ADOPT A SOLDIER

My son Robert is collecting items from the list below for a special project for the Jr. Beta Club. This has been a very successful project in past years and I'm going to do my part to help out this year. These items will be packed into boxes by Robert and the other Jr. Beta Club members on November 30th and will be sent to both men and women serving in Iraq. If you can help out with this project it would be greatly appreciated. Please contact me at Lisa@planetbeans.com with any questions or if you need my address to send donations. As many of you know.. I've collected items for donations in the past and have been overwhelmed with your generosity. Now it's time to help out those individuals who are putting their lives on the line daily while serving our country.

As donations arrive, I will be posting photos on this page and personally thanking each one of you for taking the time and effort to make a difference.

The list below was sent to me by one of the organizers of this event. You are welcome to send other items that aren't listed below as long as they can fit into the boxes and won't go bad during their journey overseas. Please also remember that NO donation is too small.

1/05 UPDATE:
This was posted in the school newsletter ---
Jr. Beta Club supports Troops

Jr. Beta Club members had the opportunity before Christmas to send packages to our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. The members are receiving messages of thanks from these soldiers. We would like to share with you some of these messages.

". . . I appreciate people like you for taking time away from your day to make my life over here in Iraq a little easier and more home-like. Thanks for everything."

"I want to extend my deepest thanks for the letters and care packages. My soldiers and I enjoyed the candy, food and other things that were in the boxes. It's always nice to receive packages!"

"Your kind gesture reminds us of home and is much appreciated. It's definitely nice to know that people care about their troops. God bless America!"

"I'm very grateful for the package you sent. I'm using one of the pens you sent to write this letter! "

"Getting a letter from home made all the difference to me. We're doing great things over here and fighting for a worthy cause. Knowing the youth of America support us and think of us helps us to keep holding on."

12/11 UPDATE:
This was posted in the school newsletter ---
Beta Club "Adopted" Soldiers for the Holidays
With the assistance of Lieutenant Bill Stevens, the Jr. Beta Club "adopted" soldiers for holidays. Members packed goodies, personal care items, and even letters in 89 boxes to send to the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. We would like to thank Lieutenant Stevens, who represents Operation One Voice, for providing us with names and APO addresses of soldiers for this project, and for helping us pack the boxes. We are also very grateful to Ms. Lisa LaMoy for collecting and donating hundreds of items to help fill the boxes. Our office staff and clerks also helped by donating items. We all hope, in this small way, to show these men and women our thanks for the sacrifice they are making on our behalf.

11/17 UPDATE: A SINCERE THANK YOU
I delivered two big boxes of donations that have been sent in for the "Adopt a Soldier" project to school this morning. I received the following note from the person that is heading this project.

"The items you sent in are awesome! Thank you so much. Now we will be able to send more boxes than I originally planned. I really appreciate you doing this for us (and for our military)."

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UPDATE: Do you still need some incentive to help out? Rose Walker from Ohio has kindly donated an MC VI Beanie Baby and an MC Beanie key-clip as an incentive and a thank you for your donations for the "Adopt a Soldier" project. Remember.. NO donations is too small and EACH donation, no matter the size, will give you an entry into a drawing for the MC duo. Robert will be doing a drawing of all donators names on November 30th. This is the date the Jr. Beta Club members will be packing up all the boxes and getting them ready to mail. Please make sure your packages arrive by November 29th so they can be included.

CONGRATS TO MARGE FOWLER FROM NORTH CAROLINA.
Please send your address to me at Lisa@planetbeans.com
so Rose can mail your special "thank you" gifts.

l. chewing gum
2. writing paper, envelopes, stamps
3. postcards (esp. with American scenes)
4. water flavors (in packets) (or pre-sweetened drink mixes in packets)
5. stamps, paper, envelopes
6. puzzle books, small puzzles
7. Yo Yo’s
8. Frisbees (flexible)
9. Hackie sacks
10. miniature foam footballs, basketballs
11. Chapstick
12. dental floss
13. foot powder
14. liquid hand sanitizer
15. breath mints
16. journals
17. crackers and cheese packets
18. candy that won’t melt (Hard Candies)
19. Rice Krispie Treats (store bought)
20. Power Bars
21. Granola Bars
22. Beef Jerky
23. Beanie Babies (to hand out to children)
24. Powdered hot chocolate (in packets)
25. Visine eye drops
26. Hair bands
27. Nail polish
28. Body lotions, gels, powders (travel size)
29. nail clippers
30. disposable cameras
31. hand held games (travel games)
32. playing cards
33. pencils, pens, other writing instruments
34. bandaids
35. batteries
36. phone cards
37. toothbrushes
38. toothpaste
39. monetary donations are also welcome.

Thank you to Rose Walker from Ohio	Thank you to Ellen Nuebel from Illinois
Thank you to Dottie Wofford & Fran Green from Texas	Thank you to Dottie Wofford & Fran Green from Texas
Thank you to Nancy Mills from Washington	Thank you to Jennifer Sellers from California
Thank you to Connie Fredrickson from Tennessee	Thank you to Connie Fredrickson from Tennessee
Thank you to Beverly Rankin from Texas	Thank you to Beverly Rankin from Texas
Thank you to Marge Fowler from North Carolina for sending in a donation check for $10.	Thank you to Kimberly Walker from Georgia
Thank you to Carolyn McQuirt from Ohio	A little something from me...