Recently a friend in the States announced on Facebook that her daughter was selling Girl Scout cookies. I wanted to support the good Girl Scout cause, but my fat ass certainly doesn't need boxes of cookies! So I thought I'd take the opportunity to support two good causes: the Girl Scouts and our deployed servicemembers. I purchased my 16 boxes of GS cookies and told my friend that I'd provide an address for a unit serving downrange to send the cookies to. The troop is now going to send my order and other donations downrange. I know that Jerry appreciated getting care packages downrange and really enjoyed the Girl Scout cookies that came his way, so I'm happy to pay it forward!
So I was feeling pretty good about combining two great causes, but I still had the challenge of identifying a unit serving downrange to send the cookies to. Most of the units that I know personally are either about to come home or won't be leaving for several months. By chance, I received an e-mail message today about sending some care packages to medical personnel serving downrange. I e-mailed the coordinator of the project to see if it might be a good group to send these Girl Scout cookies to. It ended up not being a good fit, because the personnel are spread out, but the coordinator directed me to a wonderful site that I'd like to encourage everyone to visit: Soldiers' Angels.
I'm hoping to put the Girl Scout troop in touch with this organization. One of the Soldiers' Angels projects is delivering cases of Girl Scout cookies to our deployed soldiers. But the project that really struck a chord was the adopt-a-soldier program. I know that there are other similar programs (AnySoldier) and they're probably just as good. Basically, deployed soldiers sign up or are nominated by others to be 'adopted'. The 'angels' that adopt them have to apply and make a commitment to send the soldier at least one letter per week and one care package per month. Obviously, that's quite a commitment, but one that can mean a lot to a soldier serving downrange. I think that it could be a great program to participate in as part of a couple or a family. Everyone could be involved and could rotate letter writing. I hope that some of you will consider participating in this wonderful program.
I was also excited to see that there's a German chapter of the program and it's located at the post where I'll be starting to work in the next couple of months. I hope that I'll be able to volunteer (because I won't be busy enough with work, school, and being a new mom!) and positively impact the lives of wounded soldiers who are flown to Germany.
This is a great idea...my friend Audra's daughter was selling them and there was a box to check that was for sending some to our troops. I bought 2 for them. Of course, I still bought 2 for me. I guess I don't have the will power that you do. ;-)
ReplyDeleteJust to be clear, I didn't order any boxes for us from my friend in the States. We did, however, purchase several boxes from our local Girl Scouts!! So my fat ass was not completely neglected!
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