The Care Package Project -- an Update

[DottyG]

I got not one, but TWO letters in my mailbox yesterday!!!  One was from the Sargeant that put his troop's name on the site.  And, one from one of the soldiers.  Both of them were two page letters - not just little notes, but actual letters!

The thing that made me sad, though, is that the soldier that got my package turned TWENTY ONE this past week.  That's just so young.   You forget how young these soldiers can be.

They were going to have a BBQ for her for her birthday (and, I was invited, if I wanted to come, too! ).  She's in the Air Force, but she told me how the Army has Salsa dances every week - she's thinking of going someday, but she's not sure about dancing in her uniform.  The Army also does weekly 5K "fun runs."  But, she doesn't think that sounds like much "fun"!

Needless to say, I was at the store again today buying more stuff to send!

[Venus193]

That's fabulous, Dottyg!

Weekly salsa dances?  Hey, that sounds completely cool.  Is this soldier looking for more music?
If so, I highly recommend Victor Manuelle and Gilberto Santa Rosa (my two faves and my "homies" as well). 

I have been putting CDs aside and using my music points/free CDs earned in my BMG membership for deployment to our servicepeople.

Here's hoping I was successful this morning in recruiting more people for care packages; the four women ahead of me on the post office line took down the website.  I also showed the cards and letters to my college bud and had him look at the site.  Crossing my fingers...

[FoxPaws]

My current Contact is asking for Chex Mix. No problem - but how do I ship this stuff so he doesn't end up with a bag of crumbs? 

I am currently using the shoebox ($8.10) size Priority Mail boxes.

Thanks!

[Venus193]

You might need to use a bigger box.  What I have discovered is that when shipping by weight it's costing me about $1 per pound to ship to APO/FPO, but that might be because I'm in New York.

Whatever you decide about the box size, there is a prior recommendation to put anything like that into a tupperware-type container.  Also, if Chex Mix is also packaged in small, individual-serving bags that come in a cardboard multi-pack like Doritos, that might also be a way to go if the shipping box is solid enough.

There is a bargain store in my neighborhood that has clear plastic shoe storage boxes for about $2.50 each.  I just bought two of them recently and filled them with block packages of wafer cookies.  I'll look very smart if these work because they will also provide a nice storage container for someone to keep using.

[Venus193]

I just got an e-mail from the ship along with some photos!  The MWR specialist sent a nice thank-you letter and photos of the ship and some crewmen.  She is organizing a 007 Film Festival for the whole ship.

It feels good to make someone's day.

[aline]

I got not one, but TWO letters in my mailbox yesterday!!!  One was from the Sargeant that put his troop's name on the site.  And, one from one of the soldiers.  Both of them were two page letters - not just little notes, but actual letters!

The thing that made me sad, though, is that the soldier that got my package turned TWENTY ONE this past week.  That's just so young.   You forget how young these soldiers can be.

They were going to have a BBQ for her for her birthday (and, I was invited, if I wanted to come, too! ).  She's in the Air Force, but she told me how the Army has Salsa dances every week - she's thinking of going someday, but she's not sure about dancing in her uniform.  The Army also does weekly 5K "fun runs."  But, she doesn't think that sounds like much "fun"!

Needless to say, I was at the store again today buying more stuff to send!

That's wonderful!  Thanks for sharing some of their comments.

On a food-related topic, I was in SuperTarget over the weekend, and noticed that they have the StarKist marinated tuna packs on sale for $1.50-ish each. I have no idea if other stores carry the same sales, but I thought I would share. They are easy to slip in to any sized package.

[Venus193]

I would just suggest that you put them in a tupperware-type container just in case.

I'm not going to my client's today after all but I gave a list and some money to a colleague.  I hope he can bring back most of the stuff on the list.

[aline]

I will definitely put the food items in tupperware containers prior to sending. I'm hoping to have time to run out to the pet store today. I have 2 more packages to go out to the female soldiers and the canine team I posted about earlier and just need a couple more goodies for the dogs.

[Venus193]

I just saw another brand of bakery item similar to Little Bites at 2/$3, so I may pick those up this week.  I didn't get around to doing any boxes this week because of work and the instant cappuccino and wafer cookie boxes are taking over my apartment.

I almost bought some Peeps yesterday, but I stopped myself.  Would you guys send those?   

[DottyG]

I almost bought some Peeps as well.  I HATE the things.  But, some people seem to love them (for some unknown reason).  I didn't buy them, because they just seemed like they'd get stickier in the mail.

[aline]

I say go ahead and send them. I find them a bit icky myself, but I know a lot of people think Peeps are wonderful. They might melt together in transit, but I can't think that would alter their taste much. The bright colors are nice and cheery at least (maybe not the best reason to pick out food!), and would definitely make them think of home.

[Venus193]

The Peeps are all about seasonality, as Easter is coming soon.     I also thought about Circus Peanuts.  Do those melt?

One store near me has Pearson Nips for $1 a box.  That's a no-brainer, as those things rock.

[FoxPaws]

You could always buy a "test package" and stick it in your oven at 120^O to see what happens to it.

[Venus193]

I think I'm just going to check the weather in these places first.  I have some Reese's stuff to send so I better get it off this week.  The group in Baghdad gets their stuff in 5 days so I won't have be too concerned.

It's probably warmer in Kuwait at the moment, so chocolate is probably out for that group.

[Venus193]

The female sailor who got dropped apparently was being sent out of Afghanistan last week, so she wrote to them requesting to be dropped from the program.  So she is alive and I am relieved.

There are a couple of others I haven't heard from, but two have posted recently so I am not worried.