Sending Care Packages to the Troops

Have you already read our "Our Story" section of The PTSD Diary? If so, then you may already know how we met. If not... here it goes: JR was serving in his second tour to Iraq in 2005 (OIF3). I was in my hometown of Bakersfield, CA, waiting to hear if I was going to be accepted to grad school. I did not know anyone in the military at the time, and did not know anyone who was in or had been to Iraq. But I remember hearing a story on the news about our troops and something prompted me to Google "sending care packages to Iraq." A website called "AnySoldier.com" came to my attention and through the website (and with the help of my Mom), I sent over 100 care packages to men and women who were currently serving in Iraq. JR was the first package I sent and he kindly emailed me saying "Chocolate bars are not the best items to send to Iraq because it's over 120 degrees." I was a newbie at creating care packages and the weather had never crossed my mind. It was also my first indication of the conditions what our soldiers have to endure. We kept in contact platonically by email and instant messenger and when he was on leave we met for the first time and something "clicked." The rest is, as the say, history.

So what is AnySoldier.com all about? Their website explains:

We have volunteer Soldier "contacts" on the "Where to Send" page. They list what the folks they represent want and need. Click through the names and YOU select who YOU wish to support, then YOU send direct to them. We even have a search capability so you can easily identify what the troops need, who you wish to support, etc.

All the Soldiers involved in this effort are military volunteers stationed in areas that are in harm's way. You send your support (letters and/or packages) addressed to them and when they see the "Attn: Any Soldier®" line in their address they put your letters and packages into the hands of Soldiers who don't get much or any mail first. Everything is shared.

When JR signed up for the website, he would list out what he needed/wanted for him and his fellow soldiers. He received hundreds of packages in response to his post. He gave most of the packages away to his fellow men and kept a few for himself. JR was stationed in a location that had very small PX (and at times, no PX), so any food he received, he was very thankful for. People also sent magazines, books, movies... great distractions from the everyday life in Iraq.

We sent care packages last year with the help of friends: Erica, Hayden, Nicole & Isis

We have continued to visit AnySoldier.com and send care packages together every once in a while. I even coordinated a small care package drive with my previous employer and sent out 30+ packages in 2009. You can pick from different branches (if you have a preference). Most of the soldiers will give you some information about their unit and what they would like/need on their deployment. Some items are simple (personal hygiene products, food) and some are specific (like tactical gear). And don't forget the women: they often request feminine products and magazines.

JR may not be in the military anymore, but we still feel very connected to those that fight for our country and spend deployments away from their families and love ones. It's so simple to pack up a care package and ship it off and give the men and women overseas a little piece of home.

Originally posted on PTSDdiary.com 8/16/10