Interested in Supporting 'Fest troops?

Long time and a well respected bimmerfest member ScottZHP has been volunteering his time to supporting 'Fest troops that are on active duty by sending them care packages! He has extended his offer to help if others would like to participate in sending a care package.

Here is his original post in response to mybluesky's deployment thread:

Originally Posted by mybluesky

Ps I'll be sure to drop my apo for anyone interested.

Originally Posted by Scott ZHP

Yes, please.

For those interested, a few of us have decided it would be a nice gesture to keep our deployed festers supplied with goodies from home.

Please PM me if you are interested in supporting our Fest troops, or if you are deployed and would like a goodie box.


And thanks again for all you do.

As stated by Scott, if you're interested in sending out a care package, please PM him for the details. I have linked his name at the top of the post with his profile to make it easier to PM him.

A big THANK you to the troops out there and to Scott for bringing home a little closer to them during their time of deployment!

mybluesky - box on the way, thanks and enjoy! And thanks to the festers who contributed!

Just got back from the post office!! Package on its way!

Originally Posted by mybluesky

Thanks so much for the package Sir! I love the little hot wheels M3. Have it displayed on my office desk, it looks great. Also I shared it with my Soldiers and they love you! The big box of oreos was a huge morale booster. We have a seemingly odd surplus of banana milk and it goes great with it... I really appreciate you taking your time to send the package out. Thank you

before he gets swamped with PM's and emails, what can we NOT send? I would like to send a package to a random soldier (is it possible?) to show that we care and appreciate them.

thanks!

I know you can't mail to "any soldier" any more. Mail something to mybluesky instead.

I bet he would happily share with his unit.

Originally Posted by chivas

before he gets swamped with PM's and emails, what can we NOT send? I would like to send a package to a random soldier (is it possible?) to show that we care and appreciate them.

thanks!

Yes. Go here. http://anysoldier.com/WhereToSend/ This is what I do. Melissa is correct that you can't send packages to "any soldier" anymore, but at the anysoldier.com website, you can pick a unit stationed anywhere you want, read what they need and get their mailing address from the site. Reading some of what they write really tugs at your heartstrings. I try and pick ones that are in the most need and in the most miserable conditions.

Oh, it also tells you what you can NOT send.

Thanks for all the support everyone! Care packages are great and the Soldiers love them since I always end up sharing. I appreciate all the time you take to prepare these packages. Thank you Wish I could spend more time on OT but I never have time to post. I still check it pretty often though.

Originally Posted by chivas

before he gets swamped with PM's and emails, what can we NOT send? I would like to send a package to a random soldier (is it possible?) to show that we care and appreciate them.

thanks!

There's a basic list of what not to send floating out there somewhere. Basically don't send any of the following items:

anything pr0n related or sexual in nature
alcohol
religious propoganda
illegal weapons (i.e. double edged blades)

Most packages, including the ones I get, are inspected once they are opened so it's best not to send anything that will get the Soldier in trouble or embarrassed. Even sending condoms would raise a red flag... Yeah we live a sheltered life out here.

Did the blowup doll get confiscated before the box got to you? I told Scott not to send it...

Originally Posted by Melissa

Did the blowup doll get confiscated before the box got to you? I told Scott not to send it...

You and Scott rock!

Originally Posted by Melissa

Did the blowup doll get confiscated before the box got to you? I told Scott not to send it...

You're funny.

haha no wonder it looked like my package was opened! =P
Everything is okay here btw. no longer in the 120s so we're living it up.

Originally Posted by mybluesky

haha no wonder it looked like my package was opened! =P
Everything is okay here btw. no longer in the 120s so we're living it up.

How did I miss this update?

Cold front! Woot!

Kdoherty and 2nd Platoon Roughnecks...

Your package is on the way... Thank you!

Hey scott, and Fest' the package just arrived. A huge thank you from the 2nd platoon "Roughnecks" and I. I snapped a few pictures with my buddies Iphone and I'll try and get them uploaded. the guys were ecstatic over the Peeps and Beef jerky hahaha. I've got the thank you card posted up on our briefing board too!

-Ken

Originally Posted by Kdoherty

Hey scott, and Fest' the package just arrived. A huge thank you from the 2nd platoon "Roughnecks" and I. I snapped a few pictures with my buddies Iphone and I'll try and get them uploaded. the guys were ecstatic over the Peeps and Beef jerky hahaha. I've got the thank you card posted up on our briefing board too!

-Ken

Glad to hear. Pics are good, post them! Enjoy and stay safe.

Hey all just checking in. Thanks for all your support the past nine months... Three more to go and I'll be back stateside. I can't wait!!!!

Originally Posted by mybluesky

Hey all just checking in. Thanks for all your support the past nine months... Three more to go and I'll be back stateside. I can't wait!!!!

Stay safe

Originally Posted by mybluesky

Hey all just checking in. Thanks for all your support the past nine months... Three more to go and I'll be back stateside. I can't wait!!!!

Want one last package? PM me your APO addy.

mybluesky,

Incoming. Goodie box left today. Thanks for your service!

Originally Posted by Scott ZHP

mybluesky,

Incoming. Goodie box left today. Thanks for your service!

Package arrived! Thank you from me and my platoon for all the goodies! Definitely had to share it with my Soldiers and we all enjoyed it. The oreos and beef jerky lasted about three seconds Definitely makes 4 am wake up and 110 degree weather by 8 am more bearable.... Thanks for not forgetting about us, we all appreciate the support. Definitely a big morale booster. We'll be home soon!!!

Any festers still in the Sandbox? Or deployed anywhere? Yell if you want Trick or Treats.

Scott, we have been sending some care packages over to troops in Afghanistan. What is the most cost effective way to do this?

Scott - I have some free 1 year licenses of ESET antivirus and ESET CyberSecurity for Mac - I was looking at the threat map and those areas where our troops are deployed are seriously infected with malware - so I'm offering up a bunch - I can sent them to you through the mail for the next package if you send any more - I'd rather give them to our boys and girls in uniform - each license is printed on a postcards - they don't take up much room or weight.

Originally Posted by Spiderm0n

Scott, we have been sending some care packages over to troops in Afghanistan. What is the most cost effective way to do this?

Most cost effective way is a flat rate APO box from any post office. These are identical to a medium flat rate box, (about 12x12x6) but have special APO markings on them. It's about $12 for whatever you can fit into it shipped to any soldier/sailer/airman in the world. I pack them completely full.

My local pack and ship place has a collection jar on the counter for people to donate their spare change, or a dollar or whatever to defray shipping costs. Once a month, they log the amount and give me a shipping credit. I usually pick up the cost of the stuff inside.