Tag: care packages



“Greetings from abroad!  My unit–about 25 soldiers–would be grateful and happy to receive packages from your group.  Thank you for your efforts at making our deployments a bit less unpleasant.  Its nice to be remembered,” Trenton Hayes writes from Afghanistan.

“As far as specifics, we are in a pretty austere environment here.  We are all pretty well taken care of in terms of toiletries and whatnot; but the food is just atrocious–our efforts have rather outstripped the ability of the contractors to feed us, I fear.  I’ve lost about 8 pounds myself, which is no great loss, but there is such a thing as too much of a good thing.  So snacks of all descriptions would be most welcome.

“Thank you again for the pains you take.  They are much appreciated.” – Trenton Hayes

Donations for the next WashU Military Care Package mailing are being accepted at several drop-off locations on campus until 11 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 9.  Volunteers will be packing boxes on Friday, Nov. 11, Veterans Day, at 1:30 p.m. in the North Campus dining area.  Please contact Jill Edwards (jilledwards@wustl.edu) if you would like to participate.

“We will be sending packages to three soldiers, as well as the USO located at Bagram Airfield,” Jill Edwards, Senior Project Manager, Office of the Vice Provost, writes in an email. “It is our honor to send packages to Harvey Fields’ son, Jordan Fields!  Jordan is currently stationed in Afghanistan.” Fields is Assistant Dean for Student Success
in the Center for Advanced Learning.

Danforth Campus drop off locations:
Knight Hall, Suite 310 (Claire Patterson 935-7301)
Lopata Hall, Room 303 (Chris Kroeger, 935-6169)
North Brookings, Room 155 (Jill Edwards 935-5623)
South 40, South 40 House, Room 1006 (Lora Clark, 935-4329)
Rebstock 321, Biology Department (Judy Musick 935-6871)

Suggested donations:
Individually wrapped snacks
Nuts
Microwave popcorn
Power bars, Protein Bars, Nutritional Bars
Single serve – pre-sweetened drink mixes (Gatorade, Crystal Light, Wylers, etc.)
Trail mix (individual size servings)
Funds for postage are always welcome

 




If you would like to contribute to the next WashU Military Care Package mailing, please drop off your donations by 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, February 24. Volunteers are needed to help pack boxes on Friday, February 26, 1:30 p.m. in the North Campus dining area. To volunteer, contact Jill Edwards, Office of the Vice Provost, Senior Project Manager, jilledwards@wustl.edu

Olin donation drop off location: Graduate Programs Office, Knight Hall 310

Care Packages will be sent to the following service members whose names have been submitted by WashU staff, faculty, and students:

  • Alexander Larson  – Past member of the Gateway Battalion ROTC; 15 soldiers under his command
  • Jeremiah Seitz – “Our unit manages the Aerial Reconnaissance of Afghanistan. It is somewhat of a thankless job but our soldiers are extremely hard working and dedicated to the mission at hand.” Requested items:  Rye chips, salt & vinegar kettle chips, Frito’s, Dorito’s, Coffee K-Cups, Chocolate
  • Travis Buehner  – Husband of Katie Buehner, EMBA student.  Aviation brigade.
  • Andrew Rinkenbeger  – Past member of the Gateway Battalion ROTC.  “My group of 11 National Guardsmen and Army Reservists come from all over the United States to provide personnel security for the US Army Corps of Engineers civilians who are building various projects across Afghanistan such as schools, clean water wells, and hospitals for the Afghan people.” Requested items:  Candy, chips, pastries
  • David Butler  –  20 people in unit. Requested items:  Body wash, baby wipes, shampoo, shaving cream, toothpaste, floss, sunscreen
  • Ryan Jones  Requested items:  sporting goods (small items – baseball bats won’t fit in the mailing boxes), cookies, coffee, Easy Mac, Ramen Noodles
  • Juan Banales  – “Regarding our job and activities, I command a Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha, or a Green Beret responsible for other Green Berets.  As a unit, we work and fight side-by-side with a partner force — in this case, Afghans.  It’s an experience that’s as challenging as it is rewarding.”  Requested items: coffee

All care packages will contain a variety of food and toiletry items. Home baked goods are the #1 requested item.

How to pack home-baked goods.  Place cookies/brownies in a sandwich size Ziploc bag.  Place the sealed sandwich size Ziploc bags into a gallon size Ziploc bag.  The double bagging ensures freshness and keeps the critters out.  Each gallon size bag should have a label with the baker’s name on it.  Some people like to include their email address on the label. Occasionally bakers will receive an email from the soldiers who enjoyed their baked goods.

Suggested care package donations (Please remember no aerosol or glass):
Air freshener (type you hang from review mirror) (no aerosol or liquid)
Anti-bacterial items
Baby wipes
Beef Slim Jims
Breakfast bars, granola bars
Coffee
Corn nuts
Creamer
DVD’s (new or slightly used)
Dried fruit
Energy mixes
Gum
Hand sanitizer
Hygiene products – male and female
Individually wrapped snacks
Lip balm/Chap stick
Liquid bath soap (please no bars – the sand sticks to the bars)
Nuts
Microwave popcorn
Non-digital table games
Power bars, Protein Bars, Nutritional Bars
Single serve – pre-sweetened drink mixes (Gatorade, Crystal Light, Wylers, etc.)
Socks
Tooth paste
Trail mix (individual size servings)
Sudoku/crossword puzzle books
Funds for to support postage costs for the care packages are always welcome

Guest Blogger: Clair Patterson, Professional Assistant, Olin Graduate Programs 




Our November Wash U. Military Care Package mailing was a HUGE success!  The group sent 27 boxes, weighing 515 pounds at a cost of $646.  The success has drained our postage funds so donations toward postage would be much appreciated!!

If you would like to contribute to the next Wash U Military Care Package mailing, please drop off your donations to one of the drop-off locations by 11:00 AM on Wednesday, April 22.  The drop-off locations and suggested items are listed at the end of this email.

Please let me know if you are available to help pack boxes on Thursday, April 23, 2:00 PM in the North Campus dining area. Honestly – it’s fun! Contact: Claire Patterson 935-7301

Here are responses from our November mailing.

military care package 2

Captain Erik Anthes, sharing with the U.S. troops, the Australian army and a French Sergeant.

“I received your boxes… finally!   I want to extend my personal gratitude to your organization and thank you for the generous gifts.  As I set the box out for our junior Soldiers to have first take, one of the young men shouted “Yes!  Some guy stuff!”

Another grabbed some q-tips and said “I needed these to clean my weapon!”  The hygiene products were the first thing to go, as we packed 45 days worth of personal demand items and the store on our compound is quite expensive.  This saved many young Soldiers quite a bit of money.”  Erik Anthes

 

John Nawoichyk, and members of the Ground Forces Command Advisor Team

John Nawoichyk, and members of the Ground Forces Command Advisor Team

“Thank you for the wonderful care packages! My team loved them – I attached a picture so you can see how happy they are. All of them asked that I say THANK YOU to you, the faculty, staff, students and friends. It is such a caring gesture and please know that it means a lot to us.

One of the young Soldiers said “How cool, Christmas came early to Afghanistan!” I attached a few pictures so you can seem them enjoying your awesome packages.
Things here remain well. It has been very busy and some changes in the government, but overall things are going well for us and the people of Afghanistan.
I hope you are having a wonderful day. Thank you again! ” John Nawoichyk

Thank you so much for the care packages.  Attached are two pictures of some of us with the items your generous group sent.  We appreciate this thoughtfulness very much.  We have shared these items amongst our team.

Please feel free to share the photos with anyone who donated to this selfless effort.  Thanks again.

Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Gilleran (pictured at top of post)

Suggested items to donate: (Please remember no aerosol or glass)

  • Air freshener (type you hang from review mirror) (no aerosol or liquid)
  • Anti-bacterial items
  • Baby wipes
  • Beef Slim Jims
  • Breakfast bars, granola bars
  • Coffee
  • Corn nuts
  • Creamer
  • DVD’s (new or slightly used)
  • Dried fruit
  • Energy mixes
  • Gum
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Home-baked goods (please put your name on packages)
  • Hygiene products – male and female
  • Individually wrapped snacks
  • Lip balm/Chap stick
  • Liquid bath soap (please no bars – the sand sticks to the bars)
  • Nuts
  • Microwave popcorn
  • Non-digital table games
  • Power bars, Protein Bars, Nutritional Bars
  • Single serve – pre-sweetened drink mixes (Gatorade, Crystal Light, Wylers, etc.)
  • Socks
  • Tooth paste
  • Trail mix (individual size servings)
  • Sudoku/crossword puzzle books
  • Funds for postage are always welcome

Drop off locations:

Knight Hall, Suite 310 (Claire Patterson 935-7301)

South 40, South 40 House, Room 1006 (Lora Clark, 935-4329)




In honor of Veteran’s Day, Olin joined a university-wide effort to send care packages to troops currently deployed in the Middle East. Students were encouraged to donate supplies such as toiletries, snacks, and baked goods to send overseas.

Coming from a military family, this effort spoke to me. Six soldiers were chosen to be recipients of our care packages. Each soldier was related somehow to members of the Washington University community, and they each sent special requests for items they could not regularly find while deployed.

With a list in hand, a classmate and I went to Sam’s Club to purchase supplies. We picked out about a hundred dollars worth of snacks and baby wipes. When I dropped the items off, I was in awe of the sheer amount of donations. A few thousand dollars worth of items must have been donated! It was amazing to see so many people contribute to our soldiers.

Later, I volunteered to help organize and send out the packages. Fourteen volunteers divided up all the donations based on the type of product, and then started making groups of packages per soldier. Every soldier received at least three boxes, each with themes of either toiletries or snacks. A local elementary school also sent hundreds of hand written notes to these soldiers thanking them for their service.

When my brother was deployed, he said the best things he ever received were crayon written notes by children. And in a few weeks, all Wash U sponsored students will receive a stack of these special cards.

Care packages are sent a few times a year from Olin, so next time I will be sure to recruit young talent for crayon drawings.

Thank you to past and present military for your service!




On May 12, the Wash U Military Care Package group mailed 11 boxes, weighing 206 lbs. to American troops. For the first time since 2004, some of the packages went to Africa. Hugh Tyschen, PMBA’11, has deployed several times including three tours while earning his degree at Olin.  Hugh sent this letter of thanks this month for the packages his group received during his last tour in Afghanistan.

“During my time here, our Afghan unit has performed admirably in daily combat. We were pleasantly surprised at their professionalism and determination. The Afghans did not shy away from an attack. I believe that with a small advisor presence at higher headquarters, they can become completely independent. Heroism on the battlefield among Afghans is common. The ability to solve logistical conundrums is not. Unfortunately, our unit sustained a high number of casualties. However, their resolve is unwavering and they will continue to battle the Taliban for the future of AFG.

“My advisor team was extremely lucky, our team had no members killed in action. Two Marines were wounded and received Purple Heart Medals during our tour of duty. LCpl Edward was knocked unconscious by an improvised explosive device, and Sgt Scaggs was shot in the buttocks by a sniper. Both recovered fully, and after the incident, Sgt Scaggs received a new call sign: “Gump.” I wish I could say we did not have any insider attacks, but that is an inherent threat that comes with the advising mission.

hugh tychsen

Hugh pictured in the 2011 Olin Business Magazine.

“I am proud to have served with such a fine team of Marines and British soldiers. I could not have handpicked a better group of patriots.

“Things I will miss about Afghanistan: my Afghan friends, the Afghan food, and the beautiful mountains.

“Things I will not miss about Afghanistan: random explosions throughout the day and night. And rats, won’t miss them.

“My interpreter, Najib, has completed his final visa interview. I hope he receives his visa in a timely manner (not likely) which he fully deserves after serving three continuous years in combat against the Taliban, side-by-side with US Marines.
“Thank you all for your continued support and prayers during this adventure. Our mission has come to an end. – Hugh”

“Memorial Day, an American holiday observed on the last Monday of May, honors men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades”  For more on Memorial Day history and traditions, visit the History website.