab they value the most.  In the beginning I sent packages to lots of different people, but after a short time determined that I could do the most good in seeking out the folks who really needed someone to communicate with.  I haven't figured a percentage on responses, but it has improved over time because I've gotten pretty good at identifying who is looking for a friend.  When one of my contacts emails me, "Just got your latest package.  Loved your newsy letter, as always.  It's the first thing I always look for.  The stuff you send is great, but we all really love reading your letters," it's like saying sic 'em to a dog.  Ha!  Like others mentioned doing, I put my snail mail AND email addresses at the bottom of my letters.  I also include photos in my letters.  The troops enjoy seeing us and glimpses into our everyday lives as much as we enjoy the photos they post - more maybe.  In my first package to a contact I include an envelope with my address on a sticker.  That way they can use the envelope for someone else if they want.  Most of my responses come as emails.  Don't give up, dmin.  Let us know when you get that first exciting feedback. 

We had picked 7 contacts, and was concerned about stealing, so with our first boxes, we just sent it to the contacts name only and included a letter explaining why we had did that, our contacts were fine with it ,now they know when a box comes from us that it is for "Any Soldier". We also include our email addresses since this is the easiest way for them to communicate. We get email from 3, one sent pictures , really cool! It was nice to have a face with the name. But mainly, the contacts will post to the site. We had picked contacts that had a few address requests and  continue to support the same ones. After they recieved the 2nd box, they emailed. But now ,we have lost count on how many boxes we have sent since, as long as they are there, we are here for them. God Bless those Soldiers!

Joe & Dinah

I guess that I hear back from about 10% of the people who I send stuff to.  I proably send 10 letters for every package and although at first I had the feeling that not sending a package was like a cop-out... now I know better...letters are enjoyed very much and if you don't have the funds to send out many packages- don't let that keep you from sending your love and support- send letters or even postcards.

 Something interesting happened this winter.  We had a terrible ice storm and lost power for quite a while.  Our family was fine, we heat with wood, we were warm and I cooked some chicken soup on the woodstove.  While John read stories to the children, I wrote a few letters by candlelight.  I recieved a response from almost every one of those letters.  I don't know what you want to make of that- but it's possible that seeing that you are in a good frame of mind and in happy or beautiful setting might just carry over and like a sweet perfume from home. 

Thank you for that! I always feel I should have a bad conscience when I would "only" write a letter - so I only did that oce, when I starte in January this year. Since then I always made up packages. I´m just a beginner - but Ì´m so worried about every one, even if I live in Germany and I am German. I never planned to get so involved - but you really get addicted!