Adopt a Soldier

Sadly, many of our deployed soldiers will not share the holiday season with their family and friends. Some soldiers do not have family at all and they rarely get mail. I have come across some ways we can show support to our troops.

I found this website www.AmericaSupportsYou.Mil, it has a link, "How You Can Help" and it takes you to a page with twenty main links for ways anyone can help. My favorite is Letters and Messages. There you will find approximately sixty-six links. I clicked on Any Soldier. Any Solider was created by Brian Horn. He wanted a way to help care for his soldiers. The "Attention Any Soldier" packages were then distributed amongst the troop members who got very little or no mail.

You can choose Any Solider, Any Marine Solider, Any Airman, Any Sailor, or Any Coast Guard. Once you choose which branch you would like sent letters and gifts to then you can choose names. Once you click on a name it will tell you how many people are responding to that troop member from this site. They encourage you to choose members who get very little correspondences.

These troop members are asking for the simple things we take for granted like toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoos, soaps and the list goes on. It shocked me that they would be requesting the basics. Of course I can buy some extra toothpaste and toothbrushes or soaps to send it. I am so glad I came upon this website, yet I was so saddened to learn some soldiers have no one back home that writes or sends things to them such as care packages.

I thank Brian Horn for starting this site and for caring about his troop members!
For more information please visit http://www.AmericaSupportsYou.Mil

Another site I came across is www.operationshoebox.com. They send troops support letters, personal items and munchies. Our troops love to get letters from whether it be a stranger or someone close. This brings a sense of home to them to brighten their days.

Operation Shoe box will also accept you're used ink cartridges or unwanted cell phones. They turn these in for cash that helps support Operation Shoe Box. The money earned is then used for postage and supplies to send to the soldiers.

Operation Shoe Box Wish list is long. Here are a few requested items.

Personal Letters from the US
Hard Candies (Melt resistant)
Pens, pencils, envelopes and paper
Printed Materials such as newspapers and magazines
Oatmeal and coffee are just two examples of food and drink request
Personal Hygiene items Such as soaps, razors, eye drops, feminine hygiene products, nail clippers.

Cushioned socks and small American flags, board games and cards are also listed

Please visit http://www.operationshoebox.com for more information.