Tag: troops



Brownies and home baked cookies helped fill 16 boxes sent to US troops serving abroad in the latest mailing organized by the WashU Military Care Package Group. Weighing in at 319 pounds at a cost of $589.03, Jill Edwards, reports that most of the boxes have arrived at their destinations.

Edwards, senior project manager in the Office of the Provost, has spearheaded the military package group for several years. She shared notes of thanks received from the grateful troops.

“One group had requested free weights… a heavy proposition. They were using tires off of old military equipment.  A few of our care package members kindly coordinated to order all of the weights via Amazon,” said Edwards. Here are the thank you messages from the troops:

We just got the rest of the weights and all the boxes of goodies today from our last mail run. Everyone is loving them all up. Literally words cannot express how happy everyone is to receive everything. The simple comforts of home that you all helped provide for us are greatly appreciated by everyone here.

Message from Liz N.:

I got the package and shared with my Air Force and Army teammates. We are all very appreciative of your support and kindness. The brownies, cookies & walnut bread were delicious. Baked goods are not easily found here so they are very much appreciated =) The folks who cook our meals here are from different regions of the world, they don’t make pastries and other baked goods the same way Americans do….I think the missing ingredient is sugar. I should be thankful to have them supporting me in my health improvement efforts but I can’t help but miss that key ingredient.
We also appreciate all the toiletries. Both packages were a great morale booster.
Thanks again for your support, it means a lot to all of us out here.

Message from Margan K.

I just got the four boxes you sent — I am OVERWHELMED by  your group’s generosity! The home baked goods are amazing, and I’ve managed to put actual hand soap in a bunch of different bathrooms — people are excited to have hand soap that will actually lather 🙂

All of the snacks, toiletries, games, the swag… just everything. And omg, NUTELLA?! We are so, so humbled and honored that you all would do this for us.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you!!

 




If you would like to contribute to the next Wash U Military Care Package mailing, please drop off your donations by 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 26. We will be packing boxes on Friday, April 28, 1:30 p.m. in the North Campus dining area.  Please let me know if you would like to join in the fun!

Drop off locations:
Knight Hall, Suite 310
Lopata Hall, Room 303
Med School – Clayton/Taylor Building,  4480 Clayton, 2nd Floor
North Brookings, Room 155
North Campus, Financial Services second floor kitchen area
South 40, South 40 House Annex, Room 1040
West Campus, 11 North Jackson

Our last mailing was a huge success which meant huge postage costs (over $1200!).  Currently we have $198 left in the postage fund so donations toward postage would be much appreciated.  Please make checks payable to Washington University.  Donations toward the Military Care Package project are not tax deductible.  Sorry!

I received one response regarding special requests.  “… hand soap that smells nice would be much appreciated. We ladies usually put our own in the bathroom here to replace the industrial stuff they provide 😉 Anything you all send, especially different flavors of things, will be very much appreciated!”

Suggested items (Please remember no aerosol or glass)
Baked goods
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

Guest Blogger: Jill Edwards




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)