How do YOU pick a contact?

Do you resend to same people?

NY1227 — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:02:30 GMT

I haven't seen this topic and I was hoping to get some insight. Do you all pick one or two people and keep sending them things, or do you send new people boxes all the time, or some sort of combo?

So far I've sent 3 boxes to 3 different people, but was just curious how you all went about it?

I look for posts that intrigue me.

Sarah H — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:43:32 GMT

I can lose hours reading through AnySoldier posts, they are so interesting and absorbing. However, I tend to pick posts that pull at me for one reason or another. Sometimes I choose the person, then fill the request, other times I look for specific requests - using the search feature - depending on what I have on hand or know I can get fairly easily. Sometimes I just grab a box and decide to fill it with paperbacks from a thrift store - people give great books around here - and I top it off with packages of Oreo cookies to snack on while reading. Then I search for posts requesting the type of books that match what I have packed. Other times I search "books" and see what is being requested, then find them. One man wanted a set of Shakespeare which I found him, several others have wanted good literature for their young troops to read as preparation for college sometime in their future, so I sent them collections of books recommended for college applicants. Some of which belonged to my son who goes to college this fall. I like to help soldiers doing humanitarian work, so I usually pick those and send them what they ask for. But, occasionally I run across a post by some poor soul who sounds so infinitely lonely and abandoned that I put together an amazing box and send it along with a cheerful letter. I make sure the box is huge and filled with great things - a set of new bedding, towels and a pillow, plus enough snack foods to make him thoroughly sick for a week. One guy just couldn't believe it and wrote me the nicest letter in return. It definitely picked up his spirits! I once ran across a female soldier representing a group on a helicopter gunship which desperately needed rags to clean weapons with because of all the dust storms. She said they were not being given enough and their weapons were jamming. My son, who shoots and understood their plight, and I grabbed every clean t-shirt in our house not being actively worn, piled them in our front hall, cut off their sleeves and tore them into gun cleaning rags which we put into an enormous box and shipped within two hours. She wrote us not long after that they got them and put them to good use. There are so many ways to pick a soldier or unit. Read through the posts and see what your heart tells you. It will speak.

what does address choosen (or requested, not sure) ____ times mean?

JLYates — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:34:25 GMT

I was looking at the soldiers names and saw where some are noted as being picked, chosen, don't remember the wording, different number of times.

Does that mean that those number of times someone has asked for their address to send to them? A couple I looked at had 2 and some had as many as 30. So does that mean that their address has been requested 30 times and so they will have approx 30 people sending them something?

How often also is the info updated on the items the soldiers are requesting? I don't want to send something that they have a lot of, but then miss out on something that they desperately need. I read one where the person said they had lots of female hygeine and not to send more. However, could they run out and later need them? Can they update the info to let whoever know that they are running low on items, please send them, or they have enough, so hold off for now?

I know that these are a lot of questions, but I don't want to send a box of razors and find out they needed foot powder, for example.

Janette

how do you pick a contact

va girl — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 13:27:01 GMT

i have been looking at the number of men or women needing help to the number of people that have requested the address.

va girl

How do I pick my contacts?

NaughyChimp — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 08:24:29 GMT

Ooooh, I don't have a special strategy. At first, I just picked some purely by names that caught my eye... based on silly factors. Eg. Someone who has the same first And last name as I do (quite a coincidence). Someone with the last name Riggins because that's the name of a character I like in a TV show I watch. Someone with the name William Nott because I imagined he'd been teased as a kid ("Will Not")

Now, I often send to soldiers who write things like, "Nothing ever goes to waste" because money's tight here; I'm thrilled to send packages but find it reassuring to be told that nothing will just be tossed into the trash.

This would help the soldiers a ton...

Ash — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 05:53:28 GMT

When I go through the contact list I can't help but get irritated when I see somebody who has 14 months left in their tour and have 25 people and 45 supporters while others have 1 month left in their deployment and have MANY soldiers who don't have a supporter. It would help the soldiers a ton if we didn't request a unit that has been sponsored beyond the number of soldiers it has and instead supported some of the bigger units who need more supporters.

Here's how we do it!

NicksMom — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 20:02:39 GMT

I have had a lot of people ask me how I choose my contacts. I go to the search page and type in something that is meaningful to me. I mostly choose troops from Florida or Military Working Dog Handlers, "MWD Handler" or "K-9 Handler". I am a dog lover and I know the military does not always provide everything they need. My very first package was a Cool Vest for a German Shepherd that was in Iraq and the "can" they lived in had no air conditioning. Since then I have supported over 50 MDW Handlers, with some of whom I still maintain a pen-pal realtionship. I order dog treats from Jeffers Pet Supplies because they mail them direct to the troops. Then I send letters, cards and packages for the humans on a fairly regular basis, about once a month. At any given time I have between five and ten contacts.

I don't ever expect any correspondence in return, but when I get a letter, email or a nod on the web page, it is the most rewarding feeling to know I have brightened soemone's day. I have read many posts on the website and when I see someone telling their suporters that they couldn't get through their deployment withouth the love, prayers and stuff from Any Soldier, it makes it all worthwhile.

Peace,

Do you support one group or spread the wealth?

daschultz — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:28:22 GMT

I still fell like a newbie - have been around about 3 months. I have come to realize that a lot of those who post here pretty much support one contact. I have seldom sent more than one package to a contact - preferring to reach as many different ones as possible. What do most of you actually do?

My soldier has disappeared from the listing

WisconsinMom — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 02:58:20 GMT

Early in December, I chose a soldier listed from my home state and sent a Christmas package. I never heard anything from him and recently, I saw something saying that he has not contacted anysoldier.com and when I went to check yesterday, his name was gone completely from the listing. I'm sort of discouraged after spending not only to buy the items, but over $12 to ship the box, I have no idea whether or not the box was received and now there's no way of checking either. And I've lost his address too.... Live and learn!

for those of you who have adopted soldiers....

mysticflower — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 14:43:54 GMT

How did you do it?

Since I found out about AS a few months ago, I've sent out lots of packages to various units but haven't had a chance to form a rapport with certain contacts as some of you seem to have done. I'd like to find a few contacts or units to focus on since buying all this different stuff for various soldiers will make me bankrupt if I'm not careful. I do send letters with my packages and have received a few thank-you letters and emails in return, and I have emailed two soldiers back but it fizzled out after one or two emails. I know I'm not supposed to expect thanks from each and every contact (since they have much more important things on their plate to deal with) and that's not my intent, but I'd like to form a closer bond with at least one or two of them and send packages and letters to those only.

Sarah

Anyone know of a unit that needs a coffee maker?

vtleogal — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 02:52:59 GMT

Hi all,

I am sorry if this has been posted/answered somewhere, but it is getting harder to keep up with everything:) but I bought a coffee pot (nice one) for my Mom for Christmas, only to find out she has a Bunn (the best of all, so don't ask me how I did not know that) anyway, so now I have a nice coffee pot and no one to need it. I tried searching on coffee pot but going through all the postings are hard, plus we know that everything is not always spelled correctly.

so, does anyone know of a unit that needs or wants one that I can send it to? If not, I will just send it in my next random package, as I don't have contacts that need one. Thanks! Thought this was the best way to ask since some of you know all about the details of some units :)

Happy Early New Year

Lynn

Soldiers overseas

cherokeeproud38 — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 22:50:51 GMT

Hello,

My name is Shirley. I do not personally know any soldier overseas, but would like to write to one or two. I know it helps to keep morale up. If anyone has any info on how I can find out how to write to a soldier, please let me know. Included is my daily e-mail address. Cherokeeproud38@yahoo.com. Thank you in advance.Walk in peace.

My favorite funny picture

Pamela — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 00:58:25 GMT

I try to pick contacts who seem most in need (for whatever reason -- sometimes the reason is that they didn't write much).

But Ward Marshall is getting a box from me just because he has my favorite funny picture. Growing up in the South, I saw LOTS of "See Rock City" signs. Never thought I'd see a photo of one in Afghanistan.

On a serious note, he says he's sending goods he receives to some of the "most remote" spots in Afghanistan. I know several of us are interested in getting support to remote areas. This contact certainly isn't being ignored -- he's had 28 requests since August 9, and talks about the packages he's received. But I thought some of you might be interested.

I'm also thinking of sending him some rocks (very small ones) carefully labeled with the state they are from. He obviously has a sense of humor -- maybe he would enjoy a little pile of rocks from the USA.

Pam

Looking for the next KOP

dmin — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 04:05:21 GMT

I have sent a few packages to the KOP, but have been overwhelmed by the support that company is receiving through the members of this board, and others. I haven't "connected" with anyone there, and know there must be other units in the area that are not receiving as much support.

Is anyone here supporting any other soldiers (that have specifically identified in their posts that they are in similar outposts) that you know need some additional support?

[edited to remove unit and location reference]

Marty: Choosing by Birthday?

amergal — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 14:43:13 GMT

I just had my own "DUH" moment. Is there a way to find a soldier by birthday? Mine is on the 16th and although a package may get there late, I would love to find a soldier with the same birthday. Is this possible? Could this be added to the search options?

chosing a contact

iwojimaseabee — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 03:17:44 GMT

Initially, I get the name from anysailor.com. When filling up the box, I like to put a label on each item and ask the contact to distribute to the person who fits the label....all in jest.. Some labels will say " the smartest sailor" on a package of Smarties candies, " the sailor with the most kids" on a package of sour patch kids,... the sailor with the biggest feet on a pair of inner soles,..if there is stationery I would ask that it goes to a sailor who likes boats if there is a boat scene. This process has been well received and provides a source of entertainment.. I write up " RULES FOR DISTRIBUTION" so that the recipient knows that this is all is jest and that the reciever of the box is simply the messenger for me!.. Other ideas include the oldest sailor, the youngest, the tallest, the one with the most hair,the sailor whose birthday is closest to mine, the sailor who has been in the longest, the shortest, the farthest from home, The rules are that each person in the group gets ONE gift..and of course I include stuff for all. One of the best received items has been the BIGGEST package of LIFESAVER CANDIES from COSTCO which I ask to be given to the corpsman/medical dept of the unit. They are even individually wrapped. I also like to send PEZ dispensers and extra PEZ since they always bring a chuckle.

It's been fun! Also, you know all those return address labels you get from every organization and do not know what to do with them? I place one on each item and should I get a response, then that person gets the next box.

I like read thru and I chose Navy Seabees in honor of my dad who was a WWII Seabee.

How often do ya'll mail pkgs & do you continue with the same units

Heather — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 06:32:02 GMT

Hello all, I am very new to this project of the heart and would surely love to hear what everyone is doing. I read all the new posts the soldiers enter daily and I really love to see the pictures that they have posted sometimes of themselves and some of the area they are in. Makes me feel like I want to adopt em ALL but of course that's not possible. What I have done to select a unit is in reading their posts I've picked the ones I have by what they wrote or the job that they are doing and my latest one because we share the same last name which is Not a common one (who knows we may be related).

Here are just a few of the questions I have asked myself, I'd sure appreciate any and all feedback/comments.

My questions are:
1. when you adopt a unit, mail letters and packages do you continue with that same unit until they come home?
2. what would the "norm" be for the amount of contacts (right now I have 3 units)
3. how often do you ship, weekly, bi-monthly, monthly??
4. do you think that the soldiers would like pictures taken of when the supporters live or visit included in their letters?
5. when you have a Large group how many of the same item(s) do you put in your box, i.e. toothbrushes, popcorn etc. I stuffed my first boxes last week just a full as I could - getting the most out of the priority flat rate box.

This concept of Adopting, (or sponsoring)

Sarah — Mon, 28 May 2007 02:47:32 GMT

I'd like to get a little clarification on this because lately there has been a lot of talk about chosing/or avoiding certain contacts based on the number of requests they have.

I used to feel confident that writting a letter was a good thing to do when I did not have the resources to send a package- or if the contact expressed a desire to receive letters. I had no qualms about requesting an address to send a picture postcard or letter... but now I feel as if by raising their request count- that I am going to impact that person negatively by reducing their odds of getting a big fat care package!

What's a person to do!?

Selecting Soldiers

Anonymous — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 06:40:14 GMT

I have lost track of where this discussion was, but I remembered one other thing I take into consideration in selecting a contact: Not just how many times their contact info has been requested, but how many with a period of time. I sometimes sort the list by # Time Requested, and then just click down the list to see if there are any low numbers associated with old dates. For example, these soldiers have gotten relatively few requests for having posted a month or more ago:

Carlos Hidalgo, April 17, 10 requests

George L. Murphy, April 25, 10 requests

Jose A Mendez, April 27, 9 requests

Thad W. Nale, April 27, 10 requests

Brad Mills, May 1, 10 requests

Fidencio Vasquez, May 1, 9 requests

Alexander Tressler, May 2, 10 requests

If any of you can send any of these guys something, it would be great. Usually rrequests for contact info get out of the single digits within 2-3 days of the first posting.

Roughly how many contacts do you have?

PA Dutch — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 22:50:18 GMT

I was just wondering and maybe somebody posted this in another area, but I was wondering roughly how many contacts everybody has. I think I was up to about 18 but just in the last week or so 7 have either expired addresses or are just about to have expired addresses. I have sent all my contacts several letters so far, most have gotten at least one package but now I would like to concentrate on letters to contacts who are requesting pen pals. Just curious to see if my number was small, too high or average Of course I only joined up in the end of March so I guess all those who have been on a while have tons of contacts. Thank you!