I was thinking about having the students at my old elementary school write letters to the troops and so I was wondering, what is the best way to organize a letter writing campaign? What are the best/cheapest ways to ship the letters? How should I pick contacts to mail them to?

Thanks in advance for any advice you guys might have to offer!

I would click on "where to send" on the bar at the top, then click on the word "search"(in blue).   At that point, you can enter the item request of "letters" and submit that.   It should provide a list of soldiers who would like to receive letters.   How to pick the soldiers?....you just go by what your heart tells you, there is no wrong or right way to choose.  This topic can be found if you search the Forum.

Depending on the weight of the total number of letters....a large flat rate box can be sent for $11.95 and can hold up to 70 pounds for that price!   If it is just a few I would mail in a box that goes by weight....or even a media mailer (large post office envelope).  The post office is the best place for the final word on mailing....

As far as the letter writing campaign....I have never done one, but would imagine that you would go to the school office and tell them what you had in mind.

I am sure that children's letters will bring lots of smiles!   (Don't forget to donate to this site to keep it going!) 

During the summer we had the same idea and contacted the art teacher at an elementary school near us.  The art teacher and the principal both supported it.   When school began in September the 5th graders wrote/created 100's of letters/art work plus 4 boxes of goodies for a platoon of Marines in Afghanistan,  and we shipped the boxes a couple of weeks ago.  The next will be the 4th graders for the month of November, then the 3rd graders, all the way to the kindergarteners.  The school put their 'Arts for Heroes' project on their web site so others can learn about it. 

One of my contacts wrote that his team kept the letters with them and read them whenever they felt down.   Another says those letters "remind us why we are here."  

Ms anonamouse - You might want to do a search on 'letters' here on the Forum too - some folks have already done the letter writing thing with their students in the past and posted on the results (really good:)).  So their posts might be of some help to you.

One of my neighbors - with a whole bunch of kids - gets involved in all kinds of projects - point in telling you is she catches us all the time outside of church on "can shakes" - a way of raising cash - for postage maybe if you need it.  Guess it will depend on how many packages you end up sending.  One Flat Rate box costst between 11 and 13 dollars - depending on the size.

PS - coool screen name:)  Good luck and have fun doing the letter writing project.  Contacts really like getting letters from kids:)

Ann

While not letters per se, I just did a quick search on "artwork" and found that CPT Vanessa Stolzoff in AF and Major Tammie Yeats in IQ are both looking foward to receive artwork, and presumably letters, from children.

And trying "letters from kids" yielded Erin Arentz (AF), SSgt Luis Chicas (IQ), and Joseph Washburn (Kuwait).

I'm sure there are others search terms that will hit. 

I'd suggest a flat rate envelope for sending a good-sized pile of letters.  Postage for the FRE is $4.95 (or $4.80 printed online)

 cj/

I would also like to bring your attention to Andrew C. Watkins who writes that "Morale is low so any and all letters are welcome and appreciated".  Breaks a heart.

 Thanks again for all the advice!

I spoke with one of my old teachers and she thinks it's a great idea, so hopefully I can get this up and running before the holidays. :)

 Try Brian Zavaglia. He would like letters from school children for his troops.

CJS:

I would also like to bring your attention to Andrew C. Watkins who writes that "Morale is low so any and all letters are welcome and appreciated".  Breaks a heart.

CJS - I'm sending Andrew C. Watkins a package with a letter plus three encouragement cards signed by students in my 3 TKD classes.