Colonel:

As you know my son-in-law in serving in the middle east and as info he is sent care packages by his wife and by Penny and me.

However, there must be a number of service personnel serving in hazardous pay areas that may not be receiving support from family/friends for whatever reason.

Is there a site where one can go to help find someone that would like to receive a "goody" package?

Cheers! Ray

Ray, a good friend is the senior military commander in afghanistan, I will ask him...also
I will check with our Public Affairs team here
in Atlanta they will probably know...finally, I know Dear Abby supports some sort of program..let me put on my rucksack and do some road march (homework) for you....good question thanks for asking...r/wes

This is one advertised by the military TV service as a point of contact for folks wanting to support our troops: :D
America Supports You

Good find phil..thx.

Ray, for deployed marines, pls check this out:

Obtaining Generic Marine Addresses
I've gotten lots of requests from folks asking for a Marine's address so they can send care packages to show support. In post 9/11 days, the military has asked family and friends to safeguard overseas addresses and not give them out. However, you can help support the troops and get care packages to an entire platoon by working through Operation Interdependence, or OI Delivers. OI packages arrive in about a week; some parent packages are taking as long as 30 days. You can contact OI via their web site www.oidelivers.org. Parents and troop supporters alike are welcome to work through OI to get packages delivered to our Marines.

r/wes

And a lot of people don't think it's still around, but don't forget:

The U.S.O. !! :D

Colonel/Thulewx:

Thanks so much. Hopefully I can get a few packages off that will reach someone by Christmas.

Cheers! Ray

"We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give"
Winston Churchill

A tip for getting the packages there faster:
Be sure to pay the extra dollar and mail it "Priority Air" - otherwise it goes Space Available and right now that means it could go by freighter. Also, insurance might help. I get my mail through the APO (Aerial Post Office) out of McGuire AFB, New Jersey, and package mail often gets "lost" :b: if not insured. Non-priority packages have taken as long as 8-12 weeks to get here, even though everything we have goes by air.
Shoot - even letter mail often takes 3-5 weeks and magazines are always at least a month late. <img border="0" alt="[bang]" title="" src="graemlins/banghead.gif" />

Phil:

Thanks. As info, we merely send packages via UPS to Virginia and the military takes over from there. It takes 3-4 weeks to get to the Middle East.

In looking over the sites provided, security seems to be a big issue so unless I find some names and addresses, I'll probably just send monthly monetary donations to voluntary groups who will then make up packages and send to a platoon, for instance.

Cheers! Ray

Thanks Colonel.

A package will be off this week to Afhganistan and since seeking your help, we found a soldier in Iraq as well.

Cheers! Ray

Ray, Thanks to you..it is wonderful Americans
like Penny and you that take time/action to show you care for our military..as a soldier I am proud to serve for you..and know the soldiers who will receive their package are thankful too...r/wes