SPC Adam Alderman supports a group of 495 male and 10 female soldiers.  He posted today, Sept. 7, 2008 requesting items for Christmas stockings for this very large group.  He is very ambitious but I know you junkies can help him out.  Where he will put stuff for so many soldiers until Christmas is what I'm wondering....but he must have a plan.  Let's all help out so he can fulfill his plan to provide for SO MANY.

Nora

Hi Nora - there is a thread in What to Send - Non Food of Christmas requests.  You might want to add this to it so it doesn't get buried here on Chit Chat.  Just a thought.

Ann

Hi Nora,

I requested SPC Adam Alderman's address today and will get him out some Christmas goodies.  Lot of soldiers to help.

Mimi

 What is the time line to send Christmas Stuff out?  still being new I am not sure how long it takes stuff to get "there"

 Thanks

Amy, it's hard to say from my experience because I never hear from some of the groups I support.  On the other hand, there is one group I always hear from and the time frame differs by a couple of weeks to a month.  That may be due to the actual time it takes to reach them or due to whenever they can get online to send me an email.  This group is in a pretty easy spot (a maintainence crew not an outpost), so I tend to think they get packages a little faster than some who are in difficult to reach areas.  Since some soldiers are starting to ask for Christmas items this far in advance, it may be a signal that it could take awhile.  In the case of the request to support 505 soldiers for Christmas stockings, I'd bet he is asking now so that there is plenty of time to get that much stocking stuff together.  I just wonder.... where will he put that much STUFF until Christmas. 

Nora

Amy,

In general, I send Christmas stuff during the first two weeks of November (I think the official guideline is to ship before Thanksgiving).  If you're shipping things to border outposts or groups prone to extended missions, or if you're shipping cards for them to send back to their families, you might want to give things a little more time.

Outposts that get infrequent mail deliveries often seem to have their mail processed on a First-In-Last-Out basis which can cause significant delays with some packages.  Mail coming back is not given high priority, so that will be even slower.

I agree that ambitious projects require more time also.

 When I sent stuff last year for my Marine Capt in Al Asad Iraq from California,  it took 2 weeks.  It was before the Christmas rush.  Like JoCee said, November is good.   I will add that by the end of November is a good time to start sending especially to Afghanistan.

 Thanks Everyone for the replies and guidance.  I'll set my sites on the first week of November. 

  Starting the  hum Jingle Bells already<S>

    Amy