Toys for troops.......... now collecting the following for distribution in Afghanistan. You  may bring your NEW donation to the office of the American Red Cross 249 Farley Circle, Lewisburg or call 966-3996 for pick up. 

Basketballs, dart boards, table tennis sets, footballs, air pumps and needles, nets, horseshoes, volleyball sets, bocce sets, board games, puzzle books, puzzles, baseball bats, balls and gloves.

Please refer to our list to ensure that only appropriate items will be mailed. Items that do not meet the standards set by the US Post Office or the US Military will be destroyed.

No books, magazines (too heavy)

No medical supplies.

No religious items.

Chocolate melts, crayons are often eaten by small children who have never seen them! 

No hotel "freebies" really, we can do better than that.

Good things to send:

Personal hygeine products in small portable containers.

Hand sanitizer

Baby wipes

Disposable razors

Hard candy, lollipops

Snacks, beef jerky,

Middleswarth chips

Pretzels

Letters,

Cards

Playing cards

Small portable games

AA Batteries

Bug spray

Sun screen

Antiseptic cream

Band aides

MAMMA is a group pf parents from the Susquehanna Valley, all of whom have children and or loved ones currently serving in the military. Anyone who would like to join the group or assist in any way should call.  If you have a loved one serving overseas and you would like them to recieve the packages we regularly send, complete the form below and we will add you to our list.
Or just call us 847-3996 or 524-0400  or e-mail auntieanneus@yahoo.com

Thanks to those who donate regularly, we appreciate it and hope that you know that your contributions help us to do this work.  We receive letters and post cards from troops from all over the world, most of whom we don't know and will never meet, but they are unanimous in their thanks for the goodies but mostly for the support. 

Thank you!      

There is a long tradition of service to the Military from the American Red Cross, please visit the Service to the Armed froces page of this web site for information on the many ways the American Red Cross helps families with ties to the military. The Second World War called upon the Red Cross to provide extensive services to the U.S. military, Allies, and civilian war victims. It enrolled more than 104,000 nurses for military service, prepared 27 million packages for American and Allied prisoners of war, and shipped more than 300,000 tons of supplies overseas. At the military's request, the Red Cross also initiated a national blood program that collected 13.3 million pints of blood for use by the armed forces.

We love you, we miss you .................now what? 

Folks call the office to ask what they can do to support the troops as they continue to serve for extended tours of duty overseas. Here are some suggestions from moms, wives, children, and others who love and care for some one who serves their country away from home.

• Send letters and cards.
• Write e-mails and talk about everyday things that are going well; the weather, local sports teams, friends and neighbors.
• Try not to emphasize your hardships at home; save those topics for when you can talk to each other and solve problems together.
• Send care packages of homemade treats and things that may not be readily available where they are stationed.
• Service men and women love to share, so local specialties like Middleswarth chips are a big hit!
• Remember the weather in Iraq and Afghanistan and don't send gummies and chocolate................they melt.
• It does get cold at night in the dessert, hats and gloves are well recieved.
• If you know of a family whose mom, dad or child is serving, invite them into your family holiday plans.  Ask them if you can help, winter is coming who shovels the driveway now?
• Small gestures of kindness show your appreciation for the sacrifices made on both fronts.
• When you see a veteran at home, say thank you!

In cooperation with the Union County Chapter of the American Red Cross,

MAMMA conducted a "School Supply Drive"

for the children of Afghanistan.

The Lewisburg area National Guard and Army Reservists currently deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan have told us that the children they see every day don't beg for candy or other treats but for pens, pencils and paper! We decided to help; and so did you!  We sent more than 200lbs of School supplies which were gratefully recieved and distributed to children by their own community leaders. Thank you!

Letters:

Dear MAMMA,

First let me say that we are all very appreciative of the packages you send. Our platoon is in the  middle of a very rough region of Eastern Afghanistan. I have 12 soldiers that I am responsible for, 6 of whom are under 20 years of age. This is the first time they have been away from their homes for more than 4 months. Now they are preparing to spend Christmas in what has become one of the most dangerous areas of Afghanistan. You  need to know how much it means to these men that complete strangers take the time to so carefully pack and send us these little luxuries, it really lifts ours spirits to feel that someone somewhere is thinking about us all the way over here.  Simply joining the Army in this day and age takes a lot of courage and shows character. Thanks.

Nicolas Tollett (Abr. pub w/permission) 

Sgt. Earl Myers

PRT Nuristan, Afghanistan

More letters:
Dear MAMMA,
You're collecting school supplies........that's great.  If I didn't give you these details earlier here goes.  Things we don't need are crayons, markers, coloring books, dictionaries, anything in english.  The main reason is it saps space, weight, funds, and postage from what is really needed (pens, pencils, spiral bound notebooks).  Also these kids usually only attend half days in shifts because of the shortage of teachers. They don't have the luxury of art class. They focus on literacy and math skills.  They learn Pashtu or Dari which includes a different set of numeric symbols. Crayons melt (remote children might even think they are candy), markers dry out, 110 degrees is common 3 months of the year. Also all your packages are flown here by chopper so any space/weight spent on luxuries would be better spent on necessities.
     That said we will definitely use everything you do send. You guys are fantastic. Attached are some pictures of a shura we attended to break ground for a new school their government is building, we are lending them tents and giving donated school supplies so they can start classes immediately while construction is underway.

1SGT  Thomas Galanos

(Both letters re-printed with permission)