February 2011 USS KEARSARGE

[carols_kitchen]

While those of you who sew continue to sew (thank you ver much) here is our destination

Amphibous Assault ship The USS KEARSARGE.  It has been fun chatting with our chaplain, who says they have opened a new space for our Sailors and Marines to  unwind called Holy Joe's Café.  Are we ready to stock it?  Yes!

EVERYTHING in Holy Joe's Cafe is free to our guys and gals! 

 

So, here's the request list:

Beef jerkey covered by Jack's Links

Sunflower seeds

Gum (no hard candy or chocolate)

Coffee--all sorts, both instant, packetts and brew type (I'm saying some tea, too.)

Single packet drinks

Personal hygiene products

DVDs

The crew loves any TV show. I've noticed the popular ones are: Dexter, 24, Prison Break, NCIS, True Blood, Sons of Anarchy, House, Spartacus. I obviously wouldn't expect you to get all of these, but it is at least a selection to choose from.

 

Board games: Storage space is slim, so bulky board games may be difficult. I know that Cranium, Catch a Phrase, and games like that are popular.

 

 

Can you add to the list--of course. (No though, on books.)

Lots of cards and handmade pictures from the kids--think SPRING AND ST. PATTY'S DAY

 

Pack what you can in gallon ziplock type bags so the group can help pick up their godies.And of course, the pillowcases

 

It's now just a stitch over 1,000 needed.  Chaplain says: 1028 total

216 female

812 male

 

In the meantime, keep those sewing machines tuned up and continue sewing!  '

Love ya

Carol

 

***SHIPPING STARTS FEB. 22nd and ends the 28th (or thereabouts)****

 

Count to date by Mom, male/female/generic and total to date

valerijean                   50 female  200 male  30 generic

Ally                             60 female

jenmark                      60 generic

carols_kitchen            9 female  34 generic

Molly                           30 generic

Krista                           25 male   2 female

Llovemysailor                 25 female

Cheryl S                        20 female  20 male

Dana                           375 generic

sissi                             20 generic

Susan, mom to Niko      20 female, 30 male

 

Kimmy                          10 generic

Dee                             2 female, 2 male

(OOPss--dizzy blonde moment and listed a count twice.)   We can now concentrate on our other donations for this group. 

 

If anyone is still making iron on personlized ones, let me know as we definitely want you to send those.  Let me know, and we can switch some of the other ones out. 

 

[carols_kitchen]

YEAH.  EVERYTHING THE SAILORS AND MARINES GET FROM HOLY JOE'S CAFE IS FREE TO THEM!  LET'S SEND THEM ALL KINDS OF COFFEE, SNACK GOODIES AND LOVE.

[Kimmy P]

Cool beans!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kimmy P]

Okay ladies,

I just did a mock packing party to calculate some shipping! LOL! No, I just tested a box of tea! LOL!  So...I had 4 priority boxes filled with tea, the cost to ship priority would be $50. The same tea in a larger box shipped parcel post....$12.92! The box only weighed 10 pounds. NE Illinois will be making sure we calculate our shipping.....we need to make that grant stretch as far as we can. I know that we can't ship everything parecl post, but some things can go parcel post.  The money we saved by shipping that tea parcel post verses priority will allow us to send 2.9 additional care packages priority. No over spending for us. :-) 

[carols_kitchen]

Makes me think I may not have saved enough regular shipping boxes from work.  Just as I''m typing this, I remembered I have some Pampered chef boxes in the basement.  Will weight things out, too. I want bang for our buck!  We voted our fingers off for that grant--lol.  Thanks Kimmy.  I've been busy baking cupcakes and cookies to go with our donated pizzas, subs and meat/cheese tray.  Get this--while I was out getting some last minute things, my hubby finished the sugar cookies for me!  He even found more frozen dough in the basement freezer--I must have 8 or 9 dozen cookies to take the the VFW for the volunteers.  Then, he scanned the basement for everything I've been accumulating for this ship--oh my gosh.  How did I get so much? 

Can't wait to see your pix!

Hugs

[Kimmy P]

Oh Carol,

Aren't our honnies grand! Our husband's have been so supportive in all of our craziness.  Have to tell you I'm relieved to be one of the last packing parties. This way I can get feed back from everyone else on things that worked well and things that didn't. This way I can learn from the best!!!  Have fun tommorrow, Carol. We'll be waiting to hear from you and waiting to see the pictures!! 

[diane {Shawns mom}]

YOU rock kimmy....We all need to re-evaulate the way WE SHIP LOVE!!! Lrg flat rate boxes are for weight.....PERIOD...when you are shipping cards & Letters and other LIGHT items.

.....and we need to think..save save save, the best way to ship!!! Always Always Always♥

[Cheryl S.]

Just an FYI in case no one thought about it. I see shipping starts the 21st. That's President's Day and the post office is closed. I'd hate to see anyone taking all those boxes that day for nothing.

[carols_kitchen]

THANKS!  I should have realized that, since I'm off work, too.  ha ha

[Kimmy P]

Thanks for the FYI Cheryl! I did over look that!

[LLovesmysailor]

Carol, I think you meant Feb. 21st.

Can we do Feb 19th because I won't have a car that next week?

[carols_kitchen]

Definitely--yes, February--where has my mind gone of late? Deleted it so as not to be any more confusing.  So, shipping starts Feb. 22nd.    Remember to check out and see if parcel post is better for you than flat rate boxes.

[Susan mom to Niko]

If you are sending boxes parcel post then be sure to get them out at the first of the shipping window!!  We want to be sure they arrive with the rest of the boxes!!