Fourth Brigade 2-508 Parachute Infatry Regiment, Alpha Company, just recently redeployed in Afghanistan. These brave men and women endure significant hardships and sacrifices, living and working in a violent and harsh environment. Those I've talked to tell me that letters and packages from home are a most cherished gift. Many young men and women don't have families at home or families with the ability to send packages regularly.
The Brigade families support all of the troops by organizing donations and sending packages to the troops as our commitment of love and support. Every soldier benefits from the message of love and support small packages from home gives. The positive impact increases exponentially during holidays.
It is important to rembemer that these young men and women (many as young as 18) risk their lives to perform their duty for all of us. They go where they are asked to go, and perform their duties with the utmost courage, compassion, and honor.
Loc Lu's has set up a donation center at the shop, where you can drop off items or make a monetary donation. Items collected will be forwarded to the Family Readiness Group at Ft. Bragg where they will be organized and sent the the troops.
Please scroll down and read the letter from Yolandia Crow, Alpha Company FRG Coordinator. I encourage you to make a donation of small items or even a monetary contribution to assist in the effort.
Not all items can be sent to the troops. I've included a suggestion list of items offerred by a previously deployed soldier that we have found helpful:
CHECK YOLANDIA'S LETTER FOR MORE GREAT IDEAS!!!
Thank you so much for your support.
Loco Lu
General Ideas:
Non-perishable, Canned or Vacuum Packed Foods
Batteries - AA, AAA, 3V Lithium, 4V, 9V, C, D
Games that can travel well (Cards, Checkers, Chess, Backgammon, Puzzles, Mind-teasers, etc.)
Comic Books and Paperbacks
Audio CD's, DVD Movies, Disposable Cameras
Sport Equipment: Football, Soccerball, Basketball, Airpump and Needles, Bat and Ball, Bad-Minton, Hackie Sacks, Jump Ropes, etc to help pass time at the FOB.
Personal hygiene items:
Deodorant (any, but there is a special request for a can of Arrid Extra Dry aerosol),
Adult body wipes, Wet Ones, Mach 3 razor cartridges, soap/bodywash/shower gel, Tinactin foot spray, Gold Bond powder, baby powder, Lava soap, sunblock/sunscreen, Visine eye drops, Benadryl, Anbesol, mouthwash, washcloths, baby lotion, baby oil,
Q-tips, toothbrushes and toothpaste (request for at least one Sensodyne), shampoo,
lip balm w/sunscreen (SPF 15), instant hand sanitizer (little bottles), barber brushes (aka shaving brushes), tweezers, Old Spice Wipes.
Snacks:
Gatorade powder, Country Time On the Go Lemonade packets, tuna packets, Powerbars,
Jerky (any), chewing gum, bubble gum, gummy bears, licorice, Chex snack mix, Mentos, Skittles, Werther's Originals soft candy, Tootsie Rolls, jelly beans, Ritz crackers, Saltines, Animal crackers, Goldfish crackers, Graham crackers, Wheat Thins, Crunch & Munch/Fiddle Faddle/Cracker Jacks, Celestial Seasonings Herbal tea (please no sleepy tea; we need to stay alert!) Peppermint tea, coffee, coffee filters, hot chocolate, caffeine gum, popcorn, chewy granola bars, Rice Krispy Treats, dried fruit, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds,
Other:
Batteries (AA, AAA, 3V Lithium), Lysol disinfectant spray, Clorox Cleanup wipes, duct tape, electrical tape, black pens, black socks, white socks, green socks, zip-lock bags (large and small), pipe cleaners, stationery/envelopes (no stamps needed), small notebooks, 550 cord, board games (chess, monopoly, etc.), magazines, music (CD), movies (DVD), 1 battery alarm clock (smallest possible), laundry soap, tan boot laces,
black flashlights (Dorcy or Surefire), flyswatters, aspirin, zip ties, surge protectors,
Prepaid calling cards, eyeglass repair kits(w/screwdrivers), disposable cameras,
microwave bowls for soup/oatmeal,
My Note:
THEY'RE FAR FROM HOME, THERE'S NO LOCAL SHOPPING LIKE AT HOME. THEY NEED TO TRAVEL LIGHT, AND THEY'RE FULL OF LIFE. USE YOUR IMAGINATION. THEY"LL LOVE IT.
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