Before we moved, my former place of employment had a never-ending program to obtain donated items and send those items to our military deployed overseas. A list of the most requested items was posted everywhere and above the large boxes in the cafeteria for the donations. Things we take for granted like hand-sanitizer, deodorant, toothpaste, some good ole M&Ms, peanuts, gum, baby wipes, etc.
My friends and I would periodically go to the local discount store, during our lunch hour, and buy items listed along with items we thought someone might enjoy. When we would return to work we would place our items in the donation box. Since moving I have not done anything like that and I want to get back to doing something.
My circumstances have changed and we are on a tight budget. So far I haven’t seen anything in my small town for this specific type of donation. This community is very giving towards the local food bank and clothing for those in need. I was shocked one afternoon on a trip to the library when I saw cars lined up and down a residential street. I asked my library lady what was going on. She told me those were the people in need of help from the food bank. The people lined up for their turn at a church on the same street where the food was disbursed. I asked her some more questions and I learned that the two small local owned grocery stores keep a box at the exits for food donations. So while you shop you can pick up a couple extra cans or dry goods and donate as you leave. My son volunteered a couple of years ago through his fraternity to help with the food bank in that area. He called me to tell me how shocked he was at the number of families who don’t have enough food.
I have a feeling, and this is something I have not confirmed, that our local VFW and Knights Of Columbus probably have something organized to help our troops.
I recently saw a page on Facebook titled “A Cup Of Joe For Joe”. The Green Beans Coffee Company sponsors the Cup Of Joe For Joe page. This company began in 1996 and has 70 plus cafes in North America along with military bases in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Kyrgyzstan and Djibouti East Africa.
Many of the cafes are at the front lines in Afghanistan and Iraq. The company is actually trying to provide a place to just “chill” out a little while enjoying a good cup of coffee and some pastries. I would imagine it would also help to do something “normal” so to speak in the middle of living in chaos.
I got the following from their website; When we receive contributions from people here at home we use a process to randomly assign the COJ gifts to the Troops. We send them an email notice telling them that they have received a Cup Of Joe from you and we include the letter you wrote. We then give the Service Member an opportunity to write back to you and register their COJ for pick up at the Green Beans cafe on their base. All they need do to pick up your gift is stop by the cafe and ID themselves to the staff.
Sending a Cup Of Joe is easy, takes just a few moments, and at only $2 costs about the same as the spare change in your pocket. You can participate in Cup of Joe here.
Of course the items needed for day to day living are a priority, but I do think this is an awesome thing to do for our troops. $2.00 sponsors one service member and you can go up the scale to the top with $60 sponsoring 30 service members. Of course there is always the option to give your own intended amount.
Operation Shoebox is a new to me site I found while doing some research. This site strives to deliver all kinds of items to our troops. They are even trying to get some golfclubs to send to deployed troops. That makes me think of the show M*A*S*H. They were always doing some putting while drinking from the homemade still.
Organizations can even adopt a troop and provide on a larger scale. They are currently gearing up with Sam’s Club to receive donations to be sent overseas. You can find a list of items most asked for at their website, http://www.operationshoebox.com/.
There are many legitimate sources online trying to provide our troops with items needed and items simply from “home”.
So either in your local community or with organizations like these two, you can help out our troops who are deployed and so far from home.
I hope you all are well, take care and stay safe,
KJ
If you liked that post, then try these...
No comments:
Post a Comment