Care Packages for Troops Overseas

November 2009

Dear National Philoptochos Board Members, Chapter Presidents and Members of the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society, 

 A recent article in the New York Times (Raising Morale Far From Home, November 12, 2009) emphasizes the importance of supporting our troops who defend our freedom far from home.  "Getting a care package from home can work wonders for morale," said Major Gary Bourland, 39, a Marine on his fourth deployment.  He reports that it will be snowing in Afghanistan on Christmas Day, and his Marines will be sitting in the dirt, cold and miserable.  "You are in 14,000-foot-high mountains and not bathing for 30 days.  The dirt is like flour and gets in everything - your lungs, pores, everything." Melissa Letizio, 28,  a master sergeant deployed in the United Arab Emirates reports, "You never feel like a girl...you are in uniform all the time and you are sweaty, dirty...your hair breaks off in your hand because of the heat...you can't wear makeup because it sweats off your face...you feel like you look terrible and that can cause women to get depressed."

For these servicemen and women, simple items such as socks, cushioned insoles, lip balm, sunscreen, medicated powder, anti-fungal cream, nail clippers, and hand sanitizer are luxuries.  Wet wipes help soldiers clean up when there are no sanitary facilities nearby.

The New Philanthropic Initiatives Committee identifies projects worthy of our Chapters' participation.  We encourage Philoptochos Chapters across the country to embrace this project and to assemble care packages for our troops.  We have researched the various organizations that provide assistance to individuals and groups wishing to send care packages to the troops overseas.  Please note that the former program, in which packages were addressed to "Any Service Member" and forwarded via the US Postal Service, is no longer operational.  Packages addressed like this will not be forwarded.

We have identified two websites that will assist groups and individuals in this effort.  www.AnySoldier.com is a wonderful website through which you can obtain the name of a service member who will distribute care packages directly to the troops with whom s/he is serving.  Volunteers obtain a contact's address and send all packages directly in care of this person.  The website has a wealth of information, including links for Where to Send, What to Send and How to Send.  Please review all information on the site and follow instructions carefully to insure that the packages reach their intended destination. 

The website provides detailed lists of items desired by both male and female troops.  Groups may either assemble their own care packages and mail them to the contact, or purchase ready-made packages that will automatically be forwarded from the website.  Packages normally take approximately 14 days to arrive and are welcome year-round.

Operation USO Care Package is another good website, www.usocares.org.  At this site, individuals can make a donation in $25 increments and ready-made care packages will be forwarded to the troops with a personalized message from the sender.

As His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios has often said, "Together, we represent an army of women."  During the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season, let us join together to bring some comfort and a taste of home to our servicemen and women stationed overseas.

With love in Christ,

Aphrodite Skeadas

President

Barbara Pasalis                                                                                    Crystal Thomas

New Philanthropic Initiatives Co-Chairs