Christmas in July
July 1 ~ July 29
Time for another theme, and this time we are going to get ready for the holidays. I know it seems a little early, but cards have to reach the units early in Nov in order to assure they will arrive back home in time.
And the holidays are a busy time for everyone and it isn’t always easy to find time to make cards for the troops and do everything else we need to do for our family.
Mail can take 3-4 weeks during the holidays, especially packages. You will have 4 weeks to work on cards. Plenty of time to make lots. The shippers will not be sending them back out though until October, so no hurry to get them finished or mailed. These are cards for the troops to send back home. Just remember a unit is about 125-150 men/women. A box of 300 cards is not very many to pass around. This is the time to mass produce and keep it simple.
If you have questions about shipping, it is best to direct it to your shipper by pm. If you just need the address you can request that info on the thread. Several of the regulars are able to answer that and other other general questions, sometimes faster.
East coast .. imnchghere
West coast & Mountain … Lguild
Central… utebandmom
PLEASE keep the embellishments limited. If it makes a lump in the envelope it is too thick. Layers are ok, but use the thinner pop dots and try to keep it to one. Also watch the sizes of buttons and brads. Skittles are discouraged.
* * * * For those of you who are new, let me explain how this works.
We have heard from spouses and family members of our deployed soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen, how much they enjoy getting a nice card in the mail. Since there is no card shop in the neighborhood shopping center, we are the next best thing. We have been told the PX/BX/NEX run out of cards quickly and that having nice cards to send home to family is a great moral booster.
Make cards in any way that you want. All different, all the same, or a mix of both. Just leave the inside blank to give the soldiers room to write home in and include envelopes. NO stamp necessary, (soldiers get free mail when deployed.)
A2 size cards are the most efficient to package up and ship (300+ will fit in a box), however all sizes are fine and appreciated. Do what you are comfortable with and again have fun. Try not to have thick embellishments and glitter is discouraged for the safety of the troops. We are told it can get on their clothing and be seen with night vision goggles.
***NOTE there is a FAQ thread with answers in this forum. Please refer to it if you have any questions.
When you sign up you will sign up for how many you want to do 15,30,45,100. whatever # works for you. You will also tell us what time zone you are in. The time zone will tell us to whom you will ship your cards to when you are finished.
That shipper will then compile all the cards and send them to units on the ground in Iraq, Afghanistan, or other bases. Each time zone has at least 2 or 3 units (a unit is 120-160 soldiers) to ship to.
Shipping is an expense to us that all the shippers have taken on out of their own pocket. However if you want to donate a dollar or two for shipping expense overseas then we welcome that. All money donated goes to pay for shipping to the units. YOU DO NOT have to donate any money to participate in this project.
If you have any qualms or questions about what we are doing with Cards for Soldiers, please ask in the thread. There are several great ladies that help keep this going and are always around.
Thank you for joining us and for standing behind our troops.
~~ pat (imnchghere)
Edited by user Tuesday, June 28, 2011 6:57:11 PM(UTC)
| Reason: Not specified