I want to introduce the members here to a cause that I have adopted as my 'goto' charity.
There is a website called
http://www.anysoldier.com
It is basically a point of contact between our troops serving overseas and we here at home who want to try to make their lives a little nicer in the various 3rd world Hells in which they are serving.
A unit representative will post an email, asking for our help in getting items for his/her unit that are virtually unobtainable where they are. The email contains the number of members in the group that is being represented, their genders, where the unit is based here in CONUS, what country they are in now, the number of times their address has been requested, and a link to that address.
Many items are listed when you view a number of emails, giving you an idea of what you can send them to help them get through these assignments. Such things as: body wipes, Kotex, tampons, hard candy, beef jerky, drink powders, protein powder, trail mix, salted nuts, hot sauce, socks, T-shirts, flip-flops, shampoo, disposable razors, shaving cream, soap, ballpoint pens, stationary, games, playing cards, magazines, and reading material (no porn), and the list goes on and on. Try to imagine what you would like to have if you were in a country with no living green vegetation, high temperatures, wind, sand, and hostiles just over the next ridge or around the next corner, and no store of any sort to go get something to eat or read.
The USPS Post Office has a special, flat-rate box just for this purpose, which is free, and is marked APO/FPO. No matter how much you put in it, the cost is $13.45 to ship and you can get alot in one if you pack it right. Put your name, address, and email address inside, and seal it up very well. Then, wrap filament packing tape around the 3 circumferences, so that it will survive a long and treacherous journey. Fill out the custom forms (available at the PO) and send it off. You will feel very good about yourself for many days to come.
I buy most of my items at a Dollar Store, as that is the only way I can afford to send a package every month. It costs, on average, about $50 + shipping, but the fact that a total stranger took the time, expense, and trouble to send these young men and women a care package from home lets them know they are not forgotten and are appreciated for what they are having to do. Most of these units are in Afghanistan or Iraq and, if you haven't been there, or to any area similar, you can't even imagine how brutal the days and nights can be. And I'm just talking about the weather!
So, open your hearts and skip one meal a month out at a restaurant, and send these boys and girls a little something from home. I thank you now and they'll thank you forever.
Jack Young