So, what do you prefer to hear first?  The GOOD News or the NOT-SO-GOOD News?

Okay, the good news is that our branches are starting to overflow with donations.  And I mean OVERFLOW. 

Even our Washington State's Satellite Office is booming.  Take a look at Judy & Lyle's living room which is filled with donations from PEMCO!  And that doesn't include the $500 PEMCO just donated to them!  

Oregon is pounding the pavement with fliers and business cards.

California had a STREET SIGN named after us - "Give2TheTroops Way" (or was it 'Road'?)

Texas Branch Director, Andrea Harmon came to Connecticut to 'train' and saw how a tiny branch in Connecticut can get things done. She also survived my driving!

North Carolina ... well, what can I say? Barbara and her branch have had their hands full and they are STILL asking for more!  I think I can officially declare Barb as being not just more talkative than I am, but more INSANE than I am!   

The NC Branch shipped out more than 3,500 Golf Clubs and Golf balls in addition to their 200+ care packages/week! They have university students coming in weekly.  Watch out, Barb, I have an itch to "pass my baton" over to you!  

[Side note: When I told a donor about our GOLF CLUBS and GOLF BALLS, he offered me some from his yard saying, "The seagulls that I feed every day go to the driving range down the street and get the golf balls, bring them here and drop them in my yard, today I have 13 piled up (see picture below) and I can donate those if you need them!"]



All I can say is God bless all the wonderful donors and volunteers we have.  

I might add here that one needs to be careful what they wish for - because the "not-so-good" news is that some of our branches are in dire need of MORE storage space and MORE packing space!

Our Connecticut Branch is blessed to have a 'retired submarine veteran' who donated an entire empty house in Groton, CT as an added storage place for us.  He has been storing cases and cases of Girl Scout cookies for us.  Take a look:

But we still need more room! In addition to approximately 5,000 pounds of donations from Troop 2 Boy Scouts in Mystic, CT and UCONN'S Arnold Air Society in Storrs, CT, we also received donations this week from Puerto Rico, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Kentucky, New York, New Jersey and even the UNITED KINGDOM!

It's getting a bit "crowded"  in our storage centers and at our packing parties in Connecticut.  With a few special visitors this month, I don't think I'll have to push too hard to get my point across on how to we need get more space.  I have my eye on the former "AMES" building in Rocky Hill, which is vacant and has 165,000 SQF just sitting down the road from us.  SOMEONE is paying taxes on this property and might want to donate some space to us, right?  I can only pray!

Fortunately, the U.S. Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Centers in both New Haven and Plainville, CT are now graciously extending their drill centers to us for our larger packing parties when feasible.  This will help us not have to turn volunteers away. I still plan to appeal to our National Guard armories around the state as well as some vet centers. Our volunteers are literally pulling their HAIR out! (See Beth in the photo, below) 


If you know ANYONE who can donate some storage space for non-perishable
items - give 'em my email address, PLEASE!  Andi@Give2thetroops.org

By the way ... I hope you know to look at our web site's HOME PAGE for the latest news!  If you see the date of our updated news has been modified - that means we've posted important information or added new letters from the troops! Many times the troops mention specific letters or items they receive! Here's a quick link to access that page: LETTERS FROM OUR TROOPS 


DID YOU KNOW ...

 - We have seasonal Donations Drives with THEMES?


Our current Campaign is "Mail 'Em Mothers Day"™

   [We change the theme every other month or so ... next will be
    our Fathers Day Campaign! Stay Tuned!]  

 - We feature Impressive donors & volunteers from all states on our
Home Page?

Last month, we posted this photo from JEEP's New England organization for a
HUGE donations drive they conducted for us!

and also BOY SCOUTS from PENNSYLVANIA, too! 

 - We send the Troops Special Requested items? 
This Lieutenant LOVED the 'SPONGE BOB SQUARE PANTS' sheets
we sent him! Did I mention that we're helping another unit host a
Hawaiian Luau?  ...

REMEMBER: Check out our Home Page, Message Forum and Web Blog to keep abreast of what's going on and ways you can help!

THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR HELPING US GROW - the troops really appreciate it ... even if I'm losing my hair!

Love,

Andi and the G2TT Board of Directors