I received a Thank You email today from a person in Afghanistan. He said that they share out the goodies they get in their parcels, the recipient gets first dibs and they share things around.
Winter has been especially cold this year in Afghanistan and though Christmas parcels from home arrived late they've been very much appreciated.
As far as Adopt A Soldier, it's been suggested that anyone interested in adopting a soldier who may not have support from home, or who needs a boost from home, address a letter to The Chaplain and you may find The Chaplain will be able to help.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
17 comments:
My Son returned home this week from Afghanistan - he commented on how the parcels addressed to an Australian Soldier were extremely appreciated especially by the guys without family. I asked the best part about the parcels to an Australian Soldier and he commented on the food like nuts, tin tuna, dried fruit as they could pack it into their backpacks when they went out for days on patrol. Apparently a nice change from rations. So Thank you once again.
Hi we have just posted another 12 packages off,4 men,4 ladies and 4 for the dogs and handlers we marked then Anzac,many more people in town have done them and now our Scouts came to see me as they are getting some ready,we have come to love doing them in our little town and so nice to hear they actually arrive..we were much more imaginative this time,even the local newsagent gave us bucket hats for the packs even if the troops wanted to give them to kids...lots of goodies on the way..
Great work and we did hear that they are cold at night,some ladies making rugs and if and whn they are given me i will be in touch to see what to do with them,I believe one lot of ladies made a quilt for each person in one platoon! how awesome was that,I also heard they like laundry bags,do you know anything about these?if so can you let me know..thanks
Letters arriving everywhere this week!
Nilk advised me once that thank you letters might be rare, and I could understand her reasons. But it was great to finally see that AFPO postmark on the envelope.
Hi Jacana
I hope your soldier settles soon.
A Blessed Life
I know I saw someone mention them in the comments and I clicked on their site where there were photos. I can't check right now I must get ready for work so I'll look later for you.
Hi ABL
I googled and found a blogger's site with a pattern for Laundry Bags for Soldiers:
http://onceuponaquilt.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/laundry-bags-for-our-soldiers.html
and this one, too!
http://aussieheroquilts.blogspot.com.au/
I'll have to do a post on these two blogs and their fabulous work...
Back to work for me!
I received a lovely email thank you for one of my packages the other day. It really made my day.
Hi! I am just wondering if the addresses are still all current? Also, how do you 'adopt a soldier' as one of your posts suggest? Thank you!
The addresses in the right side of this blog are current.
To adopt a soldier/sailor/airman/woman just write a letter, using the parcel address, and instead of putting "An Australian Soldier" put in The Chaplain as the addressee. Enclose a covering letter for The Chaplain explaining that you'd like to adopt a soldier. This should find the chaplain and s/he will be able to forward your letter to an appropriate recipient.
Finally I've been searching where to write and adopt an aussie soldier. Thank you so much for the information
Hi Kae,
Rusty here, I sent a few parcels a week ago now, one parcel I addressed to the Chaplain for an adopted soldier, I wrote a letter to the Chaplain to explain the parcel was to be given to a soldier who needed support, but I have not heard back- it was quiet a large parcel about 10kg is weight. Do you think I will hear back?...I also put a letter in for the soldier as well and would like to keep writing to that person.
I am sending more christmas parcels tomorrow but do wish I'd hear from the Chaplain and keep hoping there will be a letter from him every time I go to the letterbox?......Cheers Rusty
Rusti
Free parcels are supposed to be 2kg or under and the size of the B2 box - did you have to pay postage? If you didn't pay postage I'm not sure what will happen to the box.
Be patient, the Christmas deadline for postage is this Friday (and I need to get my act together and get mine done!), and although the deadline is early December, sometimes the parcels don't get to their destination until much later. Last year's Christmas mail delivery was delayed by bad weather until February!
I don't send parcels expecting to hear from the recipient, but it is a thrill to hear from them.
Hi Kae,
Yes I paid for the 10kg parcel. Yes I agree it's a great thrill to hear back from the soldiers and I have sometimes which was fantastic. I understand that you don't always get to hear back from them.
You're right I should be patient and may hear back in time. Thanks for the reply....I'm packing up a couple of christmas pacels now and can't believe I got a poker chip game for $3 yesterday, (I've seen them for $10!) so I hope the boys will enjoy that....it's lovely packing the christmas items I'd just love to see the soldiers faces sometimes when they receive them.....Cheers Rusti
Hi Rusti
I love giving gifts - the best reward is to be able to see the look on the face of the recipient, particularly when you've taken care to try and get that special something you know they'll appreciate.
Hi there Kae,
Agree with you there I'm feel exactly the same.....with that parcel I sent I did send it to this address as they weren't Christmas parcels....“An Australian Soldier”
Op Slipper
AFPO 13
Australian Defence Force
SYDNEY NSW 2890
APFO
But I will send my christmas ones tomorrow to the other Christmas mail address.
Rusti...
As far as receiving a response regarding care packages, my household does not expect a response.
Based on the amount of care packages that my household sends, approximately 12.5% of them derrives a response. Sometimes, this can take months to come, if at all.
Please remember that the recipients are likely to be otherwise occupied, and it does not mean that they are not appreciative of the effort involved.
That stated, one item that my household has been advised that someone was happy to receive was CD's (amongst other items).
As someone advised me, "You have no idea what it is like receiving a care package." This person also mentioned, "Give them something to chew."
In my household's care packages, we usually include some type of entertainment: a book, CD, DVD, magazine, or comic, some food, and some toiletries.
Post a Comment