Working with the Brownies, we do spend a lot of time trying to raise money to keep our unit going. But as a charity ourselves, we don't focus on us - we are well aware of other charities out there. And we like to support them where we can.
When my Dad started working as a representative for SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors & Air Force Association) Forces Help, we became involved with another charity called Support Our Soldiers. They specialise in sending shoe boxes out to Afghanistan throughout the year, providing a few home comforts and treats.
As we knew that schools tended to work on 'Project Christmas Child' - sending packages out to children in the 3rd World - we thought it would make a nice change to send it to serving Soldiers on the front line.
The Brownies really enjoy doing it, packing their gifts of mini chocolate bars, books, note pads, pens, snacks, toiletries and their letter, into a shoe box, knowing that they will be kept under lock and key in Afghan until Christmas Day. Because of weight restrictions, we send out travel size where we can - so have a look on your weekly shop - see if the supermarket have any offers on travel size shampoos etc!
We leave a note inside, explaining who we are, and sometimes, we get letters back from the Front:
"...I am writing to thank you for the welfare package you kindly donated.
...
It is really nice to receive boxes and even letters from people such as yourself who take the time and effort to put together a box or write a letter. When we do receive parcels from people we don’t know, it makes us realise that people back home are thinking of us out here.
I would like to thank you again for the parcel and encourage you to keep up the good work in supporting the troops.
We are 8 weeks from completing our 6 month tour of duty when we will return to our base at RAF Horrington in Suffolk /CITY />. Then we have 5 weeks leave and after that start our training for our next deployment some time in the next 2 years.
Thank you all for your support and keep up the good work.
Mark..."
And there is nothing better than that. Taking the time to respond to our girls, and explain a little about what they're doing over there.
So this year I was wondering if any of you lovely lot would fancy helping us out - last year we put together 20 boxes - how about seeing if we can beat that? If you want to send some items to be included in a box, or even send a completed shoe box to me, lovely, email me at: sweetsoulmusic (at) gmail.com and I'll send you my address to post it to.
Any donations, no matter the size, are gratefully appreciated.
We're not a political organisation, but we do like to support the troops out there that maybe don't have any family to send them gifts at Christmas - and imagine getting a box packed by a Brownie. A bit of magic at Christmas.
We send boxes to both male and female troops, and because the Brownies are packing them, please keep your items age appropriate (if you want to put together a different type of box, I can send you the details of SOS HQ to send it to for them to process directly).
Thank you so much for reading this pleading post,
Merry Christmas!
Much love my lovelies,
K x
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