Planet members and their kids serving in Iraq and Afghanistan need our support.

[BigRedChief]

I know of one member of Chiefs Planet getting ready to go to Afghaniastan. I know
another that has a son getting ready to deploy. Another that has a son already there. I propose that we raise money and ship some "goddies" over to the units where Chiefs Planet members or their kids are serving our country. To let them know they are not alone, that some of us back here in the USA appreciate their sacrifice and service.

I will personally pay all the shipping costs and coordinate the project.

I will pay all the paypal fees of the members who donate. If you donate $20 to buy goodies for the troops, $20 goes to the troops.

If you want to send a check, or some goodies yourself, donated items, PM me for a mailing address.

If you have a store that has items that would go in the care package and would sell those at cost and or donate, PM me.

100% of the money raised will go to purchase items for the troops. I will update this thread with the progress and post pictures of the "goodies" and items that will be shipped to the troops.

This is not a political thread or idea. The point is to support the Planet members or their kids on a personal level while they are voluntarily putting themselfs in harms way for us.

PM me for the paypal address. If you know of someone serving overseas, PM me and we will put them on the list to recieve a care package

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

A thank you card for the planet from the troops over in the sandbox.

Originally Posted by Jethopper

I just wanted to send a shout out to BigRedChief. Most of you don't know, but I am a grunt in the 82nd airborne and I am currently in Afghanistan. Yesterday, after a long week of field work, I came back to the FOB to recharge and what do I see? 2 care packages from BRC. Well me and my boys enjoyed the snacks and we thank you, bud. HOOAH

Hey BRC,

A few days after my wife checked with her brother's wife about this package, he was injured in an IED attack and sent home for medical treatment. Today we learned that his driver and the guy who took his place were both killed by an IED. It's a tough job these guys have (both in terms of personal risk and also in terms of dealing with the loss of close friends).

Thanks again for all the support you facilitate!

NAME EDITED

Originally Posted by Barney Stinson

That's awesome news. Thanks to the new and continuing supporters that keeps this going. As a solider on the receiving side; it means so much to have complete strangers contribute to these packages. Its a moral victory, makes you feel noticed, affirmation. In some of the worst times I've ever experienced, a small note or package surprising me made the difference between being depressed and feeling validated. Agree or not for the reasons we're there, coming together and supporting the troops with their boots on the ground is a profound statement, and it does not go un-noticed by the troops receiving the packages. Don't make fun of what I'm saying, never in my life has a simple gesture made me feel so good and happy to be an american. Keep donating if you feel inclined, it matters more than you know to the troops receiving it.

[BigRedChief]

Dunkin Donuts donates the coffee
Passed on by supporter Kelly Bishop on 4 Mar 05:
Dunkin Donuts will send a case (24 one pound bags) to service members serving in Iraq. Dunkin Donuts donates the coffee and pays all the shipping costs.
Go to www.dunkindonuts.com
Fill out the form.
Put the soldiers name and APO address.
Click on "submit"
They are getting a lot of requests so it may take a little time.
You can also write with the same info to:
Dunkin Brands
130 Royall Street
Canton, MA 02121
Or call customer relations at 781-737-3000 (they are very friendly and helpful)
From Dunkin' Donuts:
Dunkin' Brands, Inc. supports the brave men and woman of the United States military.
We are honored to send a taste of home to our troops overseas. We will hold a monthly lottery to randomly select 50 military members among those requests submitted. Each will receive a case of Dunkin' Donuts coffee. We will limit the offer to those who have not previously received any coffee. Please understand that because of the volume of requests, only recipients will be notified

[JohninGpt]

In my experience, no one was very particular about what got mailed to us, but they watched what we mailed home like a hawk.

I did get several bottles in the mail.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Iowanian

Duh...thats why you write "shampoo and toiletries" on the customs form.

Okay, initial research says I'm going to have to sign my name to something that says whats in the package. If I lie of the form I could get in trouble with my employer and lose my job. so the packages will have to be on the up and up when I send them.

[Iowanian]

I wasn't suggesting you do anything other than that.


I just know what others, may choose to do as individuals.
Every situation is different, if your soldier lives with a dingleberry 1Sgt that hates fun, you obviously have to moderate what they receive.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by JohninGpt

In my experience, no one was very particular about what got mailed to us, but they watched what we mailed home like a hawk.

I did get several bottles in the mail.

How does this list look? Whats not on there there the troops appreciated?

FOOD and SNACKS

:

Beef Jerky

/ Slim Jims
COFFEE (Ground or whole; instant or drip), Hot Chocolate packets, Herbal teas

Instant Drink Mixes

(Gatorade, Kool‐Aid, Crystal Light)

Pumpkin Seeds

/ Sunflower Seeds (salted)

Tuna in foil pouches

(no cans)

Protein Powders

/ Protein Bars / Cliff Bars
*NO CHOCOLATE PRODUCTS accepted from MARCH to OCTOBER (it will melt in high temperatures!)
Hard Pretzels / Cheetos / Fritos / Chex Mix / Wheat Thins
Gum and Hard Candy (must be individually wrapped)
Granola Bars / Power Bars / Cereal Bars
Small Packs of Fig Newtons, Oreos, Cheese‐Its
Trail Mix, Dried Fruit, Granola, Fruit Roll‐Ups / Fruit By The Foot / Fruit Gummies
DRY SOUP: (Ramen Noodles / Cup‐O‐Soup: just add water)
NUTS: Peanuts, Mixed Nuts (salted)
MICROWAVE FOOD (Popcorn, Chef‐Boy‐R‐Dee, Mac'n'Cheese...)
COOKIES / Girl Scout Cookies (with chocolate: Oct. ‐ Feb. only!)
Cheese & Cracker packs
Condiments, Spices; Sugar; Salad Dressing (no glass jars)
Oatmeal Packs (Instant: just add water)
Cereal (Small, individual boxes)
Rice Krispie Treats (Store‐bought only)
Caffeinated gum or candy (to stay alert)

TOILETRIES:

NO HOTEL SAMPLES!

Baby wipes

(travel size)

Liquid Hand Sanitizer

(travel size)

Body Wash

, Liquid Soap, Facial Cleanser
Shampoo /Conditioner (travel size)
Hair Gel (for female troops to pull hair back)
Combs / Brushes, Bobby Pins
Eye Drops (i.e. Visine)

Nasal Spray

[seclark]

VVV

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

How does this list look? Whats not on there there the troops appreciated?


FOOD and SNACKS

:

Beef Jerky

/ Slim Jims

COFFEE

(Ground or whole; instant or drip), Hot Chocolate packets, Herbal teas

Instant Drink Mixes

(Gatorade, Kool‐Aid, Crystal Light)

Pumpkin Seeds

/ Sunflower Seeds (salted)

Tuna in foil pouches

(no cans)

Protein Powders

/ Protein Bars / Cliff Bars

*NO CHOCOLATE PRODUCTS accepted from MARCH to OCTOBER (it will melt in high temperatures!)
Hard Pretzels / Cheetos / Fritos / Chex Mix / Wheat Thins
Gum and Hard Candy (must be individually wrapped)
Granola Bars / Power Bars / Cereal Bars
Small Packs of Fig Newtons, Oreos, Cheese

‐Its

Trail Mix, Dried Fruit, Granola, Fruit Roll

‐Ups / Fruit By The Foot / Fruit Gummies

DRY SOUP: (Ramen Noodles / Cup

‐O‐Soup: just add water)

NUTS: Peanuts, Mixed Nuts (salted)
MICROWAVE FOOD (Popcorn, Chef

‐Boy‐R‐Dee, Mac'n'Cheese...)

COOKIES / Girl Scout Cookies (with chocolate: Oct.

‐ Feb. only!)

Cheese & Cracker packs
Condiments, Spices; Sugar; Salad Dressing (no glass jars)
Oatmeal Packs (Instant: just add water)
Cereal (Small, individual boxes)
Rice Krispie Treats (Store

‐bought only)

Caffeinated gum or candy (to stay alert)

TOILETRIES:

NO HOTEL SAMPLES!

Baby wipes

(travel size)

Liquid Hand Sanitizer

(travel size)

Body Wash

, Liquid Soap, Facial Cleanser

Shampoo /Conditioner (travel size)
Hair Gel (for female troops to pull hair back)
Combs / Brushes, Bobby Pins
Eye Drops (i.e. Visine)

Nasal Spray

Another one:
Baby Wipes - packets are better than tubs. Much better than baby wipes, per se, are the "Hoo Ahhs" brand of pre-moistened, alcohol-free, unscented Field Towels
Beef Jerky/Slim Jims
Energy Bars (Power Bar, etc. - Unless a specific brand is requested, much better than standard civilian energy bars are the "HOOAH!" brand energy bar based on the U.S. military's own specially formulated bar that better meets the soliers' needs)
Hot Sauce (Tabasco, Red Devil, etc.) - wrap glass bottle in duct tape and place in doubled zip-lock bags
Sunflower seeds
Peanuts
Seasoning Salt (Lawry's, etc.)
Atomic Fireballs / Jolly Rancher hard candy (for service member use)
Smarties or SweetTart candies (for local children who prefer sour style candy to build relationships with community)
Powdered Energy/Electrolyte Replacement Drink Mix (Gatorade, etc.)
Chewing Gum
Avon Skin So Soft - great for removing face paint and also reputed to be an effective bug repellant (the latter seems variable based on personal experience and reports)
AA-cell Alkaline Batteries
Personal Hygiene Gear: Disposable Razors, Toothbrush and Tooth Paste
Eye Wash / Drops (Visine, etc.) for flushing dust and sand out of the eyes
Zip-Lock style Plastic Storage Bags - assorted sizes, heavier freezer style are better
Copenhagen Snuff in a tin ("Even if the service member doesn't dip snuff, they will be a hero and have more power than the Commanding Officer if they have a 'log' (10 cans) of 'Hagen.' A large percentage of infantry use this stuff and it is hard to get. The stuff they do get comes in a plastic can and tastes terrible. The 'Stateside Hagen' is the most powerful bargaining tool in a field environment!")
Pre-paid Phone Card so service member can call home

[seclark]

VVV

[JohninGpt]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

How does this list look? Whats not on there there the troops appreciated?

FOOD and SNACKS

:

Beef Jerky

/ Slim Jims
COFFEE (Ground or whole; instant or drip), Hot Chocolate packets, Herbal teas

Instant Drink Mixes

(Gatorade, Kool‐Aid, Crystal Light)

Pumpkin Seeds

/ Sunflower Seeds (salted)

Tuna in foil pouches

(no cans)

Protein Powders

/ Protein Bars / Cliff Bars
*NO CHOCOLATE PRODUCTS accepted from MARCH to OCTOBER (it will melt in high temperatures!)
Hard Pretzels / Cheetos / Fritos / Chex Mix / Wheat Thins
Gum and Hard Candy (must be individually wrapped)
Granola Bars / Power Bars / Cereal Bars
Small Packs of Fig Newtons, Oreos, Cheese‐Its
Trail Mix, Dried Fruit, Granola, Fruit Roll‐Ups / Fruit By The Foot / Fruit Gummies
DRY SOUP: (Ramen Noodles / Cup‐O‐Soup: just add water)
NUTS: Peanuts, Mixed Nuts (salted)
MICROWAVE FOOD (Popcorn, Chef‐Boy‐R‐Dee, Mac'n'Cheese...)
COOKIES / Girl Scout Cookies (with chocolate: Oct. ‐ Feb. only!)
Cheese & Cracker packs
Condiments, Spices; Sugar; Salad Dressing (no glass jars)
Oatmeal Packs (Instant: just add water)
Cereal (Small, individual boxes)
Rice Krispie Treats (Store‐bought only)
Caffeinated gum or candy (to stay alert)

TOILETRIES:

NO HOTEL SAMPLES!

Baby wipes

(travel size)

Liquid Hand Sanitizer

(travel size)

Body Wash

, Liquid Soap, Facial Cleanser
Shampoo /Conditioner (travel size)
Hair Gel (for female troops to pull hair back)
Combs / Brushes, Bobby Pins
Eye Drops (i.e. Visine)

Nasal Spray

All of the munchies, coffee, and drink mixes are great. Baby wipes are also a great item (unscented please).
A lot of the other toiletries ended up being donated to the Chaplains office for use by anyone that wanted them.

[Frazod]

When my best friend was in Iraq (at the time a captain) he asked for twin sheet sets for his troops. Apparently sheets aren't standard issue, or at least they weren't three years ago. Probably a good thing to add to the list.

[JohninGpt]

Originally Posted by frazod

When my best friend was in Iraq (at the time a captain) he asked for twin sheet sets for his troops. Apparently sheets aren't standard issue, or at least they weren't three years ago. Probably a good thing to add to the list.

Good call, I had my wife mail me some. Using a sleeping bag wears pretty thin after the first couple weeks.

[Jenson71]

Porn makes the soldiers soft! Send a rubix cube instead. Soldiers love those.

[Jenson71]

Originally Posted by Jenson71

Porn makes the soldiers soft! Send a rubix cube instead. Soldiers love those.

I don't know if that's actually true. Any of it.

Good idea, BRC. It's getting bad out there.

[Iowanian]

My brother has said both times that he ends up with big piles of un-used candy. I know he never felt the need to give it to kids that were throwing rocks at him either. He's been on both ends of the spectrum...having nothing, sleeping a little bit beside a jeep in the desert, and in a bed most nights. The needs are different depending where they are. On the big bases, they can get most of the every-day stuff they want. It's the tastes of home that my people have said they miss....

We also had the local weekly rag subscription purchased and sent to the APO.


Homeade cookies I've been told are appreciated, the store brands, not as much.



For those on a base with internet, we've been using Skype and can have face-face conversations with our soldiers on occasion. I was able to get a hookup at an odd location by the local telco and webcam my brother into a wedding he was missing and he was able to talk to quite a few family/friends until his link went out.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Jenson71

I don't know if that's actually true. Any of it.

Good idea, BRC. It's getting bad out there.

Nothing to do with politics but these are going to be our fellow citizens, fellow Chief fans in harms way while we sat in our barcoloungers drinking cold ones and watching our Chiefs get smoked. It's the least we can do. Makes it more personal. A fellow citizen and Chiefs fan showing some support and appreciation to another for their sacrifice. Also lets the families that post on here know their sons, daughters, brothers and even in-laws are not fogotten.