Christmas 2008

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Christmas Troop Support 2009

Christmas 2009 was a great success. 

American Legion Auxiliary Hammond - Schmit Unit 55, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Appleton Military Support Group,  Boy and Girl Scouts, youth groups, school children, other congregations, other Ameircan Legion posts and American Legion Auxiliary units, businesses, and others worked together between August 1, 2009 and February 28, 2010 to send 371 boxes to ovcer 3,500 service members in Iraq and Afghanistan last year. The boxes were mailed between October 15, 2009 and November 15, 2009. Due to lengthy mail delivery times for some units, we mailed Christmas items early so the troops have time to address Christmas cards in their limited spare time and mail them to loved ones in time for Christmas. Mail from the front is especially important at Christmas time. The other items were mailed with the hopes of getting them to our troops shortly after Christmas when the troops need warm drinks, socks, and extra support from home after the holidays when people seem to forget them until next Christmas. We hear constantly of how our troops and the United States Postal System are overwhelmed  at Christmas time. We hoped to ease the strain on the postal system while increasing the support our troops need the rest of the year by sending boxes during non-peak Christmas mailing times.

 

 We looked for donations of:

 

Christmas Items Needed:

  • 15,000 New Christmas cards
  • 100 Hannukah cards
  • Christmas music CD's
  • Small Christmas ornaments

Non-Food Items:

  • Warm cotton crew length black or white socks
  • CD's or DVD's
  • $10.35 per box postage

 

 

 

Baghdad convoy transfer point Christmas box distribution 2006.

Food Items:

  • 13 Oz. or Smaller cans regular or flavored coffee (No Decaf)
  • Cappuccino mixes
  • Tea of all types
  • Apple cider mix
  • Hot Cocoa mix
  • Instant soup
  • Instant oatmeal
  • Nuts
  • Dried fruit
  • Granola bars
  • Trail mix
  • Microwave popcorn (Great Boy Scout opportunity!!!)

Donation Drop Sites:

  • Livingston's Sewing Machines - Appleton
  • Festival Foods - Northland Avenue and Van Roy Road, Appleton
  • Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran  Church - Greenville
  • Dean's Flooring - Hortonville
  • Waupaca County Post East Office - New London
  • Festival Foods - New London
  • Piggly Wiggly - New London
  • Don's Quality Market - Seymour
  • Buyer's Guide/Times Press - Seymour
  • New donation sites will be added as available
  • All donation sites are located in Wisconsin at this time.

 

 

Thank you to the many businesses who helped us send support to our troops. Many of the generous donors are listed in our business donor list on our home page.

Send donations to:

American Legion Auxiliary Unit 55              Americanism Committee                                 W9096 Spring Road                                       Hortonville, WI  54944

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church      Troop Support Ministry                                     N1615 Meadowview Drive                          Greenville, WI  54942