With Our Thanks

I'm really excited to share today's post with you in honor of Veteran's Day and in honor of those who are currently serving our country.  For a while now, I've wanted to do something beyond just saying thanks to show our deep appreciation for those who willingly go to protect our country and the freedoms we enjoy.  Their courage and bravery mean so much and I wanted even some small way to be involved in showing our appreciation.  And I wanted our kids to know how important it is to show our thanks as well.

The only thing is, I had not the faintest idea where to start.

But last month, seemingly out of the blue (but I know was God-ordained), an opportunity to send a care package to a soldier not receiving anything from home fell into my lap.  Through facebook of all places.  It was the brother of a girl on fb who is currently serving overseas who noticed some guys in his unit not receiving any care packages and asked his sister if she could send a box to each guy.  Now how awesome is it of this guy to have a heart for his fellow soldiers to ask this of his loved ones back home?

Except she's a student herself and didn't have the budget to send one to each guy he listed.  So she asked a group on fb if we'd be willing to help.  And it was wonderful to see family after family excitedly sign up to send a package to encourage these soldiers who are far away from home that they're not forgotten and that what they're doing matters to all of us.

She also even posted links of ideas of things to include and I thought I'd compile a list here just in case anyone else is like me in wanting to do something like this but having no idea where to start.  I'll also post the links to the info (originally posted by soldiers themselves of what's actually useful for them).  I'm hoping you'll adopt a soldier too as just thinking about these men and women being far away from home with no boxes of love coming especially during these holiday months makes this mama's heart really sad.

So, first off, click here or here to adopt a soldier!  Both sites also have lists and suggestions of what to include in a care package.

Next, get the large size flat rate priority mail box from the post office.  There are special military priority mail flat-rate boxes (the same large size) available at the post office, but I think you have to ask at the counter for one.  It gets a discounted rate ($14.85) if it's going to an APO/FPO military address.  But I was told at our post office that the non-military flat rate box also gets the same discounted rate as long as it's going to a military address.  It's just that the military box looks cooler with a "America Supports You" message on it.  :)

And while you're at the post office picking up the priority mail boxes, pick up a few customs forms while you're at it.  You're required to declare what's in the box and its value since it is going overseas.  Saves time to fill it out at home and having everything ready before bringing the box back to mail (I found this out the hard way after standing in line at the post office then having to move aside to fill out the extra form with Jonah climbing all over his stroller instead of just sitting in it. Fun stuff.). 

Or!  I just found this out- you can call the postal service at (800) 610-8734 and request Care Kit 4 and they will mail the packing supplies (priority mail boxes, customs forms, a roll of tape) via priority mail to you for free!  Check the Department of Defense website or the USPS website for more info on this.

And finally, fill up the box with goodies to send to your soldier!  One site says it's okay to send home-baked goodies while the other one says not to.  So I'd say don't send any in the first box but ask your soldier if it's okay to send in a future box and see what he/she says.

Here's a quick list I compiled after reading through some websites' suggestions:

• beef jerky
• white or green knee length socks
• wet wipes
• chapstick (the good kinds)
• peanut butter
• shaving cream
• deodorant
• Axe body spray
• cotton sheet set
• Starbucks ground coffee
• small Christmas decorations
• hot chocolate packets
• Gummy bears/Skittles/Sour Patch Kid candies
• chocolate (but only during colder winter months)
• hand, feet, body warmers
• fleece blanket
• q-tips
• Ziploc bags
• books, magazines, DVDs (Mikey put in one of his favorite Calvin & Hobbes comic books to send to our soldier)
• hacky sack
• Sodoku or word puzzle books
• beanie babies (to pass out to local kids) 
• a personal note of thanks and your address/email in case your soldier wants to get in touch with you

Click here or here or here for more comprehensive lists of suggested things to send (and NOT to send).

So there you have it!  An easy way to encourage an active duty soldier and to let them know they're not forgotten and very much appreciated.  A great thing to do with your family especially during this holiday season.  Hope this helps and please leave a comment with any other suggestions or if I've left anything out.  Thanks for considering this!

And because no post feels complete without a picture, here's one of Allie taken four years ago on July 4th:

Happy Veterans Day!