Christmas stocking tally

Thanks everyone! While we still need stockings for the troops in Iraq, we have met the full request for our wounded troops at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. (IF everyone sends what they pledged). I now have another clinic asking for support -- this one in Iraq.

Should you go way above your pledged amount for any location, please contact me before sending them all.

Likewise, if you find you cannot fulfill what you offered to do, let me know also. Thanks.

Please try to remember to insert a copy of this Soldier Questionnaire in your packages: INFO SHEET.

One faithful volunteer has offered to help while I am gone to Europe. I'll be posting her email here in a couple of days. Thanks Lynn!!!
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100 new names just received, and 211th MP adddress correction

This morning I received 100 new soldier names! Will it be possible to get them "adopted" in the next week? I'm going to try! My husband I and I leave for vacation in one week so my time, as well as the postal service's, is limited.

Also, if your soldier is in the 211th Military Police, I was told this:

"When mailing, please remove the TIFRC and Iraq portion. "They" ask that
we don't label packages with this information as it calls more attention
to them."

It would be great to get Christmas stockings sent here too! We did reach our goal of 500 for the wounded troops at Landstuhl!

ps: I sent out a group webmail update this morning. If you have submitted your email address on my website but did not receive the email, check your junk folder.

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Time is running out for stockings for our troops! 2009

Time is moving too quickly -- there are about TWO weeks left to get Christmas stockings out to our troops. (December 1st! if you can't meet this date I can suggest other ways to help.)

If you can help, please email me ASAP. Email: Nancy@auntnancyusa.com

Some suggestions for filling the Christmas stockings:

• Candy candy candy - chocolate, candy canes (mini ones ship best), hard candy, whatever.
• Tubes of cookies or chips
• Small (1.5oz) bags of cookies, Goldfish crackers, nuts, etc.
  
• Mints, breath mints or strips
  
• Fun novelty treats as are for sale at drug stores
• Healthy snack/energy bars
  
• Chewing gum
• Beef jerky
  
• Small cans of energy drinks (for troops in the field)
  
• Starbucks "VIA" ready brew coffee packets (about $2 for a 3 pack)
  
• Microwave popcorn (commercial only - no homemade products can be accepted)
• Hot chocolate packets
  
• Lipbalm (ex: Chapstick. For troops in the field; not needed at the hospital)
  
• Small bottles of lotion
• Nail clippers
  
• Current music CDs, or movie DVDs
• A short string of Christmas lights
• did I mention: candy candy candy?
  
• You'll find many fun items once you start looking!

Check back often as I will be updating this list.

Do NOT send batteries of any kind unless specifically noted for your soldiers.

Be sure to read the extensive DO NOT SEND list for the wounded troops in a posting below from a couple of weeks ago.

Do NOT wrap items in the stockings. For the safety and security of our wounded troops the Red Cross volunteers have to inspect the stockings.

If you and/or your group has some funds available for more costly items, the troops would really love to get
1. iTune cards,
2. iPod Shuffles,
3. long distance phone cards (domestic; with no expiration date)
4. hand-held electronic games.
Items 1 - 4 above should NOT be put into the stockings with the other items however. Put them into an envelope in the same box. The chaplains will insert them into stockings for the troops who need them the most.

Throwing a Santa hat or silly reindeer antlers into the box is fun too.

You may make the stockings personal by inserting a note card with your name and address if you would like, and even a photo.

If you make a stocking specifically for a female soldier, tie a big pink ribbon on to it with a label "Female".

Email me at nancy@auntnancyusa.com and I'll give you an address to send stockings too.

But hurry -- time is getting short. Plus, I'm going out of the country the first half of December. I'll answer as many emails as I can until then.

DECORATIONS: If you want to send decorations to your soldiers they should go out now to give the troops time to enjoy them before Christmas.

Dollar stores sell the nice 14" furry red and white stockings for, you guessed it, $1.00!

Of course, non-denominational packages can be sent too. In this photo below you'll see some boxes rather than stockings.

Postage rates:

• Your packages are actually going to a military base in the USA, so you are not paying international mailing rates. Still, it can get costly.
  
• For mailings after November 15th you must use PRIORITY MAIL. (I recommend always using Priority Mail. The packages are handled better all along the route.)
  
• Priority Mail FLAT RATE boxes usually save you money (over normal Priority Mail rates). As long as you can close the box with the flaps in place, the weight can go up to over 20 pounds.
• There is a military discount of $2.00 if you use the LARGE flat rate priority boxes. I think they cost about $14 to mail now, but only about $12 if it's going to an Army Post Office (APO) destination as ours are.
  

Other mailing tips:

As of November 15th the post office recommends all packages go Priority Mail. Parcel Post may not make it in time for Christmas. USPS dates link

• Packages should be neat and professional looking. Using the free boxes from the post office for Priority Mail works well.
• Do tape well. All edges and corners. Use clear tape if possible.
  
• Do write all addresses neatly. Security is very important. If your return address is not clear, the package could be discarded.
• Do not decorate the outside of the box. Do not make it tempting for possible theft.
  
• Do seal any liquids inside a ziploc bag. (You might use holiday bags to make it look nice.)

click here for USPS: USPS Military Packages link

Customs Declaration forms will be required.

• Getting forms ahead of time will be helpful so you can list the contents of the package before sealing it.
• You will have to list all contents, but do not make the lists too detailed.
  
• Don't list "Christmas stocking" as that will make it more tempting to thieves. You might put "socks" (hey, that's not UNtrue!)
  
• You will have list the contents, but be as vague as you can and still be legal. Again to avoid encouraging theft.

Joining in late? Too busy?
If you are too rushed to get items out in time for the holidays, I do have a Chaplain looking for supplies you can help with. Ask me about COP Shocker unit.

If you would like to just send a couple of bags of candy for the troops you can do that too!

AND PLEASE NOTE:

Once again this year, there is an email circulating around the internet asking people to send an extra Christmas card or two to "Any Soldier", or "Recovering Soldier" at Walter Reed Hospital. The Army has warned of this mis-informed goal. You do not know where it actually started. While it is a noble idea, tens of thousands of Christmas cards have to be opened and inspected for security reasons, and it just can't be done by the hospitals. Thousands get thrown away.

Here's a link for other ways Walter Reed Army Hospital can use help: http://www.wramc.army.mil/support/Pages/default.aspx

I have names of troops you can send your cards to if you would like to do so.

2009 Christmas Stockings for Our Wounded Troops

Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, our US Army hospital in Germany, has asked me for 500 stockings for our wounded troops.

As of 11/13/09 I have pledges for 301.


Some suggestions for filling the Christmas stockings:

• Candy candy candy - chocolate, candy canes (mini ones ship best), hard candy, whatever.
• Tubes of cookies or chips
• Small (1.5oz) bags of cookies, Goldfish crackers, nuts, etc.
  
• Mints, breath mints
• Fun novelty treats as are for sale at drug stores
• Healthy snack/energy bars
  
• Chewing gum
  
• Small cans of energy drinks
• Starbucks "VIA" ready brew coffee packets (about $2 for a 3 pack)
  
• Microwave popcorn (commercial only - no homemade products can be accepted)
• Hot chocolate packets
  
• Lipbalm (ex: Chapstick)
• Current music CDs, or movie DVDs
  
• You'll find many fun items once you start looking!

Do NOT send batteries of any kind to the hospital.

Do NOT wrap items in the stockings. For the safety and security of our wounded troops the Red Cross volunteers have to inspect the stockings.

If you and/or your group has some funds available for more costly items, the troops would really love to get

1. iTune cards,
   
2. iPod Shuffles,
   
3. long distance phone cards (with no expiration date)
4. hand-held electronic games.
   

Items 1 - 4 should NOT be put into the stockings with the other items however. Put them into an envelope in the same box. The chaplains will insert them into stockings for the troops who need them the most.

You may make the stockings personal by inserting a note card with your name and address if you would like, and even a photo. But know that we rarely hear back from the wounded troops.

If you make a stocking specifically for a female soldier, tie a big pink ribbon on to it with a label "Female".

Email me at nancy@auntnancyusa.com and I'll give you an address to send stockings too.

But hurry -- time is getting short, and, I'm going out of the country the first half of December. I'll answer as many emails as I can until then.


Of course, non-denominational packages can be sent too. In this photo below you'll see some boxes rather than stockings.


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Halloween Candy for our wounded troops

Nov 18th update: Thanks everyone! These troops should not be wanting of candy for awhile due to all your donations!


Left-over candy??

Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC), our US Army Hospital located in Germany, is low on candy and welcomes your left-over Halloween treats. All candy should be in original wrappers and bags. No home-made items are accepted.

If you have some to share, send it to:
Ask me for an address.

You will need to fill out a Customs Declaration form at the post office.

And please also let me know if you send out candy as I try to keep track of how much is sent to different destinations. email nancy@auntnancyusa.com

Since you will be mailing to an Army Post Office (APO) destination, you only have to pay domestic postage rates (not overseas rates to Germany).

NOTE: Candy is heavy. Those of you doing an office collection or school project, I recommend you solicit for funds for shipping too. Since there is no "due date" for the candy, regular parcel post is the cheapest way to go. If you are going to send decorations, candy and/or gifts for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or other holidays, mail early and use Priority Mail FLAT RATE boxes. The US Postal Service gives a discount for Army Post Office (APO) destinations.

Landstuhl Regional Medical Center is the hospital more severely wounded are flown to immediately after being hurt. They are cared for there until they can return to their unit, or, are flown to a hospital in the USA. I'm also looking for volunteers to commit to sending Christmas stocking there too. (Limited amount, so you must let me know.) nancy@auntnancyusa.com

To see more about what is needed for arriving wounded troops, see postings below (or search by "LRMC"). Note their "Do NOT Send" list too. It is different for the hospital than for soldiers out in the field. See this link: LRMC requests

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Halloween! and other upcoming holiday planning

Group email sent 9/27/09:

Hello friends and family,

How can October be coming this week? The temperatures in the deserts are just starting to cool off just a bit -- "only" 97 degrees in Baghdad; and a "chilly" 84 in Kabul today! Yet, it's time for thinking about the holidays for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

HALLOWEEN is just around the corner, considering shipping time. We only need 10 days for Priority Mail to Baghdad, but for our troops in Afghanistan, I'm not really sure. I know it can take 6 weeks for regular mail. Priority Mail much quicker, but it depends on where your particular soldier is stationed. If you have an estimate from your own packages, let me know.

One soldier emailed me today to say they have celebrated NO holidays since arriving in Afghanistan this Spring. She thought some candy and paper decorations would be great fun. Thanksgiving even more so.

So please be encouraged to send something to your soldier very soon, and plan for THANKSGIVING treats and greeting cards. (You can also send left-over Halloween candy, but getting goodies ahead of time is more thoughtful).

CHRISTMAS packages should be sent Priority Mail around Thanksgiving, so it's not that far off either. The Army hospital in Germany likes to pass out Christmas stockings to wounded soldiers arriving starting on Thanksgiving Day, therefore you early birds can get started now!

Since I will be out of the country after Thanksgiving Week, I ask all of you to plan ahead more than usual for Christmas sign-ups.

If you don't have an individual soldier of your own to support but would like to help with some holiday projects/goodies, you know I can help you do that! The chaplains love to collect and pass out our treats.

Check the blog regularly for updates, and please do not respond to this email address. It just doesn't work correctly anymore.
Email me at: usanancy@gmail.com Thanks!

Nancy

--

PS: The US Army hospital in Germany is looking for candy for our wounded troops too.
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Candy and supplies needed for the wounded warriors in Germany

From the Wounded Warriors Center at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (Army Hospital) in Germany.

My name is Lisa P. – I am the new Donations Coordinator. Laura Smith is moving to the states in July and she will be missed!!

A needs list is attached. There were only a few changes this time around. We will be doing a more complete inventory this summer and will probably update again in the fall for the colder weather.

I can tell you that we are rapidly going through our candy supply. We tend to receive candy around Christmas and Valentine’s Day and then the supply slims down for the months in between. Some sort of 4^th of July treats would be welcomed. I just started volunteering at the WWMC in January and I’m not sure what you did with Laura for the Christmas Stockings, but I am up for just about anything!

Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you and working with you in the future,

Lisa P.

Wounded Warrior Ministry Center

Pastoral Services Division

Landstuhl Regional Medical Center

The Wounded Warrior Ministry Center (WWMC) is an entity within LRMC Pastoral Services that cares for the needs of wounded and ill service members medevac’d from the GWOT. The WWMC provides items of comfort to “fill holes” until the service member’s personal items can catch up with them in the military healthcare system.

The WWMC services more than 750 service members each month. Since the WWMC is a non-funded entity (within DOD), we rely on the generous donations of fellow Americans and others, both substantive and monetary, to provide these items. We truly appreciate the efforts of each and every person willing to share “hugs from home” and words of encouragement with those who have given so much for the cause of Freedom in our world!

This list will be updated periodically. Be sure to read the "NOT Needed" list too!

Phone cards – Domestic only with no expiration date

Black 30 inch duffel bags (no logos)

Long sleeve t-shirts/shirts L-XL-M-S (in this order)

Pajama pants (men’s sizes L, XL, M (in this order)

Men’s t-shirts L, M (not undershirts)

Men’s Slippers (slip-on non-slip) sizes 8-14

Women’s t-shirts S, M, L, XL

Bras/Sports bras 32-38

Travel Pillows

Nail clippers

Men’s & Women’s Deodorant

Lip Balm/Chapstick

Travel size shaving cream

Travel size Gold Bond Powder

Hand-held electronic games

Healthy snack bars, chocolate, and candy

DVDs (no extreme violence or nudity – no VHS tapes)

iTunes Cards

iPod Shuffles

DO NOT send USED items!

* * * ITEMS NOT NEEDED AT THIS TIME * * *
As of this time we have no need for anything not on the current list (updated regularly).

Thank you for your generosity.

Please do not send the following:

No Men’s white or color briefs
No CDs, Video tapes
No Bar soap, large and hotel size
Bubble bath, salts
Hair conditioner
No Large toothpaste
No Toothbrushes
Combs
Make-up and facial creams, nail polish, etc. including samples
Lotion any size
Baby wipes
Q-tips
Large economy size toiletries
Pre-packaged toiletry kits
Bath towels & face cloths
Lap blankets/double, queen or king size blankets
No Women’s underwear
No Feminine products
No Books, magazines
No Playing cards
Sudoku and puzzle books
Pencils, erasers and pencil sharpeners
No Writing paper / Envelopes are needed
Blank greeting cards
Any size batteries - none are required anymore
Over the counter medications/any medications
Coffee mugs
Candles, matches, lighters
Canned food
Any knitted items
Signed holiday cards (Christmas, Valentines, Easter, etc.) Please only send a very few – we receive thousands more than the number of patients that come in all year and cannot possibly distribute them all.
NO Used clothing – or clothing with stains or holes or broken zippers, missing buttons, etc.

For updated list contact: WoundedWarriorMinistryCenter@yahoo.com

April 2009

Donation to the WWMC fund for items that are used for targeted high-demand and seasonal items would be acceptable
(payable to: IMCOM-E CTOF-WW)
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I do not publish individual's addresses online.
If you want to help, email me at nancy@auntnancyusa.com

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LRMC Wounded Warriors Ministry - 500 Christmas Stockings wanted

The Chaplains at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) run the "Wounded Warriors Ministry". Soldiers are often medevac'd to LRMC directly after getting injured. These are the more seriously hurt or ill. They often arrive only in a hospital gown. The Ministry provides items of comfort to "fill holes" until their personal belongings catch up with them.

Last year, with your help, 1,000 Christmas stockings were sent and passed out to the troops arriving at this US Army Hospital in Germany. This year they only need 500, but so far participation has been very low. I hope you can help!

Let me know if you can make and send a couple or motivate your friends and co-workers to contribute a larger number, it will be greatly appreciated!

This is a picture of some of your stockings arriving in Germany last November.

Groups wanting to prepare large numbers of cards should make them Get-Well cards. The hospital receives thousands of Christmas cards this time of year, and can't use all of what they get. If you send a bunch, do not seal the individual cards. Use the large USPS Mili-pacs envelopes to mail several cards at a time. Most post offices do not stock these, but they can be ordered online easily. DO NOT SEND ANYTHING DIRECTLY TO THE HOSPITAL, or anything addressed to "Any Soldier" etc!

These young troops really enjoy hand-held electronic games. Teen youth groups could be encouraged to collect some, or the iPod shuffles and iTunes cards. Do not put them in the stockings -- put them in an envelope inside the same box as the stockings.

Here's a recent note from my contact at LRMC -- (contacts change each year)
"As for what I need, just your continued support of the WWMC. We couldn't operate without donors! I can tell you that from last year, the wounded warriors loved taking a stocking. Some had to be persuaded, but everyone left with a smile on their face!"

Some suggested items for the Christmas stockings for the wounded:
CANDY! Chocolate, Twizzlers, M&Ms, whatever! Lots of it!
Find fun holiday versions of the goodies -- those are especially welcome in stockings.
Small candy canes - they don't break as much in shipping.
Small cans of chips and cookies, chewing gum, beef jerkey
Fun stuff from local drug stores - small novelties, decorations
Girl Scout Cookies are LOVED!
Healthy snack bars
"Little Debbie"-type treats
A Get Well card or a Christmas card may be inserted into the stocking.
Breath-mint strips
Small hand-held mirrors
Nail clippers
Travel size Gold Bond Powder
Travel size shower gel
*Phone cards – Domestic only with no expiration date
*iTunes Cards
*iPod Shuffles
*Hand-held electronic gamesDVDs (no extreme violence or nudity – no VHS tapes)
*These last items should NOT be put in the Christmas stockings; keep them separate.

The younger generation has many of the newer electronic gadgets. They no longer need music CDs, nor AAA batteries, for instance! Now they mostly download music from the internet. It's tough keeping up with them!

Some veterans have told me that the troops would rather receive sports teams news, caps, pictures, or shirts, than shampoo any day!

Below is a list of items NOT needed.

Check it out because there are some items on it I previously suggested some of you should send. I'll update it if I get new info. This list came from Landstuhl.

Wounded Warrior Ministry Center
Pastoral Services Division
Landstuhl Regional Medical Center

ITEMS NOT NEEDED AT THIS TIME

As of this time we have no need for anything not on the current list (updated regularly). Thank you for your generosity. Please DO NOT send the following:

No International phone cards, or phone cards that have an expiration date
NO CDs, Video tapes
No AA or AAA nor any size batteries
No magazines, books, puzzles, sudoko games
No Books, Playing cards
No Bar soap, large and hotel size
No Bubble bath, salts
No Hair conditioner
No Large toothpaste
No Toothbrushes
No Combs
No Lip Balm/Chapstick
No Make-up and facial creams, nail polish, etc. including samples
No Hair pins and bands
No Q-tips
No Large economy size toiletries
No Small hotel size toiletries
No Lap blankets/double, queen or king size blankets
No Women’s underwear
No Feminine products
No Men’s white or color briefs
No Pencils (mechanical pencils okay), erasers and pencil sharpeners
No Writing paper
No Blank greeting cards
No Signed holiday cards (Christmas, Valentines, Easter, etc.) Please only send a very few – we receive thousands more than the number of patients that come in all year and cannot possibly distribute them all.
No Over the counter medications/any medications
No Coffee mugs
No Candles, matches, lighters
No Canned food
No Any knitted items
No used items and please,
No Used clothing – or clothing with stains or holes or broken zippers, missing buttons, etc.

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