CALL TO ACTION: YULE CARE PACKAGE DRIVE
It’s that time of year again, folks! When we not only think of and honor our Veterans, but begin our Yule care package/Yule card drive for our service members that will spend the holidays far from home.
This year, things are going to work a little differently, so please read these instructions carefully before signing up.
If you would like to contribute a care package/Yule cards:
*Please mail us at Heathenopenhalls@gmail.com to be assigned a service member. When you do, you will receive acknowledgement, and then when we have a clearer picture of factors such as the ratio of contributors to service members, we’ll put you in contact with a service member. Some of you may receive the same contact details, especially in cases where one service member is acting as a ‘lead person’ for a number of other service members down range.
*Please refer to our list of suggested care package items. This list was compiled by service member members of the Open Halls Project Facebook group, because we wanted it to be as helpful as possible.
*Please be advised that the deadline for mailing out care packages to reach service members in time for the holidays, is the 6th of December.
If you are a service member that would like a care package/Yule cards:
* Please don’t think that you’re somehow less deserving than other service members that are in potentially harder environments than you. Year after year, we’ve had a surplus of offers for care package contributions. If you’re far from home, sign the hell up.
*Mail us at Heathenopenhalls@gmail.com and let us know that you’d like a care package AND don’t forget to include your mailing address.
Both groups: Please don’t message us on Facebook regarding the care package drive. It makes it far harder to organize these drives when we’re fielding messages over multiple types of social media, and we want to be able to run this drive as efficiently as possible.
Suggested Items For Care Packages
Please note: This is not a list of things you have to put in a care package, but a helpful list of suggested items to hopefully make it easier to put care packages together. The one resounding thing that service members down range have said to us about care packages or cards, is that it’s not so much what is in the packages, but that people back home are thinking of them that counts. So don’t be afraid to personalize.
Beef or bacon jerky
MiO water enhancers (e.g. flavor enhancers such as Crystal Light: http://www.kraftbrands.com/crystallight/Pages/default.aspx#/home)
Individually wrapped snacks (cereal bars, fruit roll ups etc.)
Periodicals (e.g. magazines focused on topics such as tattoos, bikes and outdoor activities)
Anything outlandishly fun that will entertain for an hour or so (e.g. bouncy balls, silly string, candy necklaces, alien goo etc.)
Chapsticks
Loofahs/Shower scrunchies
Travel size deodorant/mouthwash/toothbrush/toothpaste.
Moleskin (http://www.drscholls.com/Products/MoleskinPlusPadding)
Ziploc bags
Baby wipes
Hand sanitizer (the small bottles that can be attached to clothing/bags etc.)
Blankets, hats, socks
Weapon cleaning supplies
Cotton swabs and/or Q-tips
Batteries (various sizes, for personal electronic devices)
Peanut butter, or other ‘foods from home’ that might not be available to service members in their areas.
Hobby supplies