The Lunchbreak Philanthropist

For someone who actually knows very little about what the various branches of the armed forces involve, I have to tell you that in the past four months or so I’ve had several eye openers that have really pushed me to step up my support.  In November of 2009 I was one of many trying to contact friends at Fort Hood during the shooting.  Halfway through “The Hurt Locker” my boyfriend leaned over to tell me his cousin held a similar position in the army disarming roadside bombs.  Then a couple weeks ago my brother found out one of his friends is deployed in Afghanistan.

So recently I’ve become a volunteer sending care packages through Books for Soldiers.  Don’t let the name fool you.  This site is about sending much more than books to our service men and women.  You will see plenty of requests from boths individuals and groups for items like dvds, games, magazines, snacks, and personal care items.  And this stuff (aside from the snacks and personal care items) can all be gently used.  Declutter your own home and show some support for the troops!

Even though you are sending items to strangers, the experience at Books for Soldiers is surprisingly personal.  You can either list the items you are willing to donate and then a soldier will contact you, or you can view the requests from soldiers and choose one that speaks to you.  One of my first care packages included a 3 pound bag of gummy bears.  You might even receive a personal letter of thanks from the recipient, but remember this is their job and they may have something better to do like staying alive in a war zone. 

The other Books for Soldiers volunteers at the site offer a hugely supportive knowledge base that spans from lists of items that do and don’t travel well, questions about shipping rates, and the best sources for international calling cards among other things.  I really appreciate the heightened security level of the site.  In order to view the requests from the deployed, you must complete and mail in a notarized affidavit.  Without the affidavit you can’t see the addresses of the servicemen.  Safe!  Of course the site can also be a good resource for ideas to keep things interesting if you already have a soldier and want to keep them entertained from afar.

Check back next week for another way to reuse those used books!