JULY Adoption - Chilling Out!

[Lorraine]

Our JULY adoption is a group of 141 sailors, airmen, and soldiers stationed in Afghanistan – 126 males and 15 females.

 

Our theme is ‘CHILLING OUT’ and we hope to bring some relief to their hot environment by sending some items that cool or bring cooler temps to mind. They live in rooms much like a dorm with power, microwaves, and a fridge with freezer, so any kind of food can be accepted. The summer temperature runs in the high 90’s and can hit the 130’s so this group needs some “cool” things for chilling out.

 

TOP PRIORITIES: DRINK MIX (including MIO), COOKIES, GUMMY BEARS AND LETTERS. Some of them have not received any mail so let’s make sure we send letters (including local newspapers, pics of your town/area, jokes)

 

Here are some “COOL” ideas to help them through the heat and have some fun:

• Cooling towels and neck bands (see note in Pages on making your own bands)
• Powdered drink mixes (Sam’s Club has large Gatorade and Arizona Tea canisters). This group specifically requested a drink mix called MIO.
• Water balloons, squirt guns, water bomb splash balls, and mist bottles/ fans, small ice cube trays (with fun shapes)
• Baby wipes/pre-moistened cleansing wipes
• Flavorice (freezer pops) and Jell-O (does someone have a finger Jell-O recipe to send along?)
• Noxema, aloe, lip balm and burn gel
• Canned fruit (Sam’s Club has boxes of easy open single servings)
• Hard candy (like Jolly Ranchers, Smarties, Sweet Tarts, Skittles, cool burst gum)

 

Other welcome items:

• Coffee, sweetener, creamer
• DVD’s, books and puzzle books (maybe some with a water or beach theme?)
• Games, magazines, writing pads/pens
• Beef jerky
• Energy/protein bars
• Dried fruit, nuts, trail mix, sunflower seeds
• Microwaveable soups/cakes/meals/Easy Mac
• Canned meat (tuna, chicken), Mayo, Miracle Whip
• Snacks (popcorn, pretzels, etc.)
• Wet Mop refills, laundry detergent, air freshener, lotion (like Vaseline for Men)

Personal Care – They have a BX with most of the needed items but you can certainly include some items if you wish like sun screen, non-aerosol deodorant, dental supplies, Mach3 razors, eye drops, air freshener, flameless candles, cough drops, foot powder

Pillowcases accepted - Nancy will send the girl cases this month plus 55 cases from the Rocky Cross church, so we will only need 75 more. Please go to the WSL (We Stitch Love) discussion to add into the pillowcase count. Completed - thanks!

 

Shipping Dates: July 23-25 – address will be posted in mid-July. Boxes will be bulk (specify if female only) and don’t forget the letters. Let’s help these sailors, airmen, and soldiers “Chill Out” this summer.   Thank you!                

[Ruth, Gun's Mom]

Stick a fork in me, I'm done.  62 boxes.  Tomorrow I'll stick the postage labels on and finish the customs forms that I totally messed up. 

[Lorraine]

Woooohoooo! That's terrific! I wish I could be there to help you with customs forms. I've gotten pretty good at doing them online at usps.com because I hate writing longhand :-) I'm curious - did you pack like items in boxes (i.e. bulk boxes) or did you do a variety of things in each box? I've learned over time that the bulk boxes make customs forms easier, but it's also neat when a person can take a whole box and it's all theirs! I hope we hear lots of good stories from this group. I think they are going to be well supplied. You've worked hard, Ruth. Thank you so much for your tremendous effort. Hopefully you found some sources that want to keep on giving. I think it's time to involve my small town as you did your town. We can spread the fun!

[Ruth, Gun's Mom]

My Walgreen's gal told me yesterday that if her store raised $140 (and donated 10 cases of gummy bears), just think what 20 Walgreen's stores in the area could do!  The Paul Mitchell girls had a blast!  They adopt a cause every month, so I just have to ask again.  Sam's Club gives out $25 to causes every month.  You just have to ask.

We packed bulk boxes to use every inch of space.  Because the camp will have an unpacking party and share everything, I knew it would be ok.  I think that's why it went so fast yesterday, too, because of the way we packed. 

[Lorraine]

Yes, that does facilitate the packing experience. Glad it went so well. I have shopped Sam's Club for some of the snacks that I send in the boxes. I think I'll take my records in of what I'm doing for Molly's and see if I can get one of those $25 gift cards for August. Thanks for the tip! Thanks for sharing, Ruth.

[Lorraine]

I had enough for 5 boxes and they went out today. I even had two friends that did a box each. Thanks to everyone who shipped today. We have Tuesday and Wednesday to finish our shipping. Then hopefully it won't be long before we'll be hearing good news of our adopted group enjoying the booty they received!

[Gulf Coast Mom]

I mailed my two boxes today.  Sent Wylers drink mix ( 100 packets) two big packs of baby wipes, 24 packs of microwave popcorn, ten puzzle books with pens, 3 gel air fresheners, box of Oreos (with 5 tubes), 20 chapsticks, some Twizzlers.  I think that is all.  I love to do this....I check the clearance and reduced area everywhere I go.  After I mailed my boxes, I stopped in at our local Walgreens.  They had a couple Axe gift sets marked down to $2.49 and 6 gift boxes with 2 large Gillettee bath gels and deodorants for $2.49.  On the next aisle over the same size bath gel was $4.39.  Their brand of chapstick was 39 cents so I bought some of them.  Then, went to the school supply aisle and bought pens and mechanical pencils. Now just have to find a place to hide it all!!!

[Lorraine]

Thank you so much Gulf Coast Mom! Those are some pretty good deals you found. I am also looking for deals all month long now. I think we're hooked on doing this! It is a lot of fun.

[carols_kitchen]

In your spare suitcase.....actually, I have shelves in my basement for my stashes, separated by food/mouth and then body care.  Small bag hangs on a nail for assorted goodies that are just for fun.

[Lorraine]

I haven't gotten that organized yet, Carol. Love it!

I emailed our contact and told him the boxes had started to ship. Here's his answer:

Thank you so much.  I have a safe place to store all the boxes so no body gets into them before the rest of the people.  As soon as I get all the boxes I am going to send out a mass email to the camp inviting them to come down and have a unpacking party.  I am going to take as many pictures as I can so when I get the chance I will send them to you.

Can't wait to see those pictures! I'll be sure to share.

[Ruth, Gun's Mom]

Gulf Coast Mom, did you put the chapstick in baggies?  Just curious because if I happen to leave one in my car, it melts.  They will love what you sent!

[Ruth, Gun's Mom]

Lorraine, do you have any idea of how many total boxes were sent?  I'm so excited! 

[Lorraine]

Probably close to 200. Our contact will try to get a count when they pour in. Isn't it exciting?