CONNECTICUT HOLIDAY PACKING PARTY

[Donna]

                CALLING  NAVY MOMS  TO CT'S HOLIDAY PACKING PARTY

                      

Date: Saturday November 2, 2013

Time: 11:00 - (until we finish packing the last box)

Place: National Association of Naval Veteran Port 5

Address:  69 Brewster Street  Bridgeport. CT

Not sure what a packing party is?

What to do: Attached is the wish list, you gather any of the items by either purchasing or seeking donations to purchase then.  It is totally up to you and what you find fits within your own budget, time limits & what you want to do.

Letters and cards or children's drawings are always requested.  Remember: Items will be used up, snack eaten; but, we know, from experience, that the letters, notes, cards and pictures are held on to for months!

You need to bring a bag lunch & something to drink.   We will bring the items to the Port 5 and pack them there, have lunch together, chat and get to know each other.  Bring a picture of your sailor to share.

Promptly at 11:30 we'll begin the process: start setting out items: putting boxes together; packing them; filling out custom forms and mailing labels.   You'll be amazed at how quickly a group of determined Navy Moms can get this job completed!

In the process, you  will be shipping a lot of "Mom-Love" to a group of servicemen/women deployed overseas, some of whom have NEVER received a care package from home! You will also get to know other Navy moms having the same experiences & emotions as you! We will have a lot of fun,  with lots of laughing, (or crying if needed with hugs mixed in) as we support one another thru whatever is going on with our sailors!!!

We will Provide the boxes, custom forms and labels.

Please contact me with any questions you have-

Donna: on Navy for moms = Donna or email me at [e-mail]

                            Wish list Items requested:

Toiletries: Hand lotion, Body powder, Foot powder, Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Lip Balm, Shampoo, Conditioners, 

Food: chips, slim jims pretzels, microwavable meals, snack cakes, hot cocoa mix, crystal light, beef jerky, Maxwell House Coffee, Starbucks Coffee

Entertainment: Magazines (sports, fitness, gossip, entertainment)

Playing cards, Dominoes, Crossword Puzzles, Word Search

Miscellaneous: stress ball, stationery, pens

Let's make this a happy holiday for these sailors!!!!

 

[Donna]

Moms,

I've heard from 5 Navy moms that they'll be attending so far.  Any other takers?

 

[Donna]

The number of Navy mom's have grown to seven!  Any more takers?  You don't want to miss out on the fun, now do you?

Our sailors are counting you.

[MJ~ Erik's mom]

Hi Donna,

 I will be attending! Sorry I didn't respond earlier...I'm usually not on this website.

[Jane]

Hi Donna,

Thank you for emailing me back.  I will be happy to attend! Look forward to meeting you and other Navy Moms.

[Donna]

I've attached the Wish List.  I've also shared  , "A Sailors Christmas: Poem"

[Valtameri]

A 4H group is interested in helping collect items for this packing party.

Is this something that the 4H members could attend as well?

[Donna]

Hi Valtameri

I thought I had replied to this early but guess I didn't.  We'd love to have any help they could give.  I've just attached the Sailor's Wish list.  

Please let me know if the attachment came through.

Thanks

[Donna]

Hi Navy Moms,

Since this is Christmas packing party we'll be doing individual boxes (DVD size) for each crew member.  So were going to need some small sized items to stuff in them.  Here's some suggestions  playing cards, stress balls, small games.  I've just purchased 250 "bunch Balls" for Oriental Trading.  Anyone have any other ideas we could use for these small boxes?

Pat has just told me that she has enough stockings for every crew member and she has enough items to stuff them!  How great will it be for them to have a wrapped box plus filled stocking on Christmas morning!!!!!!

Please drop me with some thoughts! :)

[Proud Navy/NYPD Mom (Donna)]

Donna, you've got some amazing ideas going here.  Navy mommas are gonna rock these sailors' ship on Christmas morning!!  Another great place to purchase small items in bulk is Dollar Days.  They have a web page:  DollarDays.com  I got a lot of neat items for Easter baskets for our Special Hugs patients last April.

Any idea yet how many sailors you are going to need boxes for?

I don't know how many MA Moms we'll get to come down to Bridgeport, but I'll see what I can do to help generate some responses from them for you.  Or maybe we can plan a MA party for the same date?  I'm sure we'll come up with something.

Just a thought.  I talked to some Navy and Marine recruiters at one point and they were willing to have collection boxes in their offices.  If it is a very busy office, maybe you can get a Mom or two to man the boxes and talk to people who come in and hand out lists of the items needed.  Marcy ~ Corpsman's mom, did this one month last year.  My recruiters even went so far as to tell me that they would have recruits come and help us with the packing!!

[Donna]

Thanks Donna,

Thanks for telling me about the dollar days.com.  After finishing this letter to you that's going to be my next stop!

Tomorrow my daughter a few of her Volleyball team mates will go with me to Stop N SHop between 3-6 setting up a booth.  The manger of Stop N Shop is giving us $50 gift card!  Keep your fingers and toes crossed that customers are generous tomorrow.

Do you want to laugh? I had a drop off box at my Library.  I went there this past Tuesday to see what goodies had been donated to our deserving sailors.   What to my surprise did I see..... A LAMP SHADE and a large can of Crisco!!!!!   REALLY PEOPLE.

But, thats not the only thing.  When I had placed the box at the library I had put in it a box of oatmeal, checkers, puzzle books to give people an idea what to put int (even though I attached items we're looking to get)

On Thursday someone stole those items!!!!

REALLY PEOPLE?

I'm not letting it get me down.  I'll just keep trying!

[Donna]

UPDATE

My point of contact sent me another list tonight.  I had asked me to tell me what movies they'd like.  Along with the movie request he mentioned these items that are needed.  If you purchase any of these movies please let me know so we don't have duplicates.

Thanks

Donna

The Wire (Season) Box Set

Smallville (Season) Box Set

Dark Angel (Season) Box Set

Charmed (Season) Box Set

Breaking Bad (Season) Box Set

Martin (Season) Box Set

Deadwood (Season) Box Set

Game of Thrones (Season) Box Set

Justified Season (Season) Box Set

[Donna]

Does anyone want to purchase any of these movies for us to pack on November 2nd.  The point of contact on the ship sent me a note saying the sailors would like any of these movies.

What a great Christmas present for our sailors.  Please let me know if you'r going to purchase one so I can take it off the list so we don't have duplicates.

Thanks,

Donna

MOVIES REQUESTED:
The Wire (Season) Box Set
Smallville (Season) Box Set
Dark Angel (Season) Box Set
Charmed (Season) Box Set
Breaking Bad (Season) Box Set
Martin (Season) Box Set
Deadwood (Season) Box Set
Game of Thrones (Season) Box Set
Justified Season (Season) Box Set