The last time I was at a Hallmark store I noticed that they now put rectangular envelopes next to the square cards in case you want to send them. I wrote to one of my contacts and explained that I didn't send her the wrong envelope with the square card. The PO really does keep us guessing, doesn't it?

     I write just one letter and enclosed it in my package. If I get a response from someone, I send them their own packages and letter and continue writing one letter per package to the original contact.

     So many good ideas. I'll have to use a few.       I work at a farm stand in the summer so I tell them all when the fruits and vegetables that are in season. I have one contact who is reading in my letters about the strawberry season here in NY. One year ago that's one of the first things ...

     I use coupons alot so I always send the usual tampons, liners and pads. My contact was thrilled when I sent her Vagisil and wipes. Big Lots usually has panties on sale. These are some of the female items that I consistently send.       

     I searched but can't find a reference to this. How does canned tuna (sardines, other canned seafood) hold up in the heat? I don't see a heat exposure temperature on the label. I like sending tuna with a can opener in my boxes but have steered away from it until its cooler.

     I send boxers (whatever style I find on sale). I send large or extra-large unless I hear from a contact who requests another size.

     I received a letter yesterday from my soldier who was nominee SSG Melinda Gintilas. She told me that her husband had nominated her. It was too late to vote for her. Melinda is in a roundabout way one of our Any Soldier soldiers, too. I received her name on her previous deployment when I sent an "any female ...

    Don't be concerned about sending calendars at any time of year. There are always new troops arrriving and I'm sure they arrive to little in their rooms (tents, CHUs, sleeping quarters). And who thinks about packing a calendar in your bag?     I've also found calendars for just a few cents at Big Lots and Dollar ...

   I always send an assortment of greeting cards and blank stationery cards. Also I always include what I call my ''junk drawer containers.'' These are little Tupperware (or whatever little containers I can find) that have junk drawer items in them: pins, needles, rubberbands, nails, paper clips, brads, pushpins, etc.

My church will send Christopher K Waldschmidt  a few boxes. We've lost a couple of our contacts because they've come home. ( Hooray!!)