Read about this project in Construction Executive
Questions?
Contact Director of Communications Judy Gretsch at 202-466-1862 or jgretsch@abcmetrowashington.org.
Go to Adopted Military Unit for photos, messages and information from Captain Pettee's Unit, our first adopted unit.
Email from Ch, Lt Col Dwayne Peoples, 11/18/09:
"You and your team are no trouble and have been a tremendous encouragement to the Troops. I am indeed leaving in three weeks however; my replacement will have the same mailing address. My replacement's name is Lt Col William Ferrell.
Please express my deepest regards to your team for the support they have given us."
When asked if he was returning home, he replied, "I will be home in time for Christmas and am glad for it. Missed all the holidays in late 07 early 08 due to deployment to Iraq. Its what we do. Thanks again." |
Email from Captain John C. Heins, USAF, 11/16/09: "I've received three in the last few days from Barr Concrete and I think ABC of Metro Washington. They're being distributed as widely as possible, and the candy and other treats will definitely come in handy when the holidays roll around! "For future packages to me or others... Some of the soldiers up in the mountains (luckily not me) have very little access to stores, and some of the things they need the most are mini toiletries and warm wool boot socks. I can make sure those get to the right people. Also, I know people here could use some of those large 3M hooks to hang things on their walls. (very limited floor space in most of our rooms!) "I certainly will provide another contact before I go. I'll probably wait until the next Army unit starts rolling in in January so it'll be a good long-term contact. "I will keep an eye out for those additional packages and let you know when they arrive. Thanks again for everything you're doing!" |
| Excerpt from an email from Captain John C. Heins, USAF, 10/26/09:
"I was surprised and thrilled yesterday to receive eight care packages in the mail... First of all, a HUGE thank you from me and my team here in Afghanistan! It always lifts everyone's spirits when someone walks into work with an armful of food, toiletries, and entertainment. It's really great to be reminded that people at home are really rooting for us. I'll be sure to provide a follow-on POC when I leave in January so that you can continue your great efforts here at Camp Phoenix.
"Thank you again!" |
A message from Ryan Lair posted on www.anysoldier.com on 10/20/09:
"The response from our fellow Marylanders has been wonderful. We have gotten well above my expectations. You have helped not only the people I requested for but many other soldiers that have no one to send the nice things from home. Thank you very much. I have return address to say thank you and an email address or two as well, I will thank you personally when I get the time." |
The Community Service Committee has been in contact with Lt Col Dwayne R Peoples of the Command Chaplain in Guantanamo Bay. Lt Col Peoples' has replied that he would be happy to distribute boxes to soldiers serving there and has forwarded the following requests: freeze pops, popcorn, jerky, nuts, gummy worms-type candy, sunflower seeds and coffee. . To send packages to Guantanamo Bay, please use this address:
Lt Col William Ferrell
JTF-GTMO/CHAPEL
APO AE 09360
A volunteer on the Community Service Committee submitted this address for Captain John Heins and his unit that deployed to Afghanistan. John will be returning to the states in January 2010 and said he'd send a replacement contact for his unit. Watch this page for updates. Requests include mini toiletries, warm wool boot socks, and large 3M hooks to hang things on walls.
John Heins
Camp Phoenix
NOTICE: HOLD ON THIS ADDRESS
John Heins has returned home.
He has promised us a replacement contact for Camp Phoenix
so watch this page for updates.
Member company Therrien Waddell sent us the following contact for Corporal Andrew Weger, a Marine and his unit that deployed in late October 2009. They are expected to be in Afghanistan until early June 2010.
Cpl Weger, Andrew P.
3/10 INDIA BTRY
UNIT 73370
FPO AE 09510-3370
The Community Service Committee discovered this contact for a Maryland unit serving in Afghanistan through the website www.anysoldier.com, which allows deployed soldiers to post their address and requests for items they need. Ryan is expected to be deployed until August 31, 2010. On September 16th, Ryan wrote to Any Soldier saying, "We are all active duty [from] Maryland and come from all over the US, from small town USA to big cities. Many of us have multiple deployments and we all love what we do. Thank you for any help you are willing to send us, and if you give us a contact method we will do our best to reply with thanks and let you know your packages are gotten and well enjoyed. Anything is welcome. We have a microwave, [refrigerator], and [freezer]. We have 110 electricity. TV series on DVD are great it gets boring at night. T-shirts (M,L,XL) and hats from companies are great I have many from prior deployments and would like my soldiers to enjoy the care of so many [Americans]. Thank you."
Ryan S. Lair
Attn: Any Soldier®
CJTF PALADIN/CEXC
BAGRAM AIRFIELD
APO AE 09354
If you have any questions, please contact jgretsch@abcmetrowashington.org.
George Nash of Facchina Development, LLC, had this to say about participating in this project,
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- DVDs (movies & stand-up comedy)
- CDs
- Slim Jims or beef jerky
- Phone calling cards
- Paperback books & magazines
- Puzzle books
- Notebooks & pens
- Baby wipes or hand wipes
- Decks of cards
- Small, hand-held video games
- Sleep masks and travel pillows
- Head phones for iPods and MP3 players
- gum & hard candy (Life Savers, Starburst, gummy worm-type candy, etc.)
- Freeze pops
- Popcorn & microwavable food (mac and cheese, etc.)
- Powdered drink packets (Hawaiian Punch)
- Nuts and sunflower seeds
- Coffee
- t-shirts (M, L, XL)
- hats (company logos welcome as they are a touch of home)
Visit www.usps.com to order the following shipping materials free of charge:
- Priority Mail APO/FPO Flat Rate Box (Item No. MILI-FRB), pack of 25
- Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note (Item No. FORM 2967-A)
- Customs Form Envelope (Item No. FORM 2976-E)
Supplies will also be available at membership meetings this summer or at the ABC of Metro Washington office in Calverton, MD.
Shipments typically take two to four weeks to arrive. If you are considering shipping perishable items and need to determine the likelihood that items will arrive safely, the conditions in Afghanistan are similar to the weather in Colorado, and Cuba is 90 miles from the Key West so think tropical. Consult the U.S. Post Office for hazardous materials and food shipping rules.
No matter how much you stuff in the APO/FPO flat rate box, postage is only $11.95 to APO/FPO addresses.
If you purchase insurance, be aware that it will only cover your package until it reaches New York. After that point, insurance no longer covers the contents of your package.
The U.S. Postal Service offers free package pickup. To schedule, visit www.usps.com.
For assistance with completing the required U.S. Customs form, download this sample of a completed form. More questions? Call Judy at 202-466-1862.
Captain Pettee's unit, our first adopted unit, arrived home safely!
Go to Adopted Military Unit for photos, messages and information from Captain Pettee's Unit.
"Thank you for all your support (and the ABC of Metro of Washington). Our team of soldiers appreciated all of your packages that you sent us!!!!! Those packages did come in handy and all the items were used. … You and the people of ABC don’t know how much those packages really came in handy and meant to us from people back from the USA."
Captain Jeff Pettee, August 27, 2009 |
Want the information on this webpage in a handy flyer?
Download here.In this space, we'll post answers to questions members submit on the project.
A
www.anysoldier.com suggests checking "Redirect to address below" and entering "Any Local Chaplain."
A To our knowledge, the soldiers overseas cannot use the phones. You might check out this organization for a program that recycles old phones and donates the proceeds to soldiers.
http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com/shippingLabel_generic.html
A Yes
A You can use any of the flat-rate boxes from the USPS. Even with a standard flat-rate box, you should automatically get the military discount once the post office scans in the APO address.