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!                

[Pat L. in IL]

Ruth, Just an FYI, when we non-sewing people decorate pillowcases, we only decorate one side, so there is the "cute" side and the sleeping side!

[Ruth, Gun's Mom]

I should have known that!

[Lorraine]

Ruth, do you think the sheets ought to be Twin XL or regular?

[Ruth, Gun's Mom]

I sent regular and got no complaints, so I think XL isn't necessary.  I'll check though. 

[carols_kitchen]

And, do we only use flat sheets? 

[Ruth, Gun's Mom]

Just FYI--here's what we're doing in the Iowa/Illinois area.  I also want to add that the Old El Paso taco filling and tortillas or taco shells/chips were a big hit when I sent them.  Just another item you might want to look for at Wal-mart or your local grocery.  Hy-Vee carry them here also.

The packing party will be July 22, 2012, for "Chilling Out!"  It will be held at the American Legion in Davenport, Iowa, address 702 W. 35th St.

1:00 pm

I've ordered 100 boxes and might have all the customs forms filled out with the addresses before the party.

I've already had donations of pillow cases, Crystal Lite, snacks.  The Paul Mitchell Academy is collecting girly stuff; a local Walgreen's is collecting items.  I've submitted a request to the local Sam's Club.

The Academy and Walgreen's are both sending volunteers, plus the community will come out for this. Here's the flyer I've put out here.

Molly’s Adopt a Sailor

With

The American Legion and Auxiliary

Packing Party for the adoption of

Camp Brown in Afghanistan,

“three miles from the sun!”

It’s hot there!

July 22, 1300 hours (1pm)

Donations of items and money can be made to the American Legion, 702 W. 35^th St., Davenport

M-F, 9-noon

Needed items:

Volunteers to tape, pack, fill out forms

Packing tape

MIO

Crystal Lite

Gummy bears

Peanut M&M’s

Mach 3 razors

Pillowcases decorated to tell them we care

Twin sheets, dark colors appreciated

Coffee

Beef jerky

Old El Paso taco fillings, taco shells and chips

Fig bars

Under Armor compression shorts

Girly things—pens with colored ink, body wash, deodorant, razors, tampons

Sunscreen

Canned pears, peaches, fruit cocktail microwave popcorn

Current magazines, DVD’S

Cards and letters

[Pat L. in IL]

Ruth, I have the tape covered!!!!

[Ruth, Gun's Mom]

You ROCK! 

[Lorraine]

Ruth, thank you for this HUGE effort. I wish I lived closer to Iowa so I could come to that packing party!

[carols_kitchen]

Walmart now has generic MIO, so you can save a little money there.

[Ruth, Gun's Mom]

I just counted 64 pillow cases that I've already had donated. 

[Ruth, Gun's Mom]

I have had donated 68 pillow cases, 137 packages of various "Crystal Lite" type bottle packets, 4 boxes of the 44 packets of Crystal Lite, 3-10 quart Crystal Lite, 2 boxes of nut mix, 1-6 pack beef jerky, 4 packages of wipes, and 2 MIO.