November/December 2007

There is still time to send a letter which will fill the stockings going to Iraq this Christmas.  Please take a moment to write a letter to a soldier and let them know that you are thinking of them.  We have received so many letters from schools, churches and groups.  We appreciate all the support. Now, it's time for the adults to step up!  Letters don't have to be long - just from the heart.  Thank you.
 

Meet one of our newest contacts, click here: SGT Nathan Cleary

There are many groups receiving packages from Pack it Up these days. Thanks to your generosity, we are able to support more groups than ever!  Read what they have to say to you:

FROM LCDR GEOFFREY GORMAN 

We received your boxes and your letter as of yesterday. I wanted to thank you as well for such a great program and the personal interest. We took pictures for you of the box openings (see pictures with comments from Geoff).  Thanks again, it means a lot and if you need anything from me, please let me know.
v/r,
Geoff
Geoffrey Gorman
LCDR, USN
 

The Commanding General's PSD (Personal Security Detachment). They are a great group of guys that protect him as he travels throughout Iraq.	Geoff...
CPT Stevens (Air Force) getting the pleasure of a mail treat	CPT Gregory (Army) very excited (and cheesy) about his box of power bars

FROM 1LT KEVIN MILLS (Kevin used to be stationed with Matt Offiler before Matt moved)
Thank you and Pack It Up for the packages you sent me. Everything was eaten or taken by the soldiers here at work in about a day's time. I'm becoming a Sox and Pats fan.

Matt and I were roomates at Ft. Riley for the year or so prior to deployment, so that's how we know each other pretty well. He told me he was sending my name on to you all before he left a few weeks ago. He's a great guy and I'm working to get my church back home to send him some gifts in return.

I work with twelve other soldiers in my shop - all guys. We're all well taken care of, but of course welcome anything you all are able to send. I think music and movies are at a premium because at this point we've run through about everything offered in the local stores.

I'm from Oklahoma, unmarried, working on staff, and looking forward to coming home.  Again, thank you for the gifts. They are appreciated by all of us.
v/r
Kevin Mills

FROM SGT NATHAN CLEARY:

Thank you so much for the care packages! I wanted to write back when we got our first package but we just recently got here and things have been crazy busy! You are pretty much well known throughout my entire unit for the huge care packages you send! Your organization sounds pretty neat, its amazing how many people are supporting us out here now. Our unit has been coming to Iraq for a while now, and the support means so much.
Thank you again for all that you have sent to us, it has really made a difference for the Marines out here! I look forward to hearing back from you!

Sgt Nathan Cleary

FROM LTJG BILL FEASTER:
Wow! I don’t even know where to begin! But thank you. I am speechless! Overwhelmed!! Thank you for thinking of us! Those packages were great! I brought them and shared them with my detachment of 14 sailors, they say thank you too!!!!!! We had a mini picnic last night! And the smiles on the faces were priceless! I told them as much as I could about you and your organization.

I / we can not thank you enough! If there is anything we can do for you, please let us know!!!!!!
Thanks for the packages... attached are a few pictures:
1) is the detachment (DET 4) We wanted to say thank you- so we took a pic for you!

THANKSGIVING PACKAGES
We sent out Thanksgiving packages to all our contacts. They were full of all sorts of goodies (actually bad food that tastes good!) and some coffee, a football, some Christmas decorations and cards for them to send home and toiletries
 

Letter Writing Campaign in Full Swing

If you were a part of Pack It Up last Holiday Season, you were a part of a very successful letter writing campaign. We ask that you do the same this year. Please find the time to write one letter to a solider in a Iraq. Write anything you'd like - tell them about yourself, what is going on in the US with sports, politics, your life... be sure to tell them why you are proud of them and that you have not forgotten them while they are overseas. This letter is between you and them and no one else.

Although we sent loads of presents and stockings last year, the most appreciated were the letters from you and your families.

So, please, take a few minutes, write a letter and send it in the mail to us. We will make sure it is in their Christmas stocking...

All letters should be sent to:
Pack It Up
500 Randolph Ave
Milton, MA 02186

This is a great project for schools, Girl/Boy Scouts, and families to do.   If you need help organizing it at your child's school, please email Kristin at kris@packitup.org.
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DON'T FORGET what CPT Chris Krahulec wrote to us, and to all of you, last year after he received the Christmas letters and packages:

Dear Ms. Struck,
 Thank you for your generous packages and kind letters.  As you know it is our honor to receive support from the American public whether it is a card, letter, package or a combination of both.  It is uplifting and inspiring to receive such support from almost complete strangers.  Your simple act of kindness and generosity provides an immense moral boast to the young Marines, especially during the Christmas Season.  As you can expect, some of the Marines did not receive very much from their family and your boxes and letters helped bring the spirit of Christmas to these young men.