In My Own Words

Well, a dose of love and appreciation, for one thing.  Guardian Angel cards to be distributed among the group. Hugs in the “empty spaces.”  Magazines, books, stationery for the troops to write home on.  Sewing kits, safety pins, coat hangers, magnets to hang pictures on metal walls of CHU’s, decent toilet paper, air fresheners…anything our guys and gals may ask for to make life a little bit better far from home. Junk food, health food, comfort food, cigars, socks, underwear, t-shirts, boot laces ~ even boots sometimes.  The link below will take you to a slideshow made up of pictures taken at various times after shopping trips we’ve made specifically to restock what we refer to as our “Soldier Stash.” There are lots of other items we’ve bought and sent in response to specific requests, but the general items that are met with great appreciation by our Warriors are pretty well depicted in these pictures.  There are a few pics of granddaughter Oceana Jade, who likes to supervise when “Mammy” is packing things for our “shojers.”  More than once I have had to remove one of her sippy cups from a box before sealing it up. I’ve often wondered what a Soldier would think upon opening a package and finding one of Ana’s sippies in amongst the contents…LOL!  A time or two, she put one of her baby brother’s pacifiers in a box. Since I’ve never gotten a letter or e-mail mentioning finding a “passie” in a care package, I’m assuming I’ve always caught them before sealing the package. Then again, I don’t get a response to every box mailed – perhaps there is a Warrior over in Iraq or Afghanistan with a sippy cup or a passie sitting on their locker reminding them that somewhere in the US there is a little one who appreciates the fact that our Warriors are helping keep the world safe for their future…Hmmmmm; now, THAT’s a thought…

Care Package Items