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!                

[Lorraine]

I'll add plain applesauce to the list above. Remember, the boxes may get squeezed during their long journey so pack liquids carefully. Cute idea for the pillowcases...
Is the hand gel alcohol free?

[Ruth, Gun's Mom]

I don't know about the hand gel.  I'll try to find out.  If it isn't, we'll put it aside and donate it to the local Stand Down in September.  Everything we can't use will go to the Legion to give to veterans. 

[Ruth, Gun's Mom]

Of course, the three ingredients are water, alcohol, and fragrance!  I assume there's a danger of them exploding in the heat. 

[Lorraine]

Thanks for checking...not recommended for shipping, unfortunately.

[Ruth, Gun's Mom]

I submitted PR pieces to two newspapers and three TV stations.  I just realized I need to contact a fourth TV station that I totally forgot about.  I'm going more for donations than people to pack.  We can be more organized with less people tossing things in boxes!  But I want as much good stuff as I can get!  Two weeks from today we'll know how many boxes we'll be shipping!

 

[Lorraine]

That sounds like the way to get it done, Ruth! Thanks so much!

[Ruth, Gun's Mom]

I just had a man come to my door with a box.  A little bit of everything--a set of hand embroidered beautiful pillow cases, tuna fish, sunscreen, peaches, vienna sausage, lotion and more. 

[Lorraine]

Good morning, Ladies. Hope everyone had a safe and happy Independence Day holiday week. Today is the 9th so we have about 12 more days to bring this adoption together before we ship. Please let us know what you can do this month. I will post some totals later this week along with the address in the We Ship Love discussin. I'm hoping the two churches in my small town will provide some letters as I always seem to be behind on that part of it. Ruth, sounds like your media appeal is paying off. Have a great week, everyone.

[Proud Navy/NYPD Mom (Donna)]

I tried something different last month with the PCs.  I attached an individually wrapped LifeSaver (mint flavored of course) and attached a little note.  Now I wait to hear what comes from that...  It was a lot of fun, but next time I think I will type the note instead of writing it -- 65 little notes took quite a while  :)

[Lorraine]

Nice touch, Donna. You could still handwrite the note and then photocopy it to keep it more personal.

[Proud Navy/NYPD Mom (Donna)]

Never even thought of that!!!  Duhhh! :)  Count that as a blonde moment...

 

[Ruth, Gun's Mom]

Just received a phone call from a gal who works at a Walgreen's here--there are many in our area, but one took up the appeal for our adoption.  They have boxes of gummy bears and wipes, plus they put a canister out for donations.  Their employees pay $3 to wear their red shirts and jeans to work on designated days plus a few customers have donated.  They have over $100 for me to go shopping.  Think I'm going to buy Mach 3 razors, but not sure.  I'd like to use the money at their store, but they know Sam's has them cheaper. 

My husband and I volunteer for the John Deere Golf Classic, at the airport where we welcome golf pros and give them a car to use.  One of the volunteers brought in three huge bags of stuff for me last night.  I haven't even looked to see what's in them, but this is the woman who went to Helzburg's Jewelers and got I AM LOVED pins for the 14 pillowcases that were made.  I think she went to Bath and Body and got body wash, etc.