Please say a prayer....

[MaidenFaeSnow]

My very good friend Sgt. Andy Vinh and his unit have deployed for a lengthy stay in Iraq.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/iraq/bal-md.guard07jan07,1,5955976.story?coll=bal-iraq-headlines&ctrack=1&cset=true

I am organizing a care package donation campaign and also a calling card collection campaign at work to show my support.

I appreciate your thoughts and prayers as yet more family's endure separation, worry and possibly loss.

[Ariel]

As a girl who has a brother and sister-in-law in the military my prayers are with all the families and friends of deployed soldiers, no matter where they go.

[Dmitri]

God's speed for and safe and heathly return...

[Theresa Grant]

My brother deployed with his Marine unit just this past Monday. Like you, I'm working on care packages and such to send out. One of the other ladies in my office has a son in the Army who deployed about two months ago, and we're making it an office-wide endeavor. Frankly, after reading his letters, I think every little bit of small niceties we can send helps tremendously. Whether we agree with why these men and women are there, or not, the fact is that those are OUR brothers, fathers, sons, cousins, aunts, uncles, sisters, mothers over there, and they are ours to take care of. So bless you, your friends, and all who roll up their sleeves here at home to help those servicemen and servicewomen find some comfort when they're a world away from what they know.

[MaidenFaeSnow]

Seems calling cards are one of the items most asked for. If anyone is interested in sending calling cards, the best ones to get are from the Military Exchange. The Military has made these cards the ONLY item available to non-military personnel for purchase.

Here's a link:

http://www.aafes.com/

I also have a list of items that have been specifically requested by troops if anyone is interested. Just let me know...

[Phoenix McHeit]

:grouphug: Best wishes & prayers for a safe tour and speedy return. And a little *thank you* for being willing to help protect me and mine.

[Adriana Rose]

Hope for a safe return for every one over there.


Do they need any thing else? If they do I'd like to try to help with any thing.

[Lady Sarah]

Best wishes to your friend for a sasfe journey and speedy return. My brother shipped out the week before Thanksgiving to Baghdad - luckily he's inside the wire watching cows of all things. ~chuckle~

[MaidenFaeSnow]

Following is a list of the items asked for by troops. If anyone is interested in donating and you live near me, we can schedule a time to meet. If you are interested but don't live near me, I'd be happy to pm his address. His unit is in GA for training for a few weeks and then will move on to Iraq.

FOOD:
Fruit Roll-Ups
Gatorade/Kool-Aid/Crystal Light (Instant Drink Mixes)
Tuna Fish in packets (not cans)
Wrapped GUM & hard candy
Granola Bars & Power Bars
Small packs of cookies or crackers
Trail Mix, dried fruit, raisins (indiv. boxes)
Ramen Noodles/Cup-o-Soup (just add water)
Salted nuts (any kind)
Hot Chocolate, tea, flavored coffee packets or tins
Salted Pumpkin Seeds/ Sunflower Seeds
Peanut butter (small plastic jars or tubes)
Girls Scout Cookies
Cheese & Cracker packs
Chex Mix Cereal (small, individual boxes)
Condiments and spices (no glass)
Salad dressing (plastic bottle only)
Beef Jerky / Slim Jims (They love this!)
Instant oatmeal
NO CHOCOLATE (April-Sept.) – it will melt!
Any kind of Snack Food!

TOILETRIES: SMALL, TRAVEL SIZE ONLY! SMALL, TRAVEL SIZE ONLY!
Baby wipes
Lozenges and cough drops
Feminine hygiene products
Liquid hand sanitizer
Breath Mints/ Listerine strips
Cotton balls
Razors
Dental Floss
Nail clippers
Shaving cream (tubes only)
Combs & hair brushes
Nasal spray
Soap
Q-tips
Toothpaste & toothbrushes
Eye drops (i.e. Visine)
Band aids
Tylenol or aspirin packets
Lip balm & Chapstick
Moleskin Shoe insole cushions
Baby powder
Mouthwash
Shampoo & conditioner
Tissues: Individual packs
Sunblock, sunscreen,
Zinc Deodorant
Vitamins
Bug Spray/ DEET
Skin So Soft (Avon)
Hand & body lotion
Foot powder
Nail files / emery boards

ENTERTAINMENT:
Batteries: “AA” and “C”
35 mm Disposable Cameras
Frisbees
Envelopes, stationery Pens, mechanical pencils
Hackey Sacks
Plastic-coated Playing Cards
Mad Libs, Joke books Comic Books
Mini travel games (UNO, Othello, Chess)
Portable CD players
Yo Yo's
Small electronic games
Magazines (new or used)
Whiffle Balls
Crosswords & other puzzle books
Music CDs (new or used)
Nerf footballs
Day planners & pocket calendars
DVD movies (new or used)
Paperback books (new or used)
current newspapers

OTHER:
Small battery operated fans
Dust Masks
Pre-Paid phone cards
Toys/school supplies for the Iraqi children
Pillow cases Fly swatters / fly paper
Small Flashlights (powered by AA batteries)
Generic sunglasses
Black Cotton or wool socks
Baggies (Zip lock, gallon size)
Bandanas
White Cotton Socks
Baseball & sports gear for the Iraqi children
Duct Tape
Shoe insole cushions

[Drea Beth]

Just throwing up what our people here did for one of our accountants who is serving in Iraq -- They did a big cash collection, with the idea that pooled money would buy more stuff at a place like Costco and also they could buy things on Craig's "what we need/what we'd like" list. From the money collected, they were able to send multiple care packages, which the company picked up the shipping tab for. Our company even donated an older laptop when we heard that Craig's unit has lost theirs to sand. I hear the socks and insoles that were in the packages went over really big!

Maiden, my thoughts and prayers for your friend and for our military overseas, and here in the states, whether they be heading out, getting back or supporting from the US.

[MaidenFaeSnow]

Maiden, my thoughts and prayers for your friend and for our military overseas, and here in the states, whether they be heading out, getting back or supporting from the US.

Thank you so much Drea. My company is also paying the shipping for care packages. When it comes down to it, if they didn't I would! It's the very least I can do as I sleep in my cozy bed and feel the embrace of my husband (retired Navy).

I lost my nephew to an explosion in Afghanistan last January. I know it's inevidable that someone won't be coming back home in my friends unit, just hoping the power of prayer proves stronger than that of destructive intent.

[MacKahlia]

Sending out as much good energy and prayers to Everyone's loved ones who are serving so bravely so far away.

Additionally...
there is a group of kids doing a nation wide project for our soldiers.... BUYING THEM CALLING CARDS!!!! .... and they are doing it by recycling peoples' old cell phones. SO, you can contact them at www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com, they recycle the phones and use the money to buy soliders cards to call home to their families while they are over seas.
this is a legitamate opperation, I promise!

just... since you mentioned doing things for the soldiers and that they want phone cards... it popped into my head.