OPERATION SANTA

Post in place until Dec. 3rd. Scroll down for current posts.

This is a way that we can get Christmas cards (and kids drawings!) to our wounded troops in hospitals over the holidays. Feel free to post or pass along. Thank you!

Operation Santa
for the Hospitals & Our Wounded Troops

Operation Santa for the Hospitals is putting together Christmas stockings with gift cards and treats and cards to deliver to the OEF/OIF veterans at Bethesda, Walter Reed, Balboa Naval Hospital and Brooke Army Medical Center.

And, they need our help!!!! There are two ways to help -

Money - They can use our donations to purchase stocking stuffers and pay for postage. To donate, you can use a Pay Pal link for Marine Corps Family Foundation - a 501(c)(3) - so your donations are tax deductible - be sure and designate "For the Hospitals" in the notes box or, you can tuck a check into the envelope of Christmas cards!

Christmas Cards - They wish to put lots of Christmas Cards in the stockings! So, if you can sit down and write a joyful Christmas card (or a box or two!) and send them to:

Operation Santa - c/o Marine Moms-Bethesda - P O Box 22 - Cordova MD 21625

Please note: The cards must be glitter and coating free - these come off and can cause secondary infections in the wounds. Don't seal the envelopes - they are screened. Please consider tucking a check in (Marine Corps Family Foundation - Hospitals) to help with the project! They should be postmarked by December 3.

Contact Carrie at wrcostan@comcast.net for any one interested in supporting the efforts or for more information about the stockings.


Please help Carrie and Jane make our wounded troops Christmas a little brighter!

Stuffing Stockings

I’ve taken the liberty of lifting this post from Semper Fi Mom at Lubbock Marine Parents because I think it’s extremely important. Here’s a chance for us to put our money where our mouths are, or more to the point, here’s a great way to support our troops this Christmas.

I’ve met Semper Fi Mom in person. The mother of five, two of which are Marines with the elder in Iraq, she is one of the most amazing women I’ve had the pleasure of meeting, so I know there will be many ways to support the troops and I will be passing on those ways to you, but I particularly want to encourage you in this one.

If you live in or near Lubbock, lucky you, and here’s a list as well as drop off locations. If you want to donate $ instead, $35 will fill a stocking for some soldier away from home this Christmas. At the bottom is their address and they also have PayPal on their site as well. Click here to visit Lubbock Marine Parents.

Much thanks to all who help!

***

Please help make Christmas a little brighter for our troops who are far from home. We are requesting that all items be donated ASAP so that we can start sorting and getting them ready to mail.

Drop off locations for care pack items:

All locations of Bodyworks

Elks Lodge (34th and Milwaukee)

Leathers N Lace Motorcycle Apparel 3806 50th St Ste 210 (across from Memphis Place Mall)

All recruiter's offices (not just the Marine recruiters)

Crestview Elementary School 6020 - 81st Street

Requested Items:

Food items:

Beef jerky

Canned chips (Pringles/Torengos)

Canned ready-to-eat meals (Ravioli, chili, soup, Easy Mac, Dinty Moore, Ramon cup)

Dried fruit

Granola/Breakfast/Protein bars

Gum

Gummy candy, Hard Candy

Individual size canned fruit

Jelly beans

Microwave popcorn

Nuts, Sunflower seeds, Trail mix

PoptartsTuna lunch kits

**Pork or pork by-products are NOT allowed to be shipped to Middle East combat locations.

Drink Items:

Coffee, coffee mixes

Gatorade mix (powdered only)

Hot cocoa mix

Lemonade/Koolade/Tang mix

Presweetened beverage mixes (“On the Go” flavor packets that can be added to 16-20 oz. water bottle)

Sweetener/creamer packets for coffee

Tea

Recreational Items

Batteries (AA – most requested)

Board games/puzzles

DVDs (new or used; original only)

Hand held games

Magazines (current issues)

Music CDs (new or used; original only)

Nerf footballs/Frisbee/Hackey sack

Puzzle books

Stationary/small writing pads

Personal Care Items:

Advil/Tylenol (individual packs)

Baby wipes/Handi-wipes

Chap stick

Disposable instant hand warmersL

Liquid hand sanitizers (pocket/travel size)

Medicated foot powder/swabs

Toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash (travel size)

Q-tips (individual packs)

Sunblock

Tissue (individual packs)

~ MOST VALUABLE ITEM ~

♥ Letters and cards of encouragement and support ♥

Thank you for your willingness to help support the troops who are away from home during Christmas time. Your love and support are greatly appreciated.

A monetary donation of $35 will fill and send a stocking!

There are 3 ways to make a monetary donation:- Checks can be made out to Lubbock Marine Parents and mailed to:

Lubbock Marine Parents

PO Box 64192

Lubbock, TX 79464-4192

- Deposited to Lubbock Marine Parents at any American State Bank location

- Paypal donation here at the blog in our sidebar

Click here to visit Lubbock Marine Parents

Project Valour IT

Feed the Marine Machine

This post will remain until November 11th. Scroll down then!
Project Valour-IT - part of Soldiers' Angels - provides voice-controlled software and laptop computers to wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines recovering from hand and arm injuries or amputations at major military medical centers. Operating laptops by speaking into a microphone, our wounded heroes are able to send and receive messages from friends and loved ones, surf the 'Net, and communicate with buddies still in the field without having to press a key or move a mouse. The annual fundraiser - which is done by milbloggers - is October 29 - November 11. 100% of the donations go directly to providing laptops with voice activated software to our wounded warriors. We have a friendly inter-branch rivalry going, but all funds are merged to help our warriors!

Soldier Running Marathon for Fisher House

Flag Gazer is well known for her generosity and constant support of our troops. She's passed this info along, and I know this is a good cause. At her invitation, I've stolen her post and here's what it says:

Half a World Away, in Iraq, a soldier-blogger has been training to run the Chicago Marathon. He is collecting pledges for his Chicago Marathon run. He has 18 weeks to collect his pledges. All pledges will go to benefit Fisher House. It is quite easy to participate. Go here. If everyone gives a couple of dollars it will add up quickly!!!! And, it is for an EXCELLENT cause and organization.Once again, our Soldiers teach us about generosity and kindness. I pledged, I hope you will, too. It doesn't have to be a lot - forego a latte and pledge the $5.00!