November 2013 Adoption… USS RENTZ FFG-46

[Donna]

Jingle Bells… Jingle Bells… Jingle and the way to the Crew of the    

     USS RENTZ

3 Females and 240 Males Aboard

 

We are heading back to sea and sending out love out to the USS Rentz FFG 46.  They are currently assisting the Coast Guard performing drug enforcement off the coast of South America.  They are about midway of their eight-month deployment and ready for some love from home!

We would like to send each sailor a small VHS sized box filled and wrapped as a Christmas gift to be opened on Christmas morning.  If you pack them carefully you can fit eight of this smaller box in a large FPO box.  That is a total of 300 VHS boxes...  are you ready moms??

Pillowcases are a go!  They will have them set out for the guys to choose from on Christmas day.

Remember it is warm where they are- still in the 90 degree range every day!  So there is no need of warm hats or gloves for this group... even Santa will want to slip into his bathing suit for this delivery!

Let's show them our mom love and send the very best for the Christmas  Hannuka  Kwanza Holiday… Season

Drinks: Gatorade Powder, Capri Sun, Maxwell House & Starbucks Coffee

Food: Canned Tuna, Chicken, Soup,  Mac & Cheese, Noodles

Snacks: Individual Cakes, Pretzels, Potato Chips, Peanuts, Trail Mix, Candy, Microwave Popcorn, Beef Jerky, Protein Bars, Granola Bars, Cookies

Toiletries : Soap, Deodorants, Tooth Paste, Tooth Brush,  Mouth Wash, Disposable Razors, Razor Blades (Gillette Mach III), 

Misc. Magazines (current Hot Rod, Motor Trend, Guns & Ammo, Gossip)

Head Phones, Disposable Cameras, Sports Water Bottles, Mini Fans, Amazon Gift Cards,  Dr. Scholl’s Inserts, 

Movies:  The Wire (Season) Box Set, Smallville (Season) Box Set,  Dark Angel (Season) Box Set Charmed (Season) Box Set,   Martin (Season) Box Set,  Deadwood (Season) Box Set

Games: XBox 360 and PS3  Video Games

SHIP DATE  11/20 - 11/22

 

[Donna]

[Pat L. in IL]

YIPPEEEEE!! The 243 Christmas stockings are all packed and ready to go! Actually there are 55 boxes heading to the USS Rentz! As soon as I get the check will be headed to the post office!!

GREAT JOB, DONNA!!

[Donna]

Thank you Pat,  and to you also!

[Kim (Ethan's Mom)]

I just mailed a total of 8 boxes. Two were pillowcases w/extra snacks to fill in and I added 4 water bottles with Crystal light packets and some animal crackers to one box. The 16 gift boxes were divided into 3 boxes w/extras to fill in and the rest of the boxes had popcorn, peanuts, Capri Sun, Mac n Cheese packets, coffee singles, canned chicken, tuna packets soup, crackers and snack cakes. In my gift boxes I put Gatorade packets, jerky sticks, trail mix, candy, granola bars and then I added a little gift to them. I love Christmas and giving to our sailors is such a blessing. Knowing a sailor on the ship also makes it extra special!

[Donna]

Happy Dance being down by me here in CT!  Why you ask?

I've dropped off my 186 Large Military Boxes and 3 Very large boxes!!   Phew, glad that's behind me!

I'd like to shout out a BIG thank you to the Monroe Post Office here in CT especially Carlos that helped my husband and my son's friend unload all the boxes from our Yukon and cars.  They had to work on the boxes from 8:30 am until 3:40!

I'd like to thank the Naval Veterans Club here in CT and all the wonderful people that helped with the donations. Because of so many caring people the sailors and the coast guardsman aboard the USS Rentz will have experience  some Christmas magic this season.

HO HO HO

[Kim (Ethan's Mom)]

Good job Donna! You've been a great Mom Of the Month!

[Donna]

Thank you Kim.  I'm just grateful thinks worked out like they did.

[Susan mom to Niko]

WOW... that is fantastic!!  This ship is going to be rocked by all the love heading their way!!  They are feeling so down right now...  they live a kind of 'Groundhogs Day' exsistence...  same routine, day after day... and when they port it is usually in and out of the same place...  good news is they just reached the halfway mark of their deployment so our love will hit 'the deck' right when it is needed the most!  Thanks to Donna for leading our way this month!!

 

[Kim (Ethan's Mom)]

Yes you can print your postage online and it will have you fill out the customs forms when you put the military address in. That's a time saver and I have only recently started doing that after 4 years of shipping to our heroes. I have never been asked to see what's in the box although I have kept one open once because the lady at the post office wanted to see how I get the boxes so heavy! haha I live in a small town so they know me and know I wouldn't lie about what I put in the boxes. You could call them and ask what they would rather you do.  I tape all sides and all edges so make sure they don't bust open when they are being shipped. 

You can tap the cards on the edge and see if any glitter comes off or spray it with hairspray to set it. I know we don't send glittered paint on the pillowcases because of the mess it makes in the laundry and all over their other things in the wash. It makes me happy that there will be lots of cards, I try to add several but I don't ever feel like I have sent enough. 

[Donna]

Hi Sylviar,

Kim was a big help answering your questions!  I've never kept my box open and no one has ever questioned me on it.

Thank you for purchasing the identify theft video. :)  

[Sarabi2013]

A big thank you to Pat L. in IL for taking time out of her lunch hour to answer my questions and provide great guidance! The local Post Office very kindly made a minor change on the customs form. No matter, today is my very first shipment to sailors. The 14 VHS sized boxes are beginning their journey from Iowa to the USS Rentz!

[Pat L. in IL]

My pleasure! Thank you for sending some Christmas love to our heroes!!