Anysoldier.com

Now that we're into November, I think we can officially call it the Holiday Season, right? Which means you're starting to think about holiday shopping, right?

Well, then this is my shameless plug for an amazing organization that I hope you will check out if you get a chance. www.anysoldier.com is an non-profit organization that was started in August 2003 by a solider named Sgt Brian Horn, from Maryland. He promised that any packages he received addressed to "Attn: Any Soldier", he would distribute to the men in his unit when he was on deployment to Iraq. He and his family now run the organization and its work has touched the lives of over 93,000 personnel serving overseas.

Here's how it works: There are obviously a lot of soldiers, Sailors, airmen & Marines out there who need a lot of things, all year round. However, the problem sometimes exists in that packages are getting sent to the wrong location, with supplies that cannot be used, to units that aren't there anymore. Example- cold winter gear being sent to Iraq, when really it could be better used in Afghanistan in the cold mountains, a bunch of beef jerky and sports magazines sent to units with a lot of women who would prefer deodorant and other women's products that they cannot get in the desert, or ramen noodles and chef boyardee being sent to units with no way to cook. This leads to a lot of money and time and generosity on citizen's behalf that don't end up getting used to the maximum. So AnySolider.com allows military personnel to log in, give their general location, their unit size, how long they will be there, how many men/women are in the unit and the types of supplies they really would be grateful for.  Usually it is a more senior member of the unit and the idea is that when they receive the packages, they put them out for everyone in the unit to take whatever they need. The unit's profile is monitored and kept up to date to ensure that it is taken down as soon as that unit is about to return home, so that people do not send supplies to a unit who will never receive them. However, individual soldiers and sailors without family to send them things can also create a profile of things that they would appreciate.

The organization is great also because it gives a lot of helpful information about shipping overseas and what soldiers can and cannot receive or what does or doesn't ship well. They partner with companies that provide socks, hand warmers, toilettries, snacks and other items in "traditionl" care packages too so you can buy direct from their partners websites. It details how to send things, what to send, what not to send, and who to send to. If you're interested to sending to personnel of a particular service, or maybe serving in a specific areas, or doing a certain job, or even a unit of mostly women, anysoldier.com helps connect the dots for you. Maybe you just happened to organize a huge "beef jerky" drive at your church or somehow have stumbled into a year's supply of deodorant or won all the laundry detergent for life on the Price is Right. (I would like to hear the story behind how this happened, but that's besides the point). Whatever it is, anysolider.com can help you get anything you are willing to donate into the hands of people who need them.

It allows anyone (schools, community organizations, scout troops, etc) who may not know anyone to send care packages to but want to make a difference and help out by matching their time and generousity with the needs of people overseas. The idea of sending to "any soldier" used to be impossible due to operational security reasons, now, thanks to anysoldier.com, you can send packages to an anonymous person and ensure that it gets in the hands of people who truly need and appreciate the goodies.

Some people may think it is a little gift-grabby, like a registry for people overseas but I think it an AMAZING organization that helps tens of thousands of people year round. The average American may not know what is needed and where. And in today's world, we are fighting in every corner of the world: the desert, the mountains, the ocean, in tents, in convoys, in trailers, on ships, in airplanes, and even on oil platforms (which by the way, the seas are so rough, my CLU is shaking and making me feel sea sick haha!) that each person, unit and mission face different challenges.

They also encourage including self-addressed stamped envelopes if you would like a response but obviously due to the mail situation and operational tempo, nothing can really be guaranteed and for security reasons, e-mail addresses are not included. However, the senior person who monitors their unit's profile often posts replies, pictures, thank-you's and changes to the unit's information. Here you can browse the thousands of profiles on the site, almost 50 are added each day!

But what is most encouraged on the website? LETTERS! I tell you there is nothing like opening a huge box of homemade cards from Girl Scouts or a first grade class, who's students didn't QUITE understand the assignment of making cards (like one we received last year: "I'm sorry you died, I hope you feel better soon") but it is so sweet and so very much appreciated and the boxes are all passed around the ship/unit for everyone to read.

So please, if you get a chance, take 5 minutes right now (or later or tomorrow or tonight) and check out www.anysolider.com.  I don't need anything this Christmas but it would make me really happy knowing that a few more people became aware of this website and maybe even passed it along. I have everything I need out here, but there are a lot of people around the world who don't have what they need. (for you Dad, if you were dying to send manly things that your daughter doesn't need :)

The people on the website need those items more than I ever could and work harder in worse conditions that I ever have and just helping to spread the word about anysoldier.com as we approach this holiday season is the best gift ever.

Thank you & God bless!