When a couple of "step-nephews" went over to Iraq and Afghanistan, my good intention to send care packages to the troops became a plan... finally. So many soldiers, a long way from home, and yet it was far too easy to get distracted by more "immediate" concerns.
I thought I understood how the troops lived - in a vague, overly general sense. Wrong, wrong, wrong.
My faulty assumptions were bumped off by gaining new information - first from the USO, then the great hearts at Anysoldier.com. Now I'm really glad to support Netroots For The Troops again, pooling resources with other Kossacks. This is one of the more immediate ways I can thank these warrior-folks who are living in such difficult conditions, and going without so many things I take for granted here.
As the '00s rolled by, it got more and more frustrating to read up on events that seem to be out of my hands. Getting involved with political campaigns and peace marches, signing petitions and writing letters to legislators... all important, but of course change doesn't happen quickly enough. Getting stuff to the soldiers, whether it's little comforts or equipment I didn't expect to be in short supply, stirs up a little anger at the situation. That's offset by the nature of the stuff, however mundane and humble, getting into the hands of people who chose to be away from so much, for my sake. They have a different sense of what's valuable than I can get here, and care packages are only the beginning of the thanks and support I owe them.
When I started sending stuff three years ago, there were many requests for phone cards. That just floored me ("why is my country unable to provide free calls back home?!?"), among other items they asked for. I found it hard to buy some things in quantity, without paying retail - and it's exactly why collective efforts like NNFT get much more out of every dollar donated, both for the goods and the shipping charges. While we can't collect and send everything, the best alternative for a group is to be able to collect and send as much desirable stuff as we can.
Here's some of the messages that first motivated me to "short" my relatives' gifts, three Christmases ago:
we like thank people who support us and send us stuff it boosts up morale and gives us a little piece of home. we here at the 118th like to thank the people or person who takes time out there lives in support of the troops here.
Thank-you once again for all those who have sent packages and letters, they have definitely helped to maintain the morale of my unit. Things in our location have been relatively quiet, which is the way we like it. Temperatures here are beginning to drop and it has gotten pretty cold at night. With that being said, one thing that it is hard for us to find here, for those long night patrols and other missions that are done at night, are hand warmers. These will be much appreciated as the temperature continues to drop.
Other things that are needed is hygiene gear (specifically disposable razors and Deodorant), crackers, things like Ramon noodles and other similar items. Once again anything sent is always appreciated. Thanks again for all your support.
Phone cards are REAL scarce here. The P/X usually stocks up once a month, and for those of us that work certain shifts, it is almost impossible to get to them before they run out. Some of us are left for weeks without calling home.
...Composition books would be appreciated here. Alot of the soldiers in this unit lack personal writing material.
...
I appreciate everything all of you do to support us. God bless...
as a member of an infantry rifle platoon we are secluded from the rest of the forward operating base with the rest of our unit, supplies are very limited. the company 1st sergeant brings 1 meal a day to us so we rely heavily on packages from home for supplies and recreational materials.
simple snack items and microwavable items are preferred if our microwave lasts long enough, recreational items such as books magazines, cheap DVDs are great for the little down time.
lately we have been improving our Battle position to make life a little safer and living conditions a little better, to do this we need simple items such as screw drivers and other simple tools, hinges for doors are really hard to come by as are lights or simple battery powered lanterns ect. if any of these things could be helped our platoon would greatly appreciate the help and support.
I am part of 2/5 MITT. We are a Military Transition Team that is responsible for training the Iraqi Army. It is a mission that definitely has its challenges.
...
There are only about 20 of us that conduct daily patrols, advise the Iraqis, and run our small base.
It's a little tough to get anything where we live, because we are on a tiny base that has no PX, laundry or other amenities. We have 220 electricity where we live and deliver our laundry to a larger base 30 minutes away.
I am originally from Chicago. My team leader and I are the only true Bears and Cubs fans this side of the Tigris River. Our unit is out of Fort Lewis, Washington.
We appreciate your support and want you to know it means a lot to us. Thank you.
- - - - -
Again this year, Netroots For The Troops seeks to make a tangible thank-you in our small way to the troops who are still serving, before they become veterans. Our mission is two-fold: shipment of CARE packages to U.S. soldiers and Marines serving in hostile regions of Iraq and Afghanistan for the duration of their deployment, and on-going financial assistance for veterans and their families upon their return to the States.
Our goal for 2010 is $100,000 (cash or in-kind donations). So far, we've raised $25,236, 25 percent of our goal. So there is a long way to go.
NFFT is a project of Netroots Arts and Education Initiative (NAEI), a 501(c)3 organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Here’s other ways you can help:
• Please contact TexDem or
VeloVixen if you know someone who might be helpful in securing the corporate, in-kind donations. To help you think of companies that could donate products, see below* for a list of potential items. It takes time to get through the corporate processes, so we need to hear from you ASAP!
• The cash from individuals –
donate here – will enable us to buy the things we are unable to obtain through corporate donations and help pay the costs of shipping them to our troops.
• $10 donors to
Patric Juliett's team receive an ebook of Tales from the Larder.
• At the
NFTT 2010 Personal/Team Fundraising Pages, you can set create a Personal NFTT 2010 Fundraising Page. This gives you a means to approach your friends, relatives, neighbors, co-workers and colleagues to donate to NFTT via your page. We're asking you to sign up to personally
raise $1000.00. If you were a small donor last year but wanted to do more, this is a way for you to increase your donation via your contacts.
• Sign up for a diary! Our goal is to post two diaries per day until NN10, which doesn't start until July 21. That’s a lot of diaries! Don’t worry -- we’ve made it easy for you. We’ve got a template set up, and all you need to do is add a small introduction telling us why you are donating, sharing a story of someone you know who has served or is serving, or any other thing you want to share that might help motivate others to donate. Please contact
jlms qkw if you are interested in posting a diary.
• Do you know a service member who would like to receive a care package? Email your request to: info@netrootsforthetroops.com before June 25, 2010.
Please include all of the following information. Unfortunately we will not be able to process any incomplete requests:
Rank:
Last name:
First name:
APO Address Line 1:
APO Address Line 2:
APO Address Zip:
• Help us assemble the packages in Vegas. It's fun! More information will be forthcoming for those of you who are going to be in Vegas and would like to help there.
• Please consider joining the
NFTT FaceBook Group. Invite your FaceBook and non-FaceBook friends.
* The following list contains some of the things we would like to include in the packages. Please let us know if you know someone who might be helpful in securing these corporate in-kind donations. (Except for letters, please
DO NOT send these items yourself!
We have no way to accept them. Instead, your cash donation is the very best way to help make this happen on the ground in Vegas.)
* Baby wipes
* Mechanix gloves
* LED flashlights
* Gel shoe insoles
* Goop Cleaning Gel
* Powdered energy drinks
* Gel energy food packets
* DVDs and CDs
* Letters to the soldiers
* Sand scarves & cool ties
We realize that you may want to donate something tangible to go inside the packages that will be mailed to the troops. Unfortunately, accepting in-kind donations from individuals is not practical in terms of storage and handling of the items. Instead, we will only be accepting corporate donations or cash from you to purchase items for the care packages
this year.
We are accepting hand-written or typed letters. See Lusty's diary for details. Mail hand-written letters to Lusty, email typed letters to jlms qkw, at
jlms_qkwATxmissionDOTcom .
Books for Soldiers
Soldiers love to receive books, but due once again to the logistics of collecting and storing them prior to NN10, books will not be included in the packages that NFTT will put together this year. Other organizations are more specialized in the collection and distribution of books to Iraq and Afghanistan. If you are interested in sending books, please consider checking out the Books For Soldiers website. It is run by DKos's very own StormBear and is a great resource for giving.
Since March 1, 2010, monthly donations are no longer being deducted. Please consider donating the difference
here.