The Troops Need You!

[USMCRET6391]

The following groups or individuals are organizing local or national drives to ship items to the Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan. We've put together a list of those we are aware of.

American Canyon Troop Support
Located 35 Miles north of San Francisco. American Canyon Troop Support takes donations from the public and we send care packages to Iraq or Afghanistan. There is only one condition/s:

* The solider must be in Iraq or Afghanistan
* The soldier must have a connection with American Canyon.

I say one rule because, if anyone in American Canyon knows of a person in Iraq or Afghanistan, that qualifies as a connection, because we support ALL TROOPS. So if any of us learn of a name of a troop we send them a package.
American Canyon Group We are getting ready for Christmas. We recently received $4000 from the local Wal-Mart, $2000 from the local Kiwanis, hundreds from simple workers like you and I. As parents of a Marine, we are so proud of our soldiers, but we are also proud of the community support.
Edward West
jailcop42@comcast.net
707-644-2030

Care Packages to Iraq
My husband (a retired Marine) and I are heading up a project to send Care Packages to the Troops in Iraq. We are told that they must be personally addressed to an individual or they cannot be delivered (for safety/security reasons).

Please send us the names and complete mailing addresses for any Marines they know in Iraq, we will do our best to get a package to each of them. We plan to do this year round, not just through the holidays.

If you care to share any personal information - whether they are married or not, have children, where they are from, etc. it would give us the ability to personalize the packages a little more.

Thanks for any help you can give us. We have FIVE MARINES IN OUR IMMEDIATE FAMILY - - my husband, daughter, son, and two sons-in-law. One son-in-law is headed for Iraq mid-January.

Also, you can go onto www.AnySoldier.com and there are tons of addresses (for all services) of platoon leaders, etc. who have volunteered to be a "point person" to hand out packages sent. All packages have to be sent to a SPECIFIC PERSON - - as you will see from that web site, the second line of the address can be: "Any Soldier" (or as I did - "Any Marine") - - - Lou Forrest
Lou.Forrest@amvescap.com

Care Packages to Operation Enduring Freedom
The American Legion Post 205 in Keifer Ok are sending care packages to our troops in enduring freedom. For more information contact:
Commander - Tony Taylor at 918-630-2754

Ellis County Military Moms
Our group is a group of Moms called Ellis County Military Moms. My son has been to Iraq 2 times headed for a third When he was deployded I did this to keep me occupied but I still continue on. Our son is with 3/7 and now we have adopeted 1/7 and others to ship to we will always support our troops so if anyone has questions or wants to help out It will be greatly appreciated.
Tina Proud Marine Mom
Ellis County Military Moms
Red Oak Texas
andyandtina@sbcglobal.net

Florida VFW and Ladies Aux.
VFW Posts 8463 & Ladies Aux.(Cape Coral) & VFW Post 10127 & Ladies Auxliliary(N. Ft. Myers), in District 13, Southwest Florida have been collecting items to ship out to their Adopted Unit in Fallujah. The District President Pete Nicholsen Sr. and his wife Kathy, of Cape Coral, have a son Cpl. Peter C. Nicholsen Jr., USMC, currently serving with the 2nd Tank Bn, C-Co., 3rd Plt.
Anyone interested in pitching in with either a monetary donation (for postal cost) or other, can forward to:
VFW Post 8463
4709 SE 11 Pl.
Cape Coral, Fl. 33904
Attn: District 13 Commander
Pete Nicholsen Sr.

Give to the Troops
Mission: To support the physical, moral, and spiritual health of America's armed forces in combat zones around the world through the letters and packages prepared and shipped by caring volunteers.
Give2TheTroops, Inc.
PO Box 320063
Fairfield, CT 06824
Web Site ~ www.give2thetroops.org

The Hugs Project
Our "mission" is to place a "hug" (cooling necktie) around the neck of every American living in the Middle East. We want every deployed military person to know that we love and support them in their mission to provide freedom to the peoples of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Over 70,000 "hugs" have been mailed to military members serving in the "sandbox" since June 2004, as well as thousands of care packages. But, we will continue hugging our troops until they can all come home. WE NEED MORE HELP! Cool ties are a very simple project that even a beginner can sew. There is nothing you could send (short of an air conditioner) that would help cool them off better than a "hug". This is a wonderful project for 4-H groups, sewing circles, VFW auxiliaries, churches and anyone with a big heart for our troops. All instructions can be sent out by email.

We depend on donations to buy fabric and crystals. Checks should be made out to The Hugs Project and a tax receipt will be returned to you, please enclose your email address.

If you would like to be a part of "The 'Hugs' Project", send an Email to: thehugsproject@cox.net or visit The "Hugs" Project Website
Please mention that you heard about this effort from Sgt. Grit.

Maine MCL and VFW
The two local organization that I belong to are helping Marines overseas by sending packages and phone cards. They are the Marine Corps League, Bangor detachment 1151 (Commandant: Bob Goulette, goulette@midmaine.com), and the Hampden VFW detachment, Whitcomb-Baker Post #4633, 41 Canoe Club Rd. Hampden, ME 04444, Tel. 207-862-2553. Commander....Weldon P. Young, Jr., Quartermaster.....William H.Sinclair, Jr., Adjutant.....Samuel C. Cannon, Service Officer....Charles S. Gould.
I'm sure the parent organization are also involved.

Momma Bear Cares - Operation Independence
I am the mother of a Lcpl USMC. He gave me a nickname, "Momma Bear". I went to his squadron's website to get familiar with their history and their Officers. While there I discovered a list of things these men needed in Iraq. I decided to start a project which would involve the entire Austin Community, and send care packages to our troops. I first heard about a Marine Reservist Unit leaving for 29 Palms from Camp Mabry last June. I contacted Camp Mabry. They sent me to the Marine Corps League Commandant for Detachment #318 Central Texas. 1st Sgt. Jerry Kovar (ret. USMC) He knew me from our children's high school. He was excited about becoming the sponsor of the project, and told me to come up with a name. The name of course is "Momma Bear Cares". While on www.marinemoms.us website I found Operation Interdependence. I was looking for a means to ship our boxes once assembled. I made many contacts with Mr. Renteria via email, and finally phone calls back and forth, asking all kinds of questions. Eventually I drove to Spring, TX to meet Mr. Renteria during one of his opening of a distribution center there. I decided to become a coordinator for O.I. and work my way to Area Manager so we may be able to ship our boxes here from Austin, TX. From Sept. to Nov. 04, I collected quite a bit, and recruited a huge team of support. The UT Football Team and Coaching Staff, and their Athletic Dept Staff all presented their boxes to me on Veteran's Day. All of the local TV Stations came to broadcast the presentation. We had our first Care Packaging Party on Nov. 13, 2004. It was a huge success. I now have enough product to support about four Platoons each month. Again the TV Stations came to our Party to broadcast us in action and interview me. From those news slots, I have had many more contacts. People from Georgetown, Fredericksburg and San Antonio, TX. Donations are rolling in daily and items as well. Operation Interdependence is launching a Distribution Center here in Austin, sometime in March. Things are hopping here, and I want others to know how I started.
mommabearcares@austin.rr.com
Operation Independence

Moto Mail
"MotoMail" is a new program that allows friends and family to send an electronically transmitted letter to their Marines who are deployed in Iraq. The Marine actually receives a letter, not an e-mail.

Even if you don't know a Marine, you can send your personal message to the Marines.

Click on the link below, sign up and send mail or messages to the Marines in Iraq. They would love to get your letters and messages, especially during the holidays.
http://www.motomail.us/

Operation Airlift

VFW Post 5151 and it's ladies auxiliary are doing a continual drive and fund raiser. Collecting items to ship to troops overseas and funds to defray the cost of shipping. Started with make a difference day and will continue as long as we have service men and women serving overseas.
LOCATION:
Arnold Heath Memorial
VFW POST 5151 & Ladies Auxilliary
341 S. Bartlett Road
Streamwood, IL 60107
(630) 483-0055

http://www.ladiesauxvfw.com/index.html

http://www.ladiesauxvfw.com/Auxiliary%20Photos.html

http://www.ladiesauxvfw.com/Idea%20Exchg%20IL.html

You can also send us names and addresses of who we can ship to. We will do our best with names we are given. Please be sure to give us a way to contact you. We must alert you when we ship to your loved one so you can tell them it is okay to accept our packages. This is necessary for security reasons. No package is being accepted at the other end if they don't know who its coming from.
Hours to drop off items:
Thurs and Fri 5PM-10PM
Sat. 3PM-10PM
Sun. 2PM- 7PM
OK to email Chris Curry at CCURRY958@WOWWAY.COM
Thank you for your contributions.

Operation Assist

Scout Sniper Association Packages for Snipers Opearation Assist

The Scout/Sniper Assn. is gathering money and miscellaneous items to send to Marine Snipers Operation Assist currently serving in Iraq. Through our contacts in Iraq we have learned that there are approximately 200 Marine Snipers in Iraq and, because of the nature of their function, it is difficult to acquire simple comfort items. Contact by mail:
USMC S/SA
PO BOX 2508
MONUMENT, CO 80132
or contact by e-mail at webmaster@marinescoutsniper.com.
Visit the Operation Assist page.

Operation Call Home
is a grass roots campaign started by a Semper Fidelis Detachment Marine Corp League in Wenonah, NJ, to aid United States Military Service members serving overseas and at home. Calling cards have been collected since February 2003 when the Iraqi Freedom War began. Visit the website for more information: Operation Call Home

Operation Caring Friends
The Motor City Chapter MI-2 of the Women Marines Association has been sending "a taste of home" to our Marines who get little or no mail. To date we have been able to ship over 1,200 boxes of support. This will continue until all of our men and women come back home once again. We are always seeking support to help with the mailings as it costs approximately $25.00 per box. WMA is a nationally sanctioned non-profit veterans organization comprised of women who have and are currently serving honorably in the United States Marine Corps.
Donations can be sent to
WMA Motor City
PO Box 590
Romeo, Michigan 48062
Operation Caring Friends

Operation Gratitude
I wanted to let you know about an organization that should be added to the list. It is called Operation Gratitude (www.operationgratitude.com) it is an organization here in California that is sending out care packages to our fellow Marines and Sailors in Iraq. While I was in Iraq I was fortunate enough to receive on of their care packages and again I just feel they are worth mentioning for your list.
Semper Fi,
LCpl Mark A. Hymanson

Operation Mail From Home
Yahoo Support Group
Everyone needs mail from home!

We add names as friends and family members of service men and women send them to me. More of our Military is spread out over the globe now than at any time in recent memory. With peacekeeping in Bosnia, the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, in addition to the bases globally that the Armed Forces are stationed with in "normal" times, that's thousands of Americans far from home.

Deployments have been extended, stop loss orders mean that they are going to be there for a time longer than originally thought. And while no one said the military life would be an easy one, it sure is good to know there are people back home who appreciate the job they are doing. You Can Help

While many soldiers, maybe most, do not reply to us, some eventually do respond, and it is so exciting when we get a note, can you imagine how they must feel? Keep sending little cards and letters of support! Maybe include a photo, or funny current event story, whatever....! Write about just regular life back home here and what you might be up to. We are not really pen pals: we are just writing to send cheer.
Visit Operation Mail From Home

Operation:Mom
Operation:Mom is a grass roots, non political. non profit organization whos purpose is the support of the families and friends of Military personnel and we also support the troops by sending "Little Touch of Home" care packages to those who are deployed. If you have someone who is deployed and would like for us to send a care package then please e-mail the address and name to louise_opmom@yahoo.com and we will put them on the list. No cost to you. Thank you for supporting our troops.
Louise Tamayo V.P.
Little Touch of Home
Operation:Mom
www.operationmom.org

Operation Shoebox
I am the Asst. Director for Operation Shoebox here in Tampa, FL. We are a non profit organization that sends "care packages" to deployed troops, in all branches of the military, all around the world. We work soley from donations for supplies and all shipping costs. Both the founder, Peggy Chiasson, and myself are both Marine Mom's! If you need any additional information please contact me via email or you can call me at (813)956-1159.

Opmale Star
OPMALE-STAR is a group of 100% volunteers organized primarily through Internet communications to provide deployed and state side Armed Forces personnel morale support by supplying them with care packages, individual adoptions for support and pen pals. Care packages all year long and especially during special mail outs for holidays. We never want our Troops to feel forgotten. Opmale Star

Packages from Home
We send packages of hygiene, recreation, and food to any member of the military that asks and even to some that don't ask. We get names from all kinds of places. We have donation drives almost every weekend (where I wear your shirts) and I am always so taken to tears at the concern people show. We then have packing parties to pack all the items donated, and ship them off. It costs us $7.70 to send each package and somehow God always answers our prayers of funds for postage. We send hundreds of packages a month. Our website is www.packagesfromhome.org

Project Camelback
A group of mothers of USMC have been raising money since Sept 19th to purchase state of the art Camelbacks for the 31st MEU and 1/3 Battalion currently in the Mid East...
To date we have raised over $64000.00 and our goal is $100000.00 (cost is about $50/camelback for 2000 guys)
PROUD USMC MOM
Lynn Holland-Kelley, RN, BS, CHPN 14 Francis Street Claremont, NH 03743
phone: 603-543-0804 fax: 603-543-1316

Project Marine Care
MT. DIABLO DETACHMENT 942, MARINE CORPS LEAGUE
Project Marine Care was formed on April 30, 2004 after our Marine Corps League Detachment learned of the death of a local Marine, L/Cpl Kyle Crowley, killed at Anbar Province on April 6, 2004.
We collect and ship goods for Marines, U.S. Navy Corpsmen and Chaplains attached to the Marines. 3,375 lbs. Have been shipped to date. If you have a Marine deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan and would like a package sent to him or her, please let us know. If you want items to go to Iraqi schoolchildren, please specify. The Marines will see to it that your wishes are carried out.
This is an ongoing project and will continue until all of our troops in the Middle East are out of harm's way. If anyone would like to make a donation, please make a check out to: MCL DET 942
and Send to:
John Wintersteen
436 Sycamore Cir.
Danville, CA 94526
E-mail: steenmarine@yahoo.com
Work phone: (925) 454-6118

Sea Cliff Fire Department
James F. Brengel post 456 and Sea Cliff Fire Dept are collecting items for the troops. Drop off location is at the Fire house ; Roslyn ave. Sea Cliff , New York
516-801-1984 or email sumac1@optonline.net

USMC Parents Platoon
Bentonville Arkansas...We have monthly fundraisers to help raise money for our Troops. All monies and proceeds go to Our Beloved Troops...We send several boxes a month to a different platoons...right now we are working on and trying to organize Operation Santa for our guys that are over seas and stateside that have nowhere to go for the holidays... For more info call Kaci Jo at 1-479-273-0140, or email me at my_nana43@yahoo.com, or if you would like to send a contribution, send to Nina Behrens,PO BOX 713, Pineville Missouri 64856...
Thank you
Semper Fi & God Bless Our Troops Where ever They may Be!
Kaci Jo...PMM of LCPL Chad

USO List
The following is a list of acceptable items for care packages that I received from the USO in Jacksonville, NC.:

* Individual packaged crackers and cookies
* Lifesavers, hard candies (no chocolate)
* Individual packaged nuts, sunflower seeds, peanuts, pistachios
* Individual beef jerky
* Packets of powdered Gatorade, Kool-Aid with sugar added
* Individual snack packs (i.e. Pretzels, Cheese Nips, Fritos)
* Travel size: Shampoo, mouthwash, sunscreen, toothpaste, toothbrushes, female products, stick deodorant (only), combs, disposable razors, shave gel, lotion and hand sanitizer
* Band-aids, sunglasses, moleskin, fly bait, "Bounce" dryer sheets (helps to keep insects away)
* Word puzzle books, magazines, pens, pencils, writing paper, and envelopes.
* Gifts of money for the purchase of military items and assist in shipping costs.

They cannot accept or ship the following:
Homemade baked goods/carbonated drinks/aerosol products/liquid products/bulk size items/pornographic material

It would be great if you could mention to your devoted readers to contact their local USO about donating these items to be sent overseas. If your readers are close to a military facility they might want to check with the information officer for details about possibly dropping items off for them to send over to our troops.

In my recent conversations with friends at Camp LeJeune they have told me that also in the past, school supplies have been collected for Iraqi children as well.

Just thought that today and tomorrow were good days to be reminded of our men and women serving in all branches of the military and to let them know how much we appreciate their sacrifices.

Lovingly,
Claudia DeMaggio

US TROOP SUPPORT FOUNDATION
Us Troop Support Foundation is collecting for under Armour Garments for our Marines and Soldiers serving in combat. We get these items at a special cost. ( WHICH is considerably less than even the PX or BX) We currently support more than 3100 troops serving in combat areas.

Us Troop Support has been sending care packages since Jan 2003 and has supported more then 7000 troops as of Jan 2006. We also send care packages containing hygiene items, snack items, special requests items and gear.

Thanks!
Linda
www.ustroopsupport.org

[CFHSNJROTC]

the following are 2 opperations Based on Long Island New york That i am Aware of and that the Local NJROTC Unit is helping out with.

Opperation Love Our Troops -
Some Local Moms and Dads of Service members have set up a drive for the 23 local members of our community that are courently serving overseas. With the Help of Local Groups like the NJROTC ,POlice Explorers , Fire Departments,Ambulance Corps ,Boy/Girl Scouts , Legilators and Many other groups . Through out april they will have drives set up at local Supermarkets and stores where people can drop off things as well as through out the Community there are perment drop off poits where people can go and drop off stuff through out the month. however due to security risks we must have proper names and adresses on the boxes they cannot be Mailed to "Any soldier" or "Anonymous Soldier.
For Information go to :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/troopermoms/
Opperation Shoe Box -
This Project i know little about but it is Run BY Long Island Chapter of Marine Moms and they are collecting shoe boxes and Items to send over to iraq. They will be placing neededitems in the boxes that will be decorated and they will be shipping them over to soldiers . That is really all iknow as i get more info on these 2 projects i will update you guys.