The Season For Giving
We’ve been talking for the past few weeks about the upcoming holiday season–the food, the family, the parties, the happy moments, the joyful memories. And at the root of all of those things is an innate sense of well-being we all enjoy…things like the good health of our loved ones, the roof over our heads, the food on our table and the blessings we all share.
For Americans, some of that well being comes from knowing there are people out there, on the front lines, sacrificing their own personal lives–holidays with their families, graduations, birthdays, anniversaries, the births of their children, the first day of kindergarten for their little girl, or their son’s Little League triumph–so they can fulfill the duties their country has asked them to fulfill. 
Whatever you feel about the politics of the whole thing, the truth is, there are thousands upon thousands of American soldiers sitting in tents or bunkers, hearing from their loved ones only through a computer screen in an occasional email or in a much-cherished package from home.
Many of them, from what I hear, don’t even have that much. They don’t get packages from home. And at this time of year, especially, we Plotmonkeys would like to try to do something to change that, for at least a few of those brave men and women.
And we’re asking you to help us.
Each one of us–Carly, Janelle, Julie and Leslie–are donating a gift box (or funds for one) for a soldier currently serving overseas, using one of several available charities. We’re asking any of our readers who have the means and the desire to do the same. Not only will you be doing a very good thing for someone, but most official donations are usually tax deductible.
And to sweeten the pot even more, we’re sponsoring a very special contest. Just make a donation of $10 or more to one of several “support our soldiers” charities–or “adopt a soldier” through a site like the one listed below, and you will be entered to win a great prize:
A $100 gift card to the online store of your choice, in time to use for the holidays!
Every $10 you donate gets you an additional entry.
To enter, just choose the method of your donation, then send us proof of it. If you donate money, email us a confirmation from the charity. If you prefer to fill a special box full of goodies, send us a photocopy of the store receipt, and one of the postage receipt showing you shipped a package to an APO/FPO address.
Emails entries should be sent to: plotmonkeyscontest@gmail.com
Snail mail should be sent to: Plotmonkeys, c/o Leslie Kelly, PO Box 1378, Frederick, MD 21702-0378
In order for the soldiers to receive gifts by Christmas, they must be sent by December 4, which is two weeks from today. (And it’s already too late for parcel post…it must be priority!) We’ll allow a few extra days for those of you mailing packages to get your receipts to us…we’ll need them by the end of that week, December 7. Quite an appropriate day to remember the men and women of our military, don’t you think?
The winner will be drawn that weekend and their name posted with our regular contest announcement on Sunday December 9.
Here are some ways you can donate. (The first 4 are all 501c corporations, meaning they are tax deductible!)
1. http://www.operationusocarepackage.org/site/pp.asp?c=ikLVJ7MSKvH&b=569653
You can sponsor a care packages from the USO for $25 and pay right online
2. http://soldiersangels.org/index.php?page=donate
Any financial donation is welcomed and can be made online, through Paypal
3. If you would prefer to donate to a group providing emergency aid and financial assistance to the families of deployed soldiers, click here: http://operationhomefront.net/donate.htm
4. http://www.packagesfromhome.org/donate/
Another organization where you can donate cash in any amount to help pay for those care packages.
5. This site gives you the name of an active service person and allows you to order a “box of treats” to be shipped directly to that person. (Note: This one does not clearly state that the donations are tax deductible)
http://www.treatsfortroops.com/foster/selection.php
6. If you want to pack a box of your own but don’t know who to send it to, check out this site. A radio station is sponsoring an Adopt A Soldier event–you can read your soldier’s bio, choose one, get his address and pack a box yourself. http://clear99.com/?page_id=289
Please note: We are not advocating any one charity…if you know of a specific soldier you would rather help, that’s fine. Just send us the copy of the store & postage receipts.
And if you personally know someone serving–and would like to suggest that person as a gift package recipient–please let us know! One of our generous Plotmonkey visitors (or one of the Monkeys!) might like to “adopt” him or her directly.
We do hope you’ll join us in this effort to make the holidays just a little bit brighter for somebody missing his family on the other side of the world. And feel free to keep us all updated on your progress–who you donated to and why!
I’ll start…I just donated to the Operation USO site. The USO has always seemed incredibly romantic to me–sexy GI’s, slim women in long, A-line skirts, singing songs like Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy…it appeals to my romantic and my theatrical sides!
So…ready, set go! Donate! Feel great about yourself! Enter!
And feel free to spread the word to your other blogs and friends, other writers, family members. The more entries, the better a holiday season for a bunch of lonely troops!
PS: Thought I’d share one of my favorite pictures. My cousin’s son served early in the war, and as a lark I sent him a romance novel in a care package. Turned out that thing got passed all around his unit…and all the guys begged for more! One day I got this picture in an email:
Is there anything sexier than a soldier who understands the value of reading romance novels, and learning what it is women really fantasize about???
Awesome, AWESOME idea. Lori Foster collects donations at her annual June Ohio event, and I know Suz Brockmann collects as well when she’s out on booksignings.
Some things I’ve learned from someone who deals with troop mail: be sure to always address it to someone specific, not just any soldier. Also, do not put the country name on the box/letter - it most likely will be sent to that country’s post office instead of the military post and searched - most if not all of these are returned.
You guys just put a happy little smile on my face today
Comment by Stacy ~ — November 20, 2007 @ 7:06 am
I also donated to the Operation USO site. Your turn!
Comment by Carly — November 20, 2007 @ 7:17 am
My mom and I are actually sending a care package to Dog Handlers in Iraq. I used the website AnySoldier.com. You can choose any branch of the services! I think I found this from Suz Brockmann’s yahoo group.
Comment by Jess — November 20, 2007 @ 8:15 am
I love, love, love this idea!!!
My family is putting together a package for my brother in-laws cousin who will be spending this Christmas in Iraq. He’s feeling a little homesick, this is his first holiday without his family so we’re really hoping our package will cheer him up!
I also wanted to mention another organization that you could send Christmas cards to:
A RECOVERING AMERICAN SOLDIER
C/O WALTER REED ARMY MEDICAL CENTER
6900 GEORGIA AVENUE,NW
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20307-5001
Comment by Tina Martinesi — November 20, 2007 @ 10:11 am
P.S. I have an address for my brother inlaws cousin in Iraq if anyone would like to send a note or package, let me know!
Comment by Tina Martinesi — November 20, 2007 @ 10:15 am
This is such a great idea! My uncle served 2 years in Vietnam, one year with the Air Force, the 2nd year with the Army. His birthday is Christmas Eve so the only time he ever really got packages was Christmas/birthday combined. The year he was in the Army was the worst, and most of the time he won’t even talk about it, but I have heard him tell the story of waiting for the cargo plane to come in that had all their Christmas cards and packages from home - in his case, birthday too. Unfortunately, the plane was shot down on approach.
I was a very young girl when I heard this story, and of course I didn’t get the big picture (um..crew) I just remember being so sad for my uncle that he didn’t get any presents that year. And it really stuck with me so I absolutely love the idea of sending gifts to all the people serving who are away from their families. Thanks for doing this!!!
Comment by Jodie — November 20, 2007 @ 10:17 am
Tina - I just got an e-mail from my husband’s Kiwanis club last week about the “recovering soldier” address. All card have to be addressed to a specific person. If they’re addressed to “recovering soldier” or “serving soldier”, becaue of security reasons, they’re destroyed. That was actually sent to us by a retired colonial who had spoken with someone at Walter Reed.
Comment by Jodie — November 20, 2007 @ 10:19 am
I just went to Snopes.com and checked and there is a big article confirming this. They do list several organizations there that you can make donations through too.
Comment by Jodie — November 20, 2007 @ 10:22 am
This is such a great idea!!! My cousin Howard Spires is in Iraq for his 2nd tour in about 3 years. He is with one of the groups from Ft. Campbell and won’t be able to be home until maybe next Christmas(based on the new 15-month tours). He has been able to call home a couple of times, so we know he is safe for now.
My co-worker’s son Mike is also in Iraq right now, but he will be coming home in March or April for good. This is Mike’s 2nd tour, and 2 years ago when he was deployed my company collected money at our Christmas party and the owners matched dollar for dollar so we could send gifts over to Mike’s group. We sent out 4 huge boxes filled with movies, books, candy, snacks, and games and they were all delived on Christmas Eve. Mike told us that it made being away from friends and family a little easier to handle.
Count me in on a donation. Our Christmas party is after the deadline, so I’ll go to one of the websites to donate.
Comment by Liza — November 20, 2007 @ 10:31 am
Thanks Jodie, I’ll check it out!
Comment by Tina Martinesi — November 20, 2007 @ 10:42 am
I love this idea! I just made a donation to Packages From Home.
Comment by Janelle — November 20, 2007 @ 11:32 am
I am nearly in tears this morning as i read your post.. what a truly wonderful thing you are all doing.. I dont know if i told you all but my husband is back on alert to head back to Iraq.. we dont know when yet.. i am praying its later this spirng after the holidays..his last time he was gone from late dec of 2002 to late april of 2004..
we had to put a transmssion in his truck this last week and our furnace broke so i cannot afford to donate to your cause right now, but as the wife of a soldier.. i wanted to say God Bless each and everyone of you for supporting these wonderful men and women… And of course God Bless the USA and our Troops…
Happy thankgsiving to you all.. your truly special…
Comment by Jolene — November 20, 2007 @ 11:54 am
I also donated through Packages from Home. Made me teary just thinking about all those soldiers away from their families. God bless them all.
Comment by Julie Leto — November 20, 2007 @ 12:38 pm
Thank you for doing this, Plotmonkeys!
Comment by Fedora — November 20, 2007 @ 12:53 pm
Jolene - I don’t know how you do it. I used to live in Tucson and I had a lot of friends who were in the AF and gone to Desert Shield/Storm. About 50% of my apartment complex was deployed and it was so sad during the holidays. I’ll be praying that your husband doesn’t leave until after the first of the year!! :pray:
Comment by Jodie — November 20, 2007 @ 1:28 pm
Oh Jolene, big big hugs…
I hope and pray your hubby will be safe and home for the holidays!
Comment by Leslie — November 20, 2007 @ 2:14 pm
Liza, that’s wonderful, I am sure your coworker really appreciates all the love and support your company shows her son.
I’m so glad everybody is liking and supporting this idea! Tina, will be praying for your b-i-l’s cousin!
Comment by Leslie — November 20, 2007 @ 2:18 pm
Wow,
, you are all awesome. What a fantastic idea to make sure the men & women serving our country know we support them & care about them. This is the real celebration of Thanksgiving. :turkey: We can all celebrate because they are serving & thousands before them have served in years & wars past. My funds are very limited but I will see if there isn’t something I can do.
Take care,
Donna M
Comment by Donna M — November 20, 2007 @ 3:27 pm
Hi Leslie and Plotmonkeys,
I just had a hard night at work and have yet to sleep in 36 hrs. but I checked this blog before leaving the hospital and it kept me going all day- even through parent teacher conferences. Then I had my kids read it. They are so excited-they each want to do a care package so now we are heading out to Target. We donated several packages to the USO but they want to make 2 packages for specific soldiers. If there is anyone w/a specific request I would be happy to contact you. Otherwise, we will pick from one of the sites where you can adopt a soldier. Thank you very, very, much -my kids are so into this-it is the best present they could give me!
Comment by Zaharoula (Za) — November 20, 2007 @ 4:18 pm
I totally support your idea. Thank you so much for doing this.
Comment by Cathy M — November 20, 2007 @ 4:27 pm
Wow, the entries are already coming in. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!
We are all SO excited about this.
Zaharoula, what a great “family project.” My kids and I have done those in the past. My problem is I live way out in the boonies and can’t guarantee I’ll be able to shop and hit a post office soon enough, so I did take the easier way online. But if I find myself having a moment of pure INSANITY and going out on Black Friday, I might buy some goodies for a couple of boxes, too. :gobble:
Comment by Leslie — November 20, 2007 @ 4:33 pm
Uh, Jolene? I think right now you have “donated” as much as you need to.
I tend to make my donations locally through http://www.militarymominaction.com.
This is a local mom whose son was playing in the sandbox in the beginning of the war. She, and the group, still collect and send boxes. It’s who I get all my magnetic ribbons from for my truck.
Payday is this Friday, so I will go back and check out a couple of the links then.
I think of all the years my husband spent overseas- Germany, Korea and Vietnam especially. My former commander is heading over for his second tour. My grandson’s step-dad is on his 5th- he keeps volunteering to go.
Comment by ev — November 20, 2007 @ 5:17 pm
What a wonderful idea. My heart goes out to all of our men and women serving our country who are away from their families and love ones. Whenever I see the holiday messages from soldiers around the world on the news I always start to cry. God bless them all.
I’ll be making a donation to the USO as well.
Take care all,
Cher :vibrating:
Comment by Cher — November 20, 2007 @ 5:18 pm
I have a very limited income, but will see what I can do.
This is a wonderful idea, ladies!
Comment by Estella — November 20, 2007 @ 5:35 pm
that is a great idea all around. love the pics and solders who love romance.
it is so cool. :vibrating: :gobble: :elf:
Comment by kim h — November 20, 2007 @ 6:53 pm
What a great idea…. :vibrating: :feast: :turkey:
Lots and lots of hugs to Jolene and families of soldiers….we DO appreciate what you do! Thank you!
Comment by katie — November 20, 2007 @ 7:32 pm
[...] All the details can be found here: THE SEASON FOR GIVING [...]
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[...] All the details can be found here: THE SEASON FOR GIVING [...]
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Pingback by Plot Monkeys » Blog Archive » An Exclusive Plotmonkey Excerpt! — November 27, 2007 @ 6:03 am
My church - Freedom Baptist Church - collects items to send/mail to troops in Iraq. We do this every three months! That way different soldiers received something and send different items that are needed!
Comment by Clifton Wade — December 1, 2007 @ 1:08 pm
[...] All the details can be found here: THE SEASON FOR GIVING [...]
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