Attention, Readers

This is a comment to a post but worthy of a post in itself. If a 12 year old can work for such a great cause, so can we adults.

Anne said...
PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO OTHERS TO HELP HONOR OUR SOLDIERS
My Memorial Day Wish, By Zach -- Age 12
Director of RandomKid's OPDVD KidsToday
we remember our fallen soldiers. I think one of the best ways we can honor them is by doing something for the soldiers who are still serving our country.I know a lot of grown ups have watched the TV Show "MASH" and they saw soldiers playing basketball, or sometimes baseball. But I've received letters from today's soldiers that tell a different story. They can't do any fun stuff outdoors, for fear of getting shot.

One of them wrote to me,"As you know there is not a lot for the soldiers to do when they get a little time off. So when they do get the time to rest up a little, it is important we have something for them so they don’t sit around thinking about home. We all miss being with our families but the more we think about it the harder it is to stay focused."

So I've been collecting DVDs and sending them to the troops overseas. I want to collect 140,000 by Veterans Day. One for each soldier in Iraq (but the videos will also go to Afghanistan and other places).

PLEASE JOIN ME. GET OUT THOSE DVDS YOU DON'T WATCH ANYMORE, AND LET'S SEND THEM TO OUR TROOPS. Please email me (zach@randomkid.org ) to request DVD collection boxes . IT'S SO EASY. For more information, please visit http://www.randomkid.org/operationdvd.asp .

Another soldier wrote to me:"These (DVDs) can bring the light of home to an otherwise dismal place."I hope you'll help me honor them.God bless America!

Sincerely,Zach -DirectorRandomKid's OpDVD KidsHelp Kids Help Others. www.randomkid.org *** P.S. Please forward this to EVERYONE you know!
Monday, May 28, 2007 9:14:00 AM

COMMENTS:
Worried said...
I hope our readers will participate in this worthy endeavor. My friend, Professor Bob, a Vietnam War vet and a retired teacher, routinely sends movies to troops overseas on an individual basis. I will forward this link so he can expand his efforts, since he has many, many movies he no longer wants. (He is a movie buff and collector with many friends in the business).
Monday, May 28, 2007 5:46:00 PM

Ingrid said...
I just 'adopted a soldier' and haven't heard back from him yet. I hesitated to include any dvd's as I have no idea what kinds of things he likes. After all, what mind frame would one be in being in such an environment and what would one want to watch? I know I have different moods that make me want to watch different things so..I hope he writes back soon so I can be more specific with my care packages..btw..heard about Cindy Sheehan?the fight continues..Ingrid
Tuesday, May 29, 2007 10:38:00 AM
Worried said...
Thank you, Ingrid. That is a great idea.Please tell us how you "adopt" a soldier!
For reader's info: The post office gives Flat Rate Boxes FREE in which to ship items. Be sure to ascertain that the boxes say "Flat Rate". They are larger than a shirt box and for only $8.90 you can ship as much as you can cram in them.It is surprising how much you can get in them.
Daughter Jo ships to her husband in Iraq all the time and depending on what she sends, has shipped as much as 25 lbs. One time she sent him 15 lbs. of Irish Potatoes to make baked potatoes for a barbecue the guys were having.
Just like everyone far from home, troops and civilian workers love home made goodies. Jo bakes cookies, brownies, etc. and seals them in vacuum sealed bags. Crushables like muffins, cupcakes, or small single layer cakes, she puts in smaller boxes with the goodies padded with popcorn (which is also eatible) and puts the small boxes inside the flat rate boxes.
Some of the guys really envy Lloyd because he receives so many "care" packages from home. They said he gets more than all the rest combined. They crowd around like little kids with their noses pressed against a candy store window, watching when he opens his package. The guys usually share their home baked/home made goodies. Judicious experimenting will prove how much you can get in those boxes and ship all the way overseas for only $8.90 - quite a bargain for all the pleasure it gives to our men and women overseas.
You can also senf VHS tapes, as some men on base have VCRs; others have DVDs. They share their movies around so one movie gives pleasure to many people. It is a shame how many of the troops get NOTHING from home; some do not even receive mail. How depressing!
Tuesday, May 29, 2007 7:08:00 PM