Some of our own parishioners, friends and/or family are currently stationed on the front line in Iraq, Afganistan, etc.. They and their units are in need of all the moral support and uplifting they can get.
To support them, the HTSB youth kicked off the SHOEBOXES FOR SOLDIERS project on June 24th by preparing and sending 9 boxes to TJ, Danny, and company. The youth led the way on this project preparing the boxes , burning CDs, taking pictures, organizing the Sunday School kids drawings, and short letters, etc. There was also a lot of support and encouragment from the parish leadership on other adults. All military personel expecially those close to the parish have been a part of our prayer life for many months. …every one found a way to participate and be involved…
We hope to continue with this project, perhaps on a monthly basis, until our soldiers are at peace back here at home and away from the tragedies of war.
Everything we collect must be able to fit in a shoe box to be sent to their location. Suggestions for items are:
- Baby wipes
- Instant packages (just add water): Gatorade, Kool-aid, Cup-a-Soup, instant coffee, powdered creamer, sugar & sugar replacements
- Hygiene products (really needed)
- Eye drops (natural tears)
- Chewing gum
- Stationery (store bought or homemade)
- Disposable hand warmers (found at sporting goods stores)
- Crossword puzzles and word games
- Tins of anchovies, sardines, oysters, Vienna sausages, tuna etc.,
- Hard candy (lifesavers, jellybeans, etc.) NO chocolate or anything that can melt
- A handwritten note of encouragement
- Magazines (Gently read as well as new)
- Dental floss, Paperback books, Cassettes and CDs (used and new)
- Card games, gaming chips, Handheld electronic games, solitaire, word games, etc.
- Munchies
- any kind of non-perishable & sealed snack: e.g. beef jerky, chips, crackers
- Journal, diary, a small calendar
- Yo-yo's
- Scarves, Chap stick, Antibacterial lotion
- Toiletries for men and women, Hair products, hotel samples of products and hair pomade
- Eyeglass repair kit, Emergency sewing kit
- Clear tape, Emery boards, Nail clippers
- Food seasonings: Spicy, oriental, Mexican, Italian, etc., (they have plenty of salt and pepper)
- Post-it Notes, pens, pencils, mini-pen lights
- Scotch brite scour pads (needed)
- Pictures
We hope that this will be just one of many more things to come we can do to give back to the community and continue to spread the love that Jesus Christ has given us. These simple items in a small shoe box will go a long way to Afghanistan/Iraq and fill our soldiers' hearts with hope and love to endure their time there. Let's keep praying for their safety and show them how much they are appreciated.
Thanks to Charlene and the Anderson family for getting this started, to all the youth who have made it happen, and all the others who have contributed in some way. THANK YOU!
