Any interest in a group effort for our military?

[Leanna]

I keep on meaning to email you and thank you for suggesting the anysoldier.com web site. It is just a great way to contribute, especially on a tight budget, by utilizing some of the freebies and near deals we get from couponing. It just really hit a cord with me to read the emails of the soldiers who are asking for such basics as shampoo, wet wipes, soap. I also did not realize how many are without support and how much even a letter can mean. I've got my sister started on this, too! Thanks again for pointing out such a wonderful way to help!

[getabigrefund]

Wow great responses on this thread! I'm so happy that we are finding many ways to help those that are helping us.

Our Cubscout Pack has taken this on as one of our service projects. We will be collecting items on Dec 2nd - hoping for 25 of the flat rate boxes full! We found a local unit to support with 25 service members. The hardest part is getting enough money for postage. I'm planning to hit the local businesses this week asking for stamps.

If you are sending boxes, don't forget they can use small holiday decorations. Handmade decorations are great! Our scouts will be making holiday paper balls and we'll add an eyelet so they can be strung together like garland. Don't forget they would appreciate unused greeting cards so they can send holiday wishes to their family too.


Also, I'm sending out an envie of coupons to Valerie today. Pretty big one, hope it has much they can use. I'll be getting another ready next week when my friends bring me their unused ones again. Anyone else have a specific contact to send coupons too, please post or email me privately.

Getabigrefund

[mandies2happy]

Oh thank you sooo much. I know valarie would thank you too. I work at the local VFW and i just put a box out yesterday and have already started to get people putting q's in it

[Leanna]

I had emailed Kona Dog treats - they have you email them and request a free sample. I asked if they would be willing to throw in a few extra samples for a K9 unit soldier package. The president of the company emailed back and said he was glad I made him aware of the anysoldier.com site and that he would be sending products to their registered K9 units. What a great guy!

[ShortyQ]

Originally Posted by mandies2happy

Hello all,

I'd first like to say i will keep all of your families in my prayers. I have a cousin who is somewhere in the middle east right now but he can not tell us where. I'm sure some of you know how that goes.
Well the reason i write to you is because of a military family in need that we can all help.
Her name is Valarie Philips, They are a family of 5 in Yokota Japan. They will be there until 2012. They still are paying on all of the things they had here in the states and now all the things they have there in Japan. They are having a hard time with money and now the christmas coming they are worried. What she is looking for is expired coupons. I'm not sure if you know but on oversea's military bases they can use expired coupons up to 6 months after they expire.
They can not be from a spec. store ie: target, kroger etc. but they can use once printed from the internet. If we could all send some that would help not only her family but many others on the base. THey are finding it harder and harder to get coupons there on base. She has lots of others who need help on base. Please do not send any that are more than a couple of months past expiration date as it does take awhile for the package to be sent to japan. If you can please separte Q's into food and non food envelopes.If you have any questions i'd be happy to answer them. I will be in touch with her.
I'd like to thank you in advance not only from me but from the Philips family and the many other families and the Yokota Military base.

Valarie Philips
PSC 78 Box 2684
APO, AP 96326-

Mandie,

I'll send some Qs to Valarie as well!

[mandies2happy]

I'm shipping her a package this week as well. I can tell you she is very greatful of any q's sent.

On a sad note: the VFW that i work for burnt down early this morning. I am lucky that i had taken all the money donated for shipping and all the donated q's after my shift on sunday. We were not open at the time and no one was hurt but the building is almost gone. I'm not really sure what i'm gonna do for a job because they don't know yet if they will rebuild or not. I guess i'm on the job hunt now



I have a bunch of the pics on my flickr page.
VFW fire pics

[Leanna]

That's awful; so sorryto hear it. Maybe they will be able to relocate?

[mandies2happy]

I can only hope. Our business had been down for awhile and it was just starting to pick back up. I just don't know if they will cut there losses and move on or not. I sure hope not. I've been a barteneder there since only June and i'm in love with the place. My guys are soo nice and i could just pinch the cheeks of the little old men Well i guess only time will tell.
Thanks,
mandie

[vcphillips]

Well, I am Valarie , I dont know how I have never seen this post before. I would like to thank all of you who have sent your ocupons to me. I Did send out many , many, many Christmas cards to every one who has sent me a package. If you Sent the package after the 15th of december I will send you all a thank you card. I am very greatful for what you all are doing and so Are all my neighbors and people who have been searching through your coupons at my commissary. Thanks again.

[mp0807]

For those of you in Georgia, we have a large contingency of National Guard troops getting ready to deploy to Afghanistan sometime in the spring. Contact your local NG units to see if you can adopt them for the time they are overseas.