JULY'S ADOPTION!!!Happy Second Birthday to Molly’s Adopt a Sailor - Let’s Celebrate!!

[Brenda Sue]

Happy Second Birthday to Molly’s Adopt a Sailor -

Let’s Celebrate with our July Group!!

                                                           

Two years ago on this date (June 27^th), Molly invited a few of her friends to help celebrate her 44th birthday by giving instead of getting.  Here is an excerpt from her blog:

I think we N4M could make a big difference in some sailor’s lives if all of us would just write one letter.  Geez, we did this in boot camp
we can do this again.  Just one letter, postcard or package a month.

Let’s try to see if we can do this, and if it works out we can pick a new name each month. I will try to set this up if you all want.  But before I start this I need to know who would be in?  I don’t want to request a name, get a name then they get one little letter :(
Take a look and tell me what you think.
I bet we could do this ladies and how cool for our sailors to get letters from
Navy moms.  Let me know!   

WOW - after that it EXPLODED!! 

(Our EOD guys might not appreciate that. 

Instead of defusing this bomb - they helped it to explode.)

Our first “adoption”, two years ago today, was a group of EOD Sailors (Explosive Ordnance Disposal - technicians tasked to safely dispose of explosive materials.) Boxes went out and “thank you’s” were returned. Well, two years
later her group “Molly’s Adopt a Sailor” wants to celebrate its second birthday
by going back to that same unit!  We located
one of their “thank you” emails and contact was made.  We asked if they were interested in being  adopted again since they started this endeavor with us.

This was their reply, “Funny you wrote, because I'm over here (Iraq) again. Two of the guys that were with me last year followed me over here again. I guess we can't get enough of each other. First - thank you very much for keeping our spirit alive

in your hearts back home - we feel it every day out here. You and your work are
inspirational! It's not everyday
people like you take time of their lives to remember us. Believe it or not we'd
still be here even if it we didn't get the support, but it's still nice to see
that someone still cares back home.

OK... We are leaving next month, but I'm cc'ing a gentlemen that will be my relief here.  I'm also including my Boss who is in contact with his boss.  Long story short... we will try to put you in contact with sailors that will be out here for the next 6 months.
Please know that your hard work and support is very much appreciated and I
would love nothing more than to be sponsored by you folks. Who doesn't like
getting gifts? :) The problem is I feel the men and women staying out here
probably deserve your compassion more than the folks leaving soon.
By all means this is not a missed target, just a targeting adjustment.

HA :0)”

So folks for our July group we are headed back “home” to our original adoptees of two years ago.

Here is a list of “requested” items for these 80 guys and gals:

            Things we enjoy, we like to work out, read magazines I would list some specific ones, but we usually get each article. A couple of us are thinking of doing some home buying when we get back so different house magazines are great to read too (I know I sound like Martha Stewart, just not the criminal type) Just

kidding...
                We also enjoy movies from the 80's & 90's comedies. Old Chevy Chase,
Steve Martin, John Candy comedies, ect... As far as snacks go we all have sweet
tooth's, enjoy beef jerky, packaged cookies, Star Bucks double shot drinks, Red
Bulls, stuff like that.

            We love anything you guys send, homemade foods, movies, magazines, baby wipes, cigars (bad habit but we like 'em), Dunkin Donuts coffee whole bean or ground, old/used movies, #4 cone

coffee filters, gum, whatever you guys would like to send :). There are
currently 7 females on our compound. Anything special for them would be
appreciated.

Here we are - just an appreciative bunch to celebrate with!

Shipping date - the week of July 25^th.  Address in "We Ship Love" group.

PS - Happy 46th Birthday, Molly!!!!!!!!

[Sally Guenther]

Sounds good. I already shipped my package but going to the navy mom's party on the 19th in Tinley park and can mention it there

[Brenda Sue]

LOVE the competition!! That always seems to work great things!
Hope you get a group started. That is a GREAT way to get some shipping paid for!

[Sally Guenther]

How do we go about getting the shipping paid for. Need more information about all of this.

[carols_kitchen]

It is better to get the flat rate LARGE box from the PO. You get a $2.00 break in shipping them. That cost is $12.50. Or, you can send a bunch of cards in letters in the (is it) $4.95 box. Or, you can send one letter. It will all be most happily received.

[Molly Molly Fo Folly]

NEXT MONTH --------(august) we are offering 50.00 per state packing party for shipping ( I know it is not much but its all we have)
Sally this is EXACTLY why we are in pepsi refresh ---the 50k will be paying for state shipping on packing partys
so if the collect 100 boxes we can pay shipping
so VOTE VOTE VOTE ladies
get our shipping money

[carols_kitchen]

Mailed 5 of the 10 boxes today. I have to check with the rest of my group on their shipping dates. Annie at the bookstore LOVED the note from our guys about their books....and the last line "how do you feel about the Army" lol!

[Matt's Mom/Cathy]

I mailed out my box today. It was filled with movies and microwave popcorn.

[Molly Molly Fo Folly]

its movie night in a box Matts mom !! ha ha great idea

[Kim (Ethan's Mom)]

I just mailed 3 boxes! They had jerky, lots of protein bars, baby wipes, gum. I found a huge bag of Dunkin Donuts coffee and sent that. Jolly Rancher sticks, fireball candies, packaged cookies, Red Bull Shots. I was afraid to send the Starbuck shots, they looked carbonated but I may be wrong. Magazines for the home buyers and a couple of football ones and an Uncle John's Bathroom Reader, it has a lot of information that is just pretty much useless but sometimes interesting. I wish I had enough time to write them all notes and letters but it seems like that is something I can never find the time to do and then I have to mail when I get the chance. For those of you that aren't able to send much, I pray that you write. I am one of those that can't seem to find the time to do that so I hope we are all balancing each other out.

[carols_kitchen]

I type out a letter and keep a generic one in my documents in case I don't have time to do a new one. Then, you can just print it off for each of your boxes.

[Brenda Sue]

haha - I also do this - and I have SEVERAL articles about TEXAS that I send to each one!!

[Kim (Ethan's Mom)]

I did type one out but I just feel a handwritten one would be a little better. I just need to take the time BEFORE it's time to send them.