Make this Christmas special for a soldier

[nomatrix]

You got these things laying around your house. Go to the post office, get a flat rate box 11x13, and stuff it for $7.

AnySoldier.com
http://anysoldier.com

How it works. Select a service member on the left column of the home page. It will give details, where they serve, what is needed, where to send etc. The site itself is not a package distribution center, only a site to link the random acts of kindess, to those in foreign lands. Be sure to check again before you mail to be sure that soldier is still in that location for (all the obvious reasons)most needs are the same, but specifics like female items enclosed should go to a lady.

Read some of the soldiers comments about what they need from us.

Cards and Letters just to say thank you.
Anything from home.

Magazines, mystery books, board games, writing paper, envelopes, pens, CD's, DVD, how bout those handheld games your kids don't use, get your kids to go on a scavenger hunt, write cards, color pictures, etc.

Food
gummy bears, anything you can add water to like hot cocoa mix, cider, coffee, tea bags, sugar packets, sweetened koolaid, easy mac, breakfast on the go bars, flavored oatmeal, ramen noodles, soup mixes,
beef jerky, tootsie rolls, chewing gum, anything sweet but won't melt like chocolate.

Moisturizers- in shampoo, hand cremes, lip balms, lotions, body sprays, baby wipes, body wash

For women, feminine products, perfume (lucky is popular)

Icy hot, blister creams, toothbrushes toothpaste, razors, nail clippers, q-tips

Socks white, t-shirts

the items you take for granted everyday. Beanie babies, they give them to the kids in country.



The post office has flat rate boxes that are $7 to ship as much as you can jam into them. Let them know you care with a card or letter too.

It will get you into the Christmas spirit, as I found out last night. Just think of how happy you could make a soldier away from home.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

1. Thank you so much

You did good, posting this.

[nomatrix]

2. Anyone want to make this a challenge?

Try this at home with your kids, give them a box and tell them to fill it with small games, small soft toys and all the stuff I listed.
Enclose a card from them, some of the stuff might make you laugh, think of what that would do for a soldier moral.

Come on DU!

For all our talk, lets take some action, WHAT SAY YOU?

[babylonsister]

3. I already have my box, am in the process of filling it. Thanks! nt

[nomatrix]

7. Way to go sister!

Let us know if you come across something neat!

[Rick Myers]

4. I will get some boxes tomorrow and get friends to fill them!

I'm assuming you get the boxes at the Post Office, correct? On the site there is a mention of some customs form for any package over 16 oz, do you need this or do you just send them off?

[nomatrix]

5. Challenge your families

instead of picking a name out of a hat. See how creative they can get. I found in my magazines "how to fold paper airplanes". Send them an e-mail with BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR, list some items. Especially those old DVD you've seen over & over, CD's one listens too.

How about a moment in time for a group, look through your photos, include pictures of you and your family doing someone together, (picnic, skiing) whatever and group think what do you associate with snow? Include hot chocolate, marshmallows, stuffed snow dogs & snowmen, chopstick, gloves, scarfs, hats, heavy socks, cut out pictures from magazine or include skiing mags (pic them out at the library throw out section or for a nickle)and include a letter that makes the soldier feels like they are there with you.

Post your ideas and keep it kicked.

Great time to bond with your kids and teach them how important these heroes are for us and we support them with more than a magnet.

[Karenina]

6. What will make any conscious soldier happy for Xmas

is that the citizens who EMPLOY their "*leaders" come out in force and get them the FUCK OUTTA THAT CLUSTERFUCK sucking the life out of EVERYTHING and EVERYBODY. READ IT in the troop's own words.

http://www.progressiveindependent.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=130&topic_id=176

[nomatrix]

8. I know how you feel

but they have no choice but to be there.

Would you throw a drowning man

(a)book on how to swim
(b)a life-preserver

[Rainbowreflect]

9. Thank you! I will get a couple & pass this on

[nomatrix]

10. Way to show your colors Rainbow!

Lets show them what liberals stand for. Support the underdogs.

[alstephenson]

11. Thanks for the info!

This is a great thing to get involved in!

[nomatrix]

12. If you are sending board games

be sure all game pieces and directions, dice, pencils & paper to score, etc.

I just found some old games (I used to sell on ebay) I never played, that have themes. This is fun.

Elvis UNO, word search books, newspapers, postcards, where you are from.

Any other creative ideas?

[Paradise]

13. thank you sooo much... n/t

[Skinner]

14. Thank you for posting this.

:thumbsup:

[Freedomfried]

15. Maybe theres a way to stuff a little weed into the box also.

Make the soldier real happy and get him a ticket home for the holidays all at the same time.

[Tin Man]

16. thanks for a great suggestion

I'll swing by the post office ASAP!

[stop the bleeding]

17. Thanks for posting this again, I posted 2 threads on this last week

and they sunk faster than Chimpy's poll numbers. I guess that is the nature of DU. My lady and I are sending some care packages as well.

Thanx again!

:grouphug: sharing is caring.

[progressoid]

18. I think one for each of our kids would be great.

[wildflowergardener]

19. Customs forms

Hi. I asked this in the other thread, but since this is a newer one, I'm reposting. I saw someone post a similar question.

Could someone who has already done this, please describe what you do with this customs form and the mailing process? Did you have to go to a person at the post office, or could you fill out the form after hours and drop it in the box? That is the one thing I'm confused about - I understand everything else from the website. It would be easier for me, if I could do this when the post office is closed, after work, but I understand why you might need to give it to an actual person. Did anyone have trouble getting the post office to take them?

Meg

[stop the bleeding]

20. kicking for answer

Kicking

[Neecy]

22. answer

You have to present the customs form when you present the package for mailing, because it has to be stamped by the originating post office branch. They'll separate the form, give you a copy, they get a copy, and the rest they affix to the package.

Warning: the customs form tells you specifically to list every item in the box, not using general terms like "food items". So, when my sister and I mailed out a package this morning we listed every item, how much it weighed, and how much it was worth - pretty time consuming. When we gave the package to the postal worker she said we didn't have to go through all that, we could have just written 'food items'...when the form specifically said you can't do that. So go with what the form tells you to do, because the postal clerk you get might be a stickler.

[wildflowergardener]

23. Thanks

Thanks for the answer. I decided to drop by the post office today and pick up some of the customs forms, and I also got some flat rate boxes, though I haven't decided yet if I am going to use them or not - I'll probably weigh and decide which way will be less expensive. They said that I fill out and hand the cusom form to them, so I was able to figure that out - but thanks for the additional info.

I went to costco today and got a bunch of food variety packs and so. I know some of the pages request juice boxes, but I didn't get those - I got worried that if they broke the box would become a soggy mess - even using ziplock bags. Also went to the dollar store and got some cards and board games.

Meg

[Neecy]

26. about the boxes -

We used a regular priority mail box, because we didn't think we'd be able to fit everything into a $7.70 box (books are a little bulky). It ended up weighing 13.6 pounds and cost around $18.00 to ship from Kansas City to an AE APO.

We could have sent out two of the $7.70 boxes, with everything fitting into both, for a little less, and in fact the postal clerk suggested that for the next go-round. That doubles the chance of loss or theft, but it's cheaper if you have bulky stuff to send.

[wildflowergardener]

27. Boxes

I just did the postage calculator, and for just a 5 pound small box, it was going to cost two dollars more for me to send with my own box from St. Louis. On the webpage it says that if you are on the east coast, best to pick one going to the east coast, and the west coast to the west coast. Apparently there are no Midwest ones cause they if you are from the midwest thanks for your support, so I'm guessing the flat rate boxes are going to be the cheapest for anyone in the midwest. I just packed up a box to get an idea of what could fit, and I was really pretty surprised at how much fit in it plus the box is free. If I do the flat rate I won't have to worry so much about weight. Weight was another reason I skipped the juice this time. Also then canned goods would be an option.

Meg

[newyawker99]

21. kick

:kick:

[GreenPartyVoter]

24. Getting my stuff tomorrow!

[Neecy]

25. thank you and other DU'ers who have posted about this

I saw the link to anysoldier.com here on Thursday and I spent quite a bit of time browsing the site. Three things I noted:

1. Just how little these soldiers are asking for - almost all of them want small snack items (tuna for some reason is a big hit, as are trail mix, Slim Jims, and coffee). A lot of them asked for Christmas decorations or Christmas candy, or basics like socks. You realize quickly (and some come out and say it) that they have almost no PX facilities there. They're apparently issued very little for personal hygiene, because they ask for a lot of stuff like razors, deodorant, moisturizer and whatnot.

2. I only found one obvious freeper who ripped on war protestors. The rest of them stay almost completely non-political.

3. You see small signs here and there of how they really live, and it isn't a pretty picture. Some of them are quartered in real shitholes (and a lot of them post photos - the medics at Abu Gharib live in filthy prison cells). It's also interesting that I found one listing from a vehicle mx unit who asked for 'tools and coveralls' and then added something to the effect of 'in our dreams' and asked for tuna. Tells you how well this administration supports the troops, eh?

My sister and I picked out a soldier who asked for books and Christmas candy to share with the soldiers in her unit, and we loaded up a huge box today with books, Christmas candy, canned salmon, tuna, trail mix, beer nuts, coffee, hot chocolate mix and a bunch of stuff I can't remember and shipped it out this morning. I don't care if she's a Republican or a Democrat, just reading those posts from so many of these people made me sad - what a horrible situation our country has put them in. I'd really encourage everyone to have a look at some of the listings, and give what you can.

[stop the bleeding]

28. Kicking for start of the week!