Hello again and HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

Something to keep in the back of your mind ...

In Connecticut, we held two packing parties this weekend.  I was so pooped from Friday's party that I couldn't attend the one on Saturday.  Our awesome volunteers took over for me and for that I am so appreciative. Sometimes we all need a break ... THANK YOU LYDIA, DONNA, BETH, CAROL, JIM, SUSAN, JOHN, JASON and others who attended and packed boxes for 4 or 5 hours.

At Friday's packing party, COMCAST CABLE came to volunteer for their "Day of Caring".  They were terrific and brought us donations, too.

I mentioned to their group that Mothers Day was this weekend. And I told them how this affects our deployed troops ...



First, some of our female troops who are in combat zones are MOTHERS and they left their children behind to serve our country.  Often their children are very young.  I am a mother, and I feel this is incredibly selfless of these troops - I know I would have a terrible time if I had to leave my son for a year or longer.

Second, I spoke to them about the troops who have WIVES back at home who are Mothers. Those of us wives left behind must celebrate the day alone with our children unless we have family nearby.  Thankfully, my mother came up for the weekend.  I know our deployed husbands feel bad that they can't be home to show their wives their love and appreciation.  Somehow my husband was able to send me flowers from Iraq.  Considering they don't have a reliable internet or phone service (and knowing my husband is so busy with his Mission), I was not expecting them. My heart goes out to those wives who did not have the opportunity to hear from their deployed husbands today.

Third, to all the MOTHERS and GRANDMOTHERS out there with deployed sons and daughters - I know that today was especially hard on you. I hope your children/grandchildren were able to get a call home to you.

And lastly - My heart goes out to those families who lost a loved one in this war.  I know every holiday will be a reminder of the ones you miss and I keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Folks ... FATHERS DAY is just around the corner. We are already sending blank cards to our troops so they can send them home to their fathers, husbands and grandfathers.

Please remember that our troops are deployed all year round. Our troops miss family and friends' birthdays, wedding anniversaries, holidays, children's school recitals, graduations, births of their children, and other important events that so many back here in the USA take for granted.

I never forget.  This is the second Mothers Day that Brian has been deployed.  He will not be here for our wedding anniversary (again). He missed my birthday (again) and will miss our son's birthday (again).

There are families out there who are going through a 3rd and even 4th deployment - I actually consider myself lucky. 

PLEASE don't forget about our troops in combat. I hear from so many of them.  They miss home so much. Every item, letter and card we send them brings them a little piece of home.

Thank you.

Love,
Andi



IT1 SW Sandy Edgley (US NAVY) single parent was deployed more than once while her young son was at home with a relative.

 

 

   I am embarrassed that I didn't have time to post a blog last month, but G2TT is involved with a flurry of activities and is bursting at the seams!

Many of you know that my husband is deployed again and is stationed in Iraq.  He and his fellow Marines are not living in the greatest conditions.  They have no showers or toilets  and their old building is small and pretty filthy. 

They have no PX and few amenities, yet they do not complain ... they are Marines.

  

Their unit deals directly with the Iraqi people every day, who are living in the same conditions. Their unit has made great progress in their Mission and the Iraqis seem to appreciate their presence and like our Marines. The media doesn’t show these accomplishments, but I see them through the eyes of our troops and I am so proud of them.

Typical of a U.S. Marine, my husband asks not for items for himself and his Marines, but rather, items they can give to the Iraqi children they see each day.  We also frequently receive this same request from many other troops (Marines and Soldiers) in Iraq and Afghanistan - all asking to help the local children.

If you’re interested in helping, I have a new mission for you.
 

Are you Ready?

Our Marines and Soldiers are asking for many donated items listed below.  These items need to be sent to our CONNECTICUT Branch, so we may quickly forward them overseas to the appropriate unit in Iraq or Afghanistan.


1.  CHILDREN’S CLOTHING and SHOES (All sizes.  NEW is preferred. They may be gently worn, but must be clean and have absolutely no tears, holes, rips or stains.)

 

2.  SCHOOL SUPPLIES for Elementary School Age Children such as:

  
Crayons
Colored pencils
Magic markers
#2 pencils
Glue Sticks
Folders
Spiral Notebooks
Children’s Scissors
Colored Construction paper
Wide-lined notebook paper
 

3.  SMALL TOYS they can stuff in their pockets to hand to the children they see. Examples: small Matchbox cars, tiny dolls, Legos, Beanie Babies, colored balloons, etc.  (THINK SMALL!)

4.  HARD CANDY in factory-sealed bags with individually wrapped pieces. (No individual pieces accepted and no chocolate as it will melt.) Examples: Bulk bags of: SweetTarts, Skittles, Starburts, Smarties, Life Savers, chewing gum, Pez Dispensers and Pez candy, etc.
  

5.  SOCCER GEAR: Balls, nets, goals, and t-shirts for the children’s teams. (Each team should have its own color).  The Marines want to set up some soccer teams with the Iraqi children in the upcoming months.

  

 

Let’s see what you all can do!

 

Thank you for supporting our troops and our organization’s mission.

Love,
 

Andi Grant
G2TT President and Founder

 

 

 

At every packing party at our Connecticut Branch, we go around the room and introduce ourselves.  One of the things we mention is how we first became involved. 

How did we hear about G2TT?

Why did we get involved?

What motivated us to help and continue to help?

Why have many of us stayed on - some of us working up to 50 hours/week - all as UNPAID volunteers? Some of us since 2002!

I'm posting this blog, asking each of you to write back and let everyone now how you became involved and what the experience means to YOU as a volunteer or donor.

I WILL GO FIRST ...

Back in 2002, my husband (a Sergeant in the Marine Corps) received his deployment orders for OIF.  I was a nervous wreck.  Our son was only 10 years old.  My husband is a Reservist, so we didn't live on a base or even close to where he drills.  We didn't know ANYONE who was going through what we were and it was frightening.

I wanted to send care packages to my husband and his unit, but he wanted me to find the guys on the front lines who needed the packages more than he did.

Our family had some friends who were already deployed to Iraq and Aghanistan.  One girlfriend of mine was on a NAVY SHIP that was transporting thousands of Marines and Soldiers to Iraq.  She became my first Point of Contact and put me in touch with Navy Chaplains on other ships and pretty soon, I had more than 15,000 troops to send packages to!

(above, my dear friend Sandy Edgley and many shipmates: Sailors and Marines who lined up to get items from our care package.)




I decided to get our communty involved - my son's elementary school, community choir, neighbors, sports team, church friends, relatives - anyone who would listen to this "crazy, frantic wife who missed her husband" who had a vision to let every deployed troop in harm's way know America truly loves him or her.

People used to pack boxes with my son and me several times a week after work in my tiny 800 SQF home's basement.

(Volunteers in my tiny basement.)

Word spread quickly about what we were doing and pretty soon people from around the nation were calling me to find out how they could help our efforts ...

(Volunteers at the post office.)

We packed boxes and spent hours at our local post office mailing hundreds of boxes.  People on line behind us were NOT happy!

But we grew ....

and grew ....

and grew ...

and grew ...

and grew!

I soon had a great support network comprised of loving, dedicated, patriotic citizens from around the globe.

We sent THOUSANDS upon THOUSANDS of boxes to deployed troops in combat and thank you letters poured in!

WHY do I stay on?

For starters, our troops deserve our utmost support for the selfless sacrifices they make for us.  But it's more than that for me ... 

Perhaps it's the letters - the troops very own words of gratitude ...

or maybe it's the love and support of our generous donors and volunteers ...

or the fact that my family and I received so much support and my husband came back okay, so we need to "pay it forward" ...


(with US Congressman, Chris Shays)

But I think it's a combination of all of the above and I will continue my efforts until there is no longer a need.

SO ... how and why did you get involved?

 

 

 

 

 I want to tell you about some very special people who have been doing some very special things for our organization.  They spend countless hours each week (sometimes up to the wee hours of the morning) volunteering to make sure we accomplish our mission.  Most of them help out "behind the scenes" when the rest of the world is busy doing their daily activities.

In Connecticut and Massachusetts, some of these elves go by the names of "Lydia", "Donna" ,"Susan", "John", "Elinor", "Jim", "Beth", "Carol", "Phyllis", "Lara", "Jeannette", "Dana", "Kristy", "Shelley", "Christine", "Rose Marie", "Joe" , "Linda", "Carrie", "James" and others ... like "Bob S. and Pat S." and "Angie"!

In North Carolina, the elves are led by "Barb" "Catherine", "Diane", "Brenda Sue", "Brenda", "Maureen", and many others ... 

In Texas, Elf "Rick" and Elf "Dawn" are packing away boxes for the troops with their fellow elves.

In Colorado, Elf "Christine" is busier than ever getting boxes out with her helpers. 

And in Washington, Elves "Pete", "Carol", "Judy", "Deane", "Carleen" and "Bob" are working away in their workshop - all for our troops. 

These elves are so precious to G2TT for all they do to help us give back to the troops.  And the troops along with me, so greatly appreciate all they do!  

THANK YOU ELVES!!!   - YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!!

God Bless!

Last year in November, life wasn't throwing me too many curve balls and things seemed to be looking good. I started a new job and our organization sent many more troops care packages than the year before (thanks to a dramatic increase in donations from the previous year).

Most of us had a lot to be thankful for. 

As we entered the year 2007, I lost my father in January and in March, I also lost my dog, "Beastie" of 17 years.  A few months after that, we received word that my husband, a Marine Sergeant, was going to deploy again.  And in September, he headed for his 2nd deployment. Suddenly, things didn't look so good.

I haven't been thrilled about the way 2007 unfolded for me (or for some of my friends who lost a spouse or child).  I am sure there are others who also suffered a loss, a heartbreak, a health issue or a deployment this year.  My heart goes out to all of them because it is never easy.

So, here we are again, at the cusp of a new year approaching -  about to celebrate another Thanksgiving Holiday.  Many of us will gather with our family and friends, eating traditional holiday meals and perhaps watching a parade or football game on television. Isn't that what we do each year?

There are many deployed troops who cannot be with their families right now. They can't smell the pumpkin pie, taste the turkey or sweet potatoes or hang out and watch tv with their loved ones. They are lucky if they can even get to a phone to call home.

Instead, they are in a far away land where it is cold outside.  Many are simply requesting blankets and cards of support because they miss home.

It doesn't matter if I had a "bad year" because so did they.  Life marches on, and when we feel like we are having a bad "day", "week," "month" or "year" - let's think about the types of days our troops are having ... without complaining.

I know what I am thankful for this year.  In addition to having decent health; a roof over my head; a job; food on the table; a loving family; and good friends, I am thankful for our ALL-VOLUNTEER military we have.

Let's say thanks at our dinner tables to all the veterans who honorably and selflessly served our country so that we may continue to celebrate Thanksgiving each year. They deserve that at the very least.

THANK YOU, TROOPS!

Love,
Andi  

 

 

As I struggle with facing my husband's deployment today - I wanted to share my feelings with you. 

My husband is my greatest inspiration and the reason I started this organization.  Without a doubt, he is the most selfless, brave and caring person I know.  He was one of the Rescue Workers at Ground Zero 6 years ago today, so this date has a double-negative impact on us.

He is also my best friend.  

While today is not a joyous day for me, I am okay - because I have the greatest friends in our G2TT family that a military wife could be blessed with. I am surounded by support from all directions - including troops overseas who are writing to me to cheer me up, other wives whose husbands are deployed, mothers whose sons are deployed, troops who are now home, who have received care packages from us in the past, hundreds of our volunteers ... it seems everyone wants to make sure I know they are thinking about my family and me today.

Many of you have been through what I am experiencing (for a second time).  There are no words to describe it to someone who hasn't suffered through a family member's deployment. 

When I speak to a veteran, talk to one of our directors, or when I look into the eyes of our volunteers at a packing party - I am overwhelmed by their love; and it gives me strength to endure this hardship and anxiety. 

Please know that my husband is not my only inspiration - all of you volunteers and donors are, as well.  Thanks to so many of you, (including the 16 troops who wrote encouraging emails to me this week)  -  I will be okay and I promise you all - I will be fine.

God bless you and thank you,

Love,
Andi

 

 

 

Dear Friends,

We had to close down our TagBoard feature as we unfortunately, we had a few hackers on our site who continuously posted inappropriate messages, advertisements and some who posted messages in Chinese!

You may still post messages to our Message Forum, which we will monitor very carefully and this BLOG will still feature monthly posts.

Sorry for the inconvenience! 

 

 

The attached letter from a donor/volunteer in Arkansas was published in today's edition of the Sentinel Record in Arkansas ...

Dear Editor, 

 In the wake of this year’s Independence Day and in the weeks that followed, my faith in America was re-kindled.  Why, you ask??  Well let me just explain ...
Some time back in November of last year, I received an e-mail from my mother.  It was entitled “Send thanks to a soldier.” and contained a link to a website for a program started by XEROX called “Let’s say Thanks.”  On this website you can choose from an array of beautiful cards (designed by children), to send to the Troops on Xerox’s tab.  They send the cards along with care packages put together by Give2theTroops.

(Give2theTroops, Inc is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the physical, moral, and spiritual health of America’s armed forces in combat zones around the world through letters and care packages. It was founded by a Marine wife in 2002, and has 9 branches nationwide.)  I saw this and was amazed.  It sparked my interest.  I never realized there were people out there that did this for the troops.  I guess was one of those people who took things for granted, caught in that trap of thinking “someone takes care of it.”  But I saw this website with all the pictures of people all over the nation giving so freely, and thought “Hot Springs could do that!!”  An idea was born…

Over the next several months, I – along with several friends and family members whose help I enlisted! - began diligently working on a donation drive to collect care package items. I have to admit, when I first undertook this mission, I was a little worried.  I began by sending out over 100 letters to area businesses asking for help.  Responses were few and far between.  Finally though, I had assembled enough sponsors to fund my drive, and to those businesses I am incredibly grateful.  In the month preceding the drive, I began collecting items at drop-off locations around town.  Soon, I ran out of room in my apartment and had to start storing things in my parents’ dining room!  Even then, I couldn’t possibly know what was in store! 

As the day of the drive approached, I worried.  I wondered if people who were against the war in Iraq and Afghanistan would give us a hard time.  I wondered if people would pause from preparing for their busy 4^th of July weekends long enough to spend their hard-earned money on someone they had never even met.  I wondered if we would even collect enough things to make a difference.  My worries were quickly swept away.  As the day of the fundraiser wore on, we all witnessed the silent majority in its full glory!!  Yes, of course, there were a few bad comments – but only enough to count on one hand.  What we did hear and see a lot of were the things that make me so proud to call myself an American.  I saw a group of young girls (out with their Mother for a “girls’ day”) take time to donate items and send cards of encouragement.  I saw a woman whose son and nephew are both deployed to Iraq.  She and her daughter both gave money to help with shipping (as if they haven’t already given enough!) and tried – un-successfully -  to hold back the tears as they watched people drop off items by the bag-full.  I had one lady ask for a copy of our list so she could go to Sam’s Club to buy items in bulk.  I talked to several Vietnam veterans who said they wished that America would have supported them in this way.  I cried as I thanked them for their service to their country.  I watched as two brothers donated a box of their favorite X-box games to entertain the Troops.  The list just goes on and on and it doesn’t stop with Saturday.  Since then, I have had so many people approach me about collecting items at their church, work-place, etc., that I haven’t even been able to transport the items yet!   We have collected over 2,000 items so far, and a month later, they are still rolling in! 

Now -  Why do I tell you all of this?  Sometimes I catch myself glued to the T.V. and I get so discouraged about the state of our country.  I see all these horrible stories about corrupt people and their corrupt actions.  It’s almost exhausting to watch the news or read the paper because most of it is bad!!  What I have been reminded of time and time again over the past several months, is that what we see on the front page of the paper or as breaking news on the television does not represent what the majority of our great country is.  Most of us are hard-working, proud and patriotic Americans who have good hearts.  We spend our days living in peace, supporting our families, and pursuing whatever our particular dreams may be.  I’ve also learned that we are a giving people, who are incredibly thankful and grateful towards the men and women who sacrifice so much so that we can be free.  Apparently, this doesn’t make for good news!  I guess my intention for this letter is to remind all of you that we live in an awesome country, full of great people.   Keep that in mind the next time you turn on the T.V.! 

God Bless,
Lindsey Hallerberg

If you would like any further information on Give2theTroops or how you can make a difference, visit www.give2thetroops.org

It's been a while since I last wrote.  I am pretty busy these days and despite our increase in volunteers, we seem to always have work to be done.  Our branches are receiving a steady flow of donated items from donors all over the world (Canada and other countries, too!) THANK YOU!

In Connecticut, we're moving part of our storage to another building granted to us by the Commissioner of Veteran Affairs! We're very appreciative for that space!  

We also have a generous donor (retired Navy veteran) in Groton, who has given us his ENTIRE HOUSE to store donations such as cases and cases of Girl Scout cookies, cards from HALLMARK, our extra fliers, etc.  Like I said - it's OVERFLOWING - which shows you JUST HOW MUCH SUPPORT our nation has for the troops!

As I said in my last blog, if you have any questions or doubts as to whether or not the support for our troops has faded, you need to come to one of our packing parties and read the letters from our troops who receive your items.

Please remember to take time to read the letters from our troops!