Very early this morning I decided to start packing a box for a unit of 19 that needed some extra "angel hugs." Their PX is running low and although I wish I could send everything they needed, I did want to send every one of them a little something. I began by writing each of their names on index cards adorned with patriotic stickers and put them each into an individual ziploc bag. I filled them up with jolly ranchers, mints, butterscotch candies, powdered soft drink singles, beef jerky, oatmeal creme pies, fruit snacks and lollipops. It's not much but I hope the effort and thought will go over well. I also put in a few games and books that they all can share during their downtime. Overall I think I'll be spending about $40-50 on the package including sending and although that's a bit pricey, I figure it's worth it considering I'll be reaching out to 19 people.
On our forums, we have a section where we honor our fallen heroes and are able to send condolences via mail to the families. I was just browsing when I came upon a young man who lost his life last week. I read on about him and get to the part where the family's address is. I immediately got chills. The family lives literally seconds, along the same road, from my grandparents in Virginia. Maybe I am more closely connected to people around the world than I know. I'm sure my family has crossed his family on many occasions, maybe they even knew each other or spoke from time to time. We're all a big family in this country, and the world, we just aren't aware of it. Well, I now am.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
My adoptee!
I am now a proud angel to Kat, my hero overseas. I was given her email address along with her information and promptly sent her an email to introduce myself and let her know I was already collecting some items to send her way. To my total surprise, she emailed me back within a few hours! She is unable to email for the next week because she is at a different post covering for another soldier, but I'm sure I'll hear back from here a lot more after that. I went on a little shopping spree and got some feminine and girl stuff for her. I almost feel like I'm doing more than they expect, but if it were up to me I'd send $100 worth of stuff in one shot. Too bad I'm not rich.
I am about to head over to Target, when they open, to pick up some stuff for another team of 19 soldiers who are running out of food and supplies. It's pretty ridiculous that we're still funding this war beyond belief and yet our troops aren't even getting simple necessities. Some of them get chances to buy from a PX (a mini store for basic items) but by the time a new shipment comes in, it sells out almost immediately due to demand. I look around my room and see all this shit that I have and have access to, and I almost feel ashamed! I have about 10 different bottles of lotions, 4-5 different shampoos and crap, and just all this excess. It really is a wake-up call. Anything that I haven't used that is worth sending, I'm shipping out in my first package.
Also, yesterday, I was informed that after all that Rosie O'Donnell drama with her supposedly calling our troops "terrorists" she ended up donating money to Soldiers' Angels. I'm not sure how much, but considering her bankroll I'm positive it's going to make a small difference in the least. I think she is an incredible humanitarian and never really thought she was calling our troops the bad guys. They're just doing their jobs... they're ordered to be there and do what is told of them. The people who should be held accountable for any mistakes or faults are the politicians, high officers, and policies that control the military and what they do.
According to prospective, this year of 2007 will be the deadliest in the war. They project by year's end that we will lose 1000+ troops. That is FAR more than the 849 of 2004. It's just so sad to hear. The month of May is already the 3rd deadliest in the war as well... and we still have today.
I am about to head over to Target, when they open, to pick up some stuff for another team of 19 soldiers who are running out of food and supplies. It's pretty ridiculous that we're still funding this war beyond belief and yet our troops aren't even getting simple necessities. Some of them get chances to buy from a PX (a mini store for basic items) but by the time a new shipment comes in, it sells out almost immediately due to demand. I look around my room and see all this shit that I have and have access to, and I almost feel ashamed! I have about 10 different bottles of lotions, 4-5 different shampoos and crap, and just all this excess. It really is a wake-up call. Anything that I haven't used that is worth sending, I'm shipping out in my first package.
Also, yesterday, I was informed that after all that Rosie O'Donnell drama with her supposedly calling our troops "terrorists" she ended up donating money to Soldiers' Angels. I'm not sure how much, but considering her bankroll I'm positive it's going to make a small difference in the least. I think she is an incredible humanitarian and never really thought she was calling our troops the bad guys. They're just doing their jobs... they're ordered to be there and do what is told of them. The people who should be held accountable for any mistakes or faults are the politicians, high officers, and policies that control the military and what they do.
According to prospective, this year of 2007 will be the deadliest in the war. They project by year's end that we will lose 1000+ troops. That is FAR more than the 849 of 2004. It's just so sad to hear. The month of May is already the 3rd deadliest in the war as well... and we still have today.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Brand New Angel
I'm really not sure how I came upon Soldiers' Angels, but I'm already so glad I did. I read about their philanthropy and how they can help from thousands of miles away just by showing their love and support to our troops. I've always wanted to help, but I'm not rich and can't send lots of money. I'm not famous, I can't travel and show my face for support. As little a job as I do now, if it affects one person, makes them smile and think of things back home, it will all be worth it.
At first, I joined the Letter Writing Team (LWT). We receive new names each week, as many days as we'd like, and we write to them to send them support and a fresh breath from back home. I signed up for Friday, Saturday and Sunday and because of the long weekend I got two names for Sunday to start with. So yesterday, upon receipt of my names, I wrote a letter each to Josh and Juan. It's kind of difficult to write to someone you don't know, not to mention you are completely unaware of their situation over there... and don't want to bore them or annoy them with how many cats I have.
This morning I woke up quite early... about 5am! Took a quick shower and gathered some things together to go on my morning adventure. Originally, I was intending to take some pictures of the sunrise over the beach, but that soon turned into pictures every so often to show a little bit of my journey there and back. Too bad it was raining when I got down there so I missed the technical sunrise waiting for the rain and clouds to go away a bit so that I could take some shots. But I did get some nice ones, wrote some words of encouragement in the sand, took a couple pictures of those and came home. I thought it was a different way to maybe distract their attention for even one minute from what they're doing... and I think that's important.
I signed up for some TLC care to extra soldiers that need that extra mile. So in addition to my two guys, I also wrote to Nathan as well as a unit who just lost a couple of their own. I can't even imagine...
Finally! I signed up to adopt a soldier overseas. More information on him/her when I hear back from SA. Hopefully it won't take long, I'm anxious to send some goodies and write to someone who has the potential to write back. Knowing what they do really humbles and grounds you... I don't even know what I'd do in their situation. In fact, I almost was. I was very close to enlisting or taking advantage of an ROTC scholarship, but now I don't know if I could have done it. These guys and gals are so brave it's amazing.
More when I get more info! Remember.. www.soldiersangels.org Go help out if you can!
<3 Jess
At first, I joined the Letter Writing Team (LWT). We receive new names each week, as many days as we'd like, and we write to them to send them support and a fresh breath from back home. I signed up for Friday, Saturday and Sunday and because of the long weekend I got two names for Sunday to start with. So yesterday, upon receipt of my names, I wrote a letter each to Josh and Juan. It's kind of difficult to write to someone you don't know, not to mention you are completely unaware of their situation over there... and don't want to bore them or annoy them with how many cats I have.
This morning I woke up quite early... about 5am! Took a quick shower and gathered some things together to go on my morning adventure. Originally, I was intending to take some pictures of the sunrise over the beach, but that soon turned into pictures every so often to show a little bit of my journey there and back. Too bad it was raining when I got down there so I missed the technical sunrise waiting for the rain and clouds to go away a bit so that I could take some shots. But I did get some nice ones, wrote some words of encouragement in the sand, took a couple pictures of those and came home. I thought it was a different way to maybe distract their attention for even one minute from what they're doing... and I think that's important.
I signed up for some TLC care to extra soldiers that need that extra mile. So in addition to my two guys, I also wrote to Nathan as well as a unit who just lost a couple of their own. I can't even imagine...
Finally! I signed up to adopt a soldier overseas. More information on him/her when I hear back from SA. Hopefully it won't take long, I'm anxious to send some goodies and write to someone who has the potential to write back. Knowing what they do really humbles and grounds you... I don't even know what I'd do in their situation. In fact, I almost was. I was very close to enlisting or taking advantage of an ROTC scholarship, but now I don't know if I could have done it. These guys and gals are so brave it's amazing.
More when I get more info! Remember.. www.soldiersangels.org Go help out if you can!
<3 Jess
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