We have more items to send, but will work on filling two boxes before we send them because some will have to go in FRB, while the others that are bulkier, and lighter, we can send parcel post (pinching those pennies).  Will give you the final contents when packed.

Gran

Hi Gran,

Postage budgets are always an issue.

I've kept my eyes and ears open for every opportunity to raise cash for just that purpose.
Fortunately for me, the flea market where I host my package project, allows me many opportunities...

BUT you and everyone else,
may need to be rather creative...  yard sales, bake sales, whatever.

I have also found that many local churches are often willing to donate about $20 here and there to mail two boxes!
OR, instead of you going shopping and buying the items... have the churches take the collection of items and we can then spend our cash to pay the postage.

I have also found groups like the Lions Clubs, Elks, and even local gyms/spas like to do a special event.  It all adds up!

Good luck with your budgeting!!!

Take care,

Anna

Anna,

Wish I had the energy to do all that!  If I had that much energy, I would go find a paying job!

Deb,

One box packed up with 3 regular size boxes tissues, 5 bags 100 ct. cotton balls, and one each 525-ct. cotton swabs, 80-ct. band-aids, a pr. knit gloves, hand towel and cosmetic bag (empty).

Gran

Hi everyone,

One box going out today with the following:

2 girls blouses, 1 girls sweater, 2 girls thermal shirts longsleeved, 7 journals, 5 manicure sets (these each have nail files, fingernail clippers, toenail clippers and a tweezer), 102 spoons and 1 plastic storage container for the spoons.  Deb, I believe you already counted these spoons on the list.  I haven't had time to get back to Walmart to exchange the forks I bought but will try to get to it soon.  I've got more stuff to send but I'm really short on time right now....hopefully next week I can get organized and get the rest sent out.

Mary

I forgot to add that I threw in about a dozen or so sets of used buttons.  Whenever some clothes get ripped or badly stained, I always remove the buttons before I throw them out or in the rag bag, so I thought they could put them to use.  I remember seeing my mother and grandmother do that during WWII when buttons were expensive and hard to get, and it stuck with me.  We were recycling back then and didn't know that was what it was - to us it was just ekeing by.  I inherited some old odd pearl buttons from my family that I still have. Yes, I'm a pack rat!

Gran

Anna,

No.  The whole thing with the volunteers is just something with me.  I am just getting them a little something "on behalf of all of the AS supporters".  Nothing big.  Just a little surprise and enough to let them know that we know they exist and that the kids wouldn't be doing as well as they are without their care.  It is a personal thing.  A token "Thank you".  Does that make sense?  The idea is not to embarrass them with a "shower of stuff".  The kids are our focus, but my manners have taught me to be graciously grateful to those who have given from their hearts as these wonderful women have undoubtedly done.

Keep your focus on the children.  If we make their lives easier, the volunteers will also benefit.  ...But, damn!  Don't we wish we could provide a real kitchen at least!  LOL

Hugs.

Debbie

Gran,

I still cut buttons off before something goes to the rag bin...and zippers!  LOL  I've got my grandmother's button jar and can still see buttons in my mother's button box and remember the dress or shirt or housecoat they were removed from!  Heavens!  You'd think I'd grown up during the Depression from the habits I picked up from my parents!  I guess it all comes from the frugality that poverty and "just scraping by" brings.  My folks and their folks were poor and hard workers, and yet we didn't want for much while I was growing up, but it was obvious we weren't rich.  We never even really took any sort of vacations.  I am guessing our young men and women who are deployed in some of these countries are experiencing "want and making do" for the first time.  Pack rats survive!  LOL  Thanks for sharing.  I thought I might be the only one with such a button box...LOL

BTW Mary and Gran, I've added your goodies to the next post of the list.  Thank you again for your loving contributions.  God bless!

Deb,

Our second box is packed.  It has 3 large bottles of shampoo and 11 large tubes of toothpaste.  Ready to ship out with the other one today.

Gran

Hi Deb & Mike, I shipped the Farsi books. Also sent with that 36 pairs of socks (1/2 boys-1/2 girls), 5 pair girls flip flops, and a set of twin sheets. Will ya check it off for me!? Thanks, Shelly

I have my grandmother's old sewing machine and her button box. I remember when she got that machine. I was probably 5 or 6 and it was such a big deal getting a new sewing machine. She made most of  my sisters' and my clothes and also shirts for my brother. She used to use the printed cloth feed sacks for fabric and she also had her fabric stash that my mother gave to the church quilting group after my grandmother's death. My Mom never learned to sew. We would have to thread the machine for her when we were home so that she could sew up a seam if needed. But, I'm not as thrifty as those two were.

I mailed off 3 boxes of clothing to the orphanage today. Roy, my husband, and his son helped me carry them into the post office.

Ruth

If you get melted crayons you can have somebody send you some of the little cake pans that are alluminum, break the crayins into chunks, fill the little pans, throw them in the oven or out in the heat and let them melt, when completely melted throw them somewhere they can reharded and you will crayons again. They are very cute if you use stars or hearts, it is the individual pans and they come in shapes. Just an idea if you need it.

Hey Ruth,

My Mom could sew and tried teaching me but I never got the hang of it.  My sister, Annie, inherited her sewing machine.

The kiddies are going to be so happy with the 3 boxes of clothing you have mailed them.......I would love to see the look of enjoyment on their faces that people care about them.  That would be so beautiful to see.

Love & kisses to you, Ruth, your hubby and son,

Mary

Sheila, thanks for that info.....I told these guys before that I'd do something with melted crayons, you know, like MacGyver, but your idea is pretty good too.  I'm too much of a practical joker to do something serious with melted crayons anyways....

ATTENTION IN THE FORUM.....ATTENTION IN THE FORUM......

Those curious about what my friend here in Afghanistan has to offer to the orphanage?
Well it looks like I will be able to get a pallet EACH of the following stuff--I don't have physical counts, but there's a bunch of everything.
Backpacks
School hand bags w/ pens, pencils, and chalk
Socks
Shoes
Winter coats (medium weight) but good for here
Volleyballs
Book covers/Koran covers--these are like the sleeve kind (shaped like an envelope) that you can put your book into.

Please don't ask who, what, where, when, why, how, how often, or to what extent this aid has been given (did all my teacher friends like that grammar lesson?) but suffice it to say, he's a soldier with connections.  I am thankful for his willingness to give to us.

That's the great thing about my job....I meet people, and they help me out.  Cool huh?
And the good thing is that these items are not the same as what everyone has been giving.

FYI, I have duty tomorrow night (Friday) and plan on going through another 30-40 boxes....YIKES.....
I've been blitzkrieged (look it up if you don't know) by all the giving........................I LOVE IT.......................

Take care everyone and continue the good work.....Orphanage trip around the corner.....

Holy smokes, Mike!   You'd better keep that daughter under lock and key and away from all of these soldiers!  You know how they are!  LOL  What a beauty!  Your coloring and Mom's looks...Lucky girl!  I always wanted raven hair like that!  Of course, I'd kill for a young body again, too.  LOL

Anyway!  I love the list!  It's amazing how different people think of diffrent things!  ...Which, of course, makes me ask a question....LOLOLOLOL  Do the children even have their own copies of the Koran?

Ok, gotta go.  Wrestling with my internet connection at the moment.  You are in luck.  More later.

The D Woman