Send Support to Troops in Afghanistan
By: Jenna Zibton
Updated: April 20, 2010
The organization will meet at the American Climate Controlled Storage on Pines Road on Saturday, March 6th at 10 a.m.
The Chairman, Shirley Olivieri-Mathies, is asking for medium sized cardboard boxes, with flaps and little to no print on the outside, because they have to mark through all print.
Here is more information from Olivieri-Mathies:
Easter shipment - pack date Saturday, March 6, 2010
Good items to collect: Valentine candy (all types purchased as after Valentine's Day
sale items), Pringles potato chips, Granola bars, snack crackers, beef jerky (NO pork),
unmedicated eye drops, Ziploc baggies-qt & gal size (for use in sand storms), nonaerosol
sunscreen, dust-masks (found in hardware stores), band aids, blank greeting
cards (to send to their families), Easter cards and/or spring artwork handmade by
children, notes/letters of appreciation & encouragement, monetary donationsJuly 4th shipment - pack date Saturday, June 5, 2010
Good items to collect: Easter candy (purchased as after Easter sale items--hard
candy only since chocolate melts in summer temperatures), baby wipes,
Gatorade/Crystal light drink mix, plastic funnels (to help them pour beverages into
canteens), Gold Bond powder, non-aerosol athlete foot medication & sunscreen, fly
swatters, small patriotic decorations, handmade patriotic cards and/or artwork made
by children, notes/letters of appreciation & encouragement, monetary donationsHalloween shipment - pack date Saturday, September 11, 2010
Good items to collect: coffee, tea, creamer/sugar, granola/protein bars, instant
soups, Pringles potato chips, nuts, Halloween candy (all types), gum (regular and
sugarless), toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, blistex/chapstick, small travel-size
bottles of lotion/shampoo/conditioner/mouthwash (acquired from hotels), handmade
artwork made by children, notes/letters of appreciation & encouragement, monetary
donationsChristmas 2010 shipment - pack date Saturday, November 13, 2010
Good items to collect: Instant hot chocolate mix/coffee/tea, instant oatmeal/grits,
Ramen noodle and instant cup-a-soups (any flavor but pork), tuna in foil packs, tube
socks, non-aerosol athlete food medication, blistex/chapstick, blank Christmas cards
to send their families (no overtly religious themes), small games (unwrapped), puzzle
books, handmade Christmas cards and/or artwork made by children, notes/letters of
appreciation & encouragement, monetary donations (Note: An assortment of above
contents may be stuffed into a Christmas stocking for donation.)Due to organizational rules, we cannot ship the following items:
-pork products or anything pork flavored (i.e. vienna sausage, spam)
-home-baked goods (for safety reasons, everything needs to be commercially packed)
-overtly religious items (i.e. prayer books, rosaries)
-aerosol cans (i.e. shaving cream)
-any type of literature showing female "skin" (i.e. Sports Illustrated calendars)
Here is additional information to keep in mind for collecting items and donations for this project:
-For business/vacation travelers, we collect all unopened/unused travel size hygiene items found in
hotel bathrooms.
-For those who choose to submit a box of items, make sure boxes are not sealed and remain open
since members of our group must check contents of all boxes before shipment.
-Troops get free postage when sending mail to family/friends. However, we appreciate books of
stamps for use in sending thank you notes to individuals/organizations who make donations.
-Notes and letters of appreciation and encouragement are ALWAYS needed to help boost troop
moral, and should be addressed “Dear American Soldier.”
-Shipping costs are about $1.35/lb. Donations are tax-deductible. Checks need to be made outto OPERATION SUPPORT OUR TROOPS and can be mailed c/o 243 Justin Avenue, Shreveport,LA, 71105.
Drop Off Locations:
American Climate-Controlled Storage
6721 Pines Rd., Shreveport
318-688-4637
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church
522 E. Flournoy-Lucas Rd., Shreveport
318-798-1887
Bank of Montgomery
952 Keyser Ave., Natchitoches
318-352-3060
To contact Chairman, Shirley Olivieri-Mathies call 862-9847 (Mon-Fri 8:30-5) - 219-7488 (nights/weekends) or email ssomathies@yahoo.com
More information is available in this document:
