COSTCO IS CHEAPER ON RAMEN, ETC.!!

Hi there,
Jeff and I went to COSTCO yesterday. I picked up a 'case' of chicken ramen for $7.99; 48 total. That is a BETTER DEAL than the 99 CENT STORE. They also have bags of all flavors of BEEF JERKY. We also got a container (900 sheets) of BABY WIPES, which the infantry can use when they don't have showers. It is not really one container, although it is one carton: lots of separate containers inside so they can be divided up to different groups within a battalion or separate soldiers. Up to you. Another good thing we found were BAGS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF DRIED FRUIT. The soldiers who get MRE's (meals ready to eat) don't often get fruit, I've been told. So in that lunch box size fruit portions are heavy to mail or conversely, take up a lot of space in the largest FLAT RATE POST OFFICE BOX, these very well sealed bags of dried fruit go a long way. I bought apricots. As I find things, I'll let you know. In the meantime, keep the faith and keep those knitting needles going full force.
I have learned that FOB in the address usually means they are stationed out in the boonies, instead of a place where there are kitchens, bathrooms, etc. So, if I see an FOB address in Afghanistan, Jeff and I tend to want them to get boxes of things that might be able to make them more comfortable. Up to you, of course. I send cards and other things to soldiers in other places. Over and out for now...

Adria
General Mama
Mama-Schu

GREAT BUYS ON NEEDED ITEMS AT THE 99 CENT STORE!

Hi there
The other day, Shirley and I went over to the 99 CENT STORE and really scored! They currently have the following that the guys and gals love: Ramen (6 for 99 cents); individual tubs of mac and cheese (50 cents each); big plastic bottles of foot powder (99 cents each); small spiral notebooks that are used for journals; pencils and hand pencil sharpeners; tubes of extra strength hand cream for the cold and chapping weather in the Hindu Kush, etc. CHECK OUT THIS WONDERFUL SOURCE FOR THE GOODY BOXES YOU MAY WISH TO SEND OFF TO YOUR anysoldier.com guys and gals. You truly do get a lot of BANG FOR YOUR BUCK at the 99 CENT STORE. Also, I like the clean and neat way in which the merchandise their bargains. I'm being serious here; it's a well organized business and it certainly has what we need to send off to our soldiers.
VALENTINE'S DAY CARDS AND NOTES: It is easy to send off Valentines to our military personnel. One bunch of mine arrived already; I've heard from a recipient. You would have thought I had sent rubies! These notes and cards mean so much. Again, the 99 CENT STORE is a good source for cards of any kind: very reasonable!
Those are my current ideas. Keep those knitting needles going at warp speed, Wool Warriors. We are making a small difference; however, it IS a difference for those who receive what we send. And that, of course, is our 'mission'.

Sincerely,

Adria
General Mama
Mama-Schu

TORRENTIAL RAINS IN LOS ANGELES!

We have had torrential rains in Los Angeles; good knitting weather! We've heard from some of our soldiers; they SO appreciate the goody boxes and the knitted items. One soldier's wife received the baby outfit we sent; she's due in a few weeks with their first born. It's a girl! He forwarded my e-mail to another soldier, who asked if a baby outfit could be sent out for his baby, who is due in June. So, we're branching out "warriors".
This is a short one; not much to say. Keep those knitting needles going as fast as you can. Your work and donations of finished goods to our soldiers is much appreciated by them. In our own way, we are DEPLOYED TO ACTION too! We are WOOL WARRIORS!!!

Adria

THE HORROR OF HAITI!

We cannot fathom the horrific reality of what has happened in HAITI. Jeff and I have chosen to send a monitary donation to DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS because we know the wonderful work they do with EVERY PENNY DONATED. Further, we have sent the check snail-mail because there seems to be some controversy about whether or not the credit card companies (all of them) will or will not charge their regular processing fee to charge a donationto charities helping Haiti. So, with that in mind, we are mailing a check directly to:
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS
USA HEADQUARTERS
333 7th Avenue, Second floor
New York, New York 10001-5004
Phone: (212) 679-6800
or TOLL FREE DONATIONS INFORMATION: 1-888-392-0392

GOD BLESS the people of Haiti who have gone through so much so many different times. And much gratitude to all of the RESCUE TEAMS who are working so hard to save lives.....they, of course, put their own safety in peril.

Sincerely,

Adria Schumann

UPDATE...

I don't know if I should start with good and generous news or sad news; I'll start with good and generous news. Special thanks to dear and always thoughtful Linda. In her precious husband's memory, she was extraordinarily generous in the quest to help cover the costs of the balaclavas for our paratroopers or mailing costs. The one thing she does NOT like, is publicity or specifics. So we'll leave it there. Thank you Linda and GOD BLESS YOU as HE has blessed all who are lucky enough to walk life's roads with you.
Secondly, we heard from the CO of our paratroopers. They did receive the first box that we sent out on 26 December 2009; took a great deal of time to catch up with them. So, they probably won't receive the other several boxes in transit until maybe 1 February 2010.
Sadly, they have been in hot combat and although their specific platoon is in tact, they lost three comrades in the recent action. It was in the papers, but I didn't know for certain it could be them. GOD REST THEIR SOULS. It is the DNA of our Country's future that is 'over there'. I forwarded parts of THE GETTYSBURGH ADDRESS because I believe that honest blood spilled anywhere 'consecrates the land'. It is tough news to relate, but it is necessary to share. These are not numbers or statistics 'over there'; they are our 'kids'. We've lost 3 more hearts and souls.
Happily, I received another e-mail from a Marine Colonel who received two boxes of goodies and knitted items we mailed off on 26 December 2009. He and his men are leaving Afghanistan in March, after 1 very long year on duty. They are in tact. I made certain that they know that if they have to return to duty, we will be there for them. We will add a new name to our list for knitted items and goodies. Keep in mind that each name on anysoldier.com may represent many soldiers who are part of a platoon. Anyway, GOD SPEED to all of them; and happy speed home to our Marine Colonel and his men.
And now you know what I know......

Sincerely,

Adria
General Mama aka "Mama-Schu"

HOSTESS GIFTS, GATHERINGS AND VALENTINES....!

GATHERINGS: Another fun idea is to create little afternoon gatherings (or evenings) where the 'entrance fee' is a donation of an item (or more) to the SOLDIERS' BOX waiting to be filled for mail off. Teenagers can do this as well as adults. Think about a can of pineapple or lunch size fruit servings. This is not costly, and would make such a difference in the box of goodies getting filled for a mail-off.
HOSTESS GIFTS: If you know a person has a box that is getting filled two items added to the grocery list a week, instead of bringing a bottle of wine to a dinner party, use that money to help fill her SOLDIERS' BOX of goodies. She will be very grateful for the help and you will be doing a good deed.
VALENTINE'S DAY: Please think about sending actual Valentines, or notes, or hand-made items to our troops. It would mean so much. If you have ANY AGE CHILD, this would be a GOOD DEED PROJECT to initiate. Grandparents could do this as a project when the 'grands' are visiting. GIRL SCOUT TROOPS could do this. CHURCHES and SYNAGOGUES could have a craft session to make Valentine's. It all adds up.
These rough toughie military personnel just 'melt' with joy when they receive things like this. I had a Marine Captain send a two page hand written letter of gratitude over a Christmas Card he received!!! Believe me, an inexpensive CRAFT PROJECT for Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Memorial Day, the FOURTH OF JULY, etc. would help to keep the spirits up for our 'kids' who are 'over there'.......'over there'......'over there'......
Thanks for listening. Just suggestions.

Sincerely,

Adria
General Mama, aka "Mama-Schu"

POST OFFICE RAISES ITS PRICES!

Hi there,
Yesterday, Jeff and I posted 4 of the largest FLAT RATE boxes of goodies to our troops. FYI the DISCOUNTED price for APO addressed boxes has gone up! Each size box is a different price; obviously. As we sent 4 of the largest FLAT RATE boxes, I want to report to you that now the largest flat rate box is $12.50 to mail; regular price for non APO addresses is 14.50. Previous to this, in 2009, the cost of sending the largest flat rate box to an APO address was $11.00. THAT HAS NOW CHANGED. Be certain to factor that increase into your plans.
This might be a good time to remind you to mention to friends who do not knit, that a GOOD PARTNERSHIP might take place if they could help with the cost of mailing and/or yarn. In this way, we'll get the job done with cooperation. Also it would give those who do not knit a way in which to help.
To that end, I want to thank the following people for the financial assistance in the purchase of the balaclaavas for our BRASS MONKEYS: Stephanie, Melissa, Hal, Rozie and Kathleen. I also want to thank my husband, Big Jeff, for always packing up our boxes with professionalism and care. Thank you does not seem enough; these guys need the help and you all helped to provide it. Blessings.
Keep knitting and sending off those boxes. If you need help or more information, let me know.
Oh yes, we did come up with a new idea: WE MENTIONED TO FOLKS THAT IF THEY JUST ADD TWO ITEMS TO THEIR WEEKLY MARKETING LISTS, WE WILL TAKE THOSE DONATIONS AND ADD THEM TO OUR BOXES FOR MAILING ONCE WE GET A FULL BOX OF DONATIONS. In this way, teenagers on allowance, or all of us who are on budgets, can slowly build in donations of two small items at a time. It grows. Just a thought.
Thanks for your time and hard work.

Sincerely,

Adria
General Mama, aka "Mama-Schu"