Friday, May 23, 2008

Sometimes a Little Effort Goes a Long Way

On this Memorial Day weekend it's hard not to think about all the soldiers who are away from their families and risking their lives in service to their country. Personally I think the war has always been a horrible idea and that the best way to support our troops is to bring them all home immediately. But this post isn't about that - it's about them.

The conditions some of our men and women in uniform are living in are simply abominable. They have little running water, little sanitation, horrible quality food, etc. And we as a people should not allow this to continue. I have been using this site - www.anysoldier.com for about a year. The site was started by a soldier as a way to let his family know what supplies they needed overseas. It is now huge. It allows members of the military to post a little about themselves, their unit, and what kinds of things from home they could use. The most commonly asked for goods are deodorant, Gatorade (or other powders you can mix with water), baby wipes (to help keep them clean in all the sand and dust), and beef jerky (easily portable food). I have been sending boxes over there and I can't tell you how much they appreciate it, and how good it makes me feel to even be able to help that little. Last year I even did a drive at work and sent nearly 10 large boxes over their for the troops.

Check it out - read the stories, see what kind of horrible conditions they are being subject to. And think about the next time you go to the grocery store or Target picking up a few extra items and sending them to a soldier in need. Not only will they get needed supplies - but it is really a boost for their morale to know that even strangers are thinking of them.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's the kindness of people like you that made my husbands 18 month deployment in Iraq just a little easier. I know the soliders appericate and I hope you know how much the families of those soldiers appericate it also.

Unknown said...

We've had several friends and family serve deployments in Iraq. My best friend has served twice (challenging since he's a widower with 3 girls ages 6-10) and hopes he doesn't get a third trip. We've had little insights into what life is like over there, which was one of the motivational factors in 3xMommy getting involved in this way. When she sent those 10 boxes last year, her boss picked up the shipping costs (over $100, easy). It seems goofy to send baby wipes, AA batteries, old books, kool aid, etc to our soldiers...but combating the sun, sand, dehydration, and boredom consumes a lot of their daily lives and these little contributions go a long way to helping with that.

ShannanB said...

You are an amazing individual. You are right. My uncle just got out earlier this year and he said there was nothing they looked forward to more than the care packages from home.

Senior Lady said...

In 1965 I started mailing things to APO addresses. Among the things I've sent:
1. 3 2' plastic Christmas trees complete with lights and ornaments.
2. 14 Texas State flaggs
30 sets of assorted male underware which I'd dyed OD green.
3. 30 sets ladies underware, also OD green
4. 105 paperback books
5. At least 1 gal. of Solarcain with aloe in individual 8oz. containers
6. at least a qt. of Deet anti-bug stuff in 2 oz. botles.
7. 5 pkgs. of baby wipes to get camo face paint off a Doc who was making "house calls" in the dark somewhere north of Bacuba, Iraq.
8. a "just add water" spaghetti dinner with 2 cans of Kraft Parmasan chese and appropriate dried spices, enough to serve 12.
9. As above, but Asian instead of spaghetti. And no parmsan, but 50 packets of soy sause, duck sause, and chinese mustard.
10. 347 Polaroid pictures of my son to his Dad.
11. 2 wine boxes (just as a unit of measure) of feminine products.
12. 8 containers of unscented baby powder.
13. About 100 music CDs.
14. 4 cans of Country Time lemonade powder.
15. 3 wine boxes worth of school supplies.
16. And a bucket load of odds and ends as needed by people whom I love(d) and their buddies.

I have loaned out a 1993 Plymouth Colt to a medical group forming up at Ft. Mead for several weeks, I have accepted collect and regular phone calls from young men whom I did not know at all hours of the day or night and to relay messages and sent birthday cards, anniversary cards, mother's Day cards, and sent flowers to women I've never met. I have some "mature" friends who are widows or widowers who have given me a hand with some of this.
So, bless you 3Xmommy for doing all you do. Clearly, you know how much it is needed, how important it is, and I pray that 40 years from now you won't still be doing it. I never thought I would be.