IMPORTANT APPEAL FOR CHRISTMAS 2011 CONTRIBUTIONS
On Saturday, September 24 the Shreveport chapter of
Operation Support Our Troops (OSOT), Inc. packed 70 small/medium sized boxes for shipment to deployed troops for Halloween 2011, which is a low number considering previous shipments. Although the economy is down, we have SO many troops still deployed/away from their families and SO many addresses to send to that we REALLY NEED more involvement if we’re going to have enough to pack for Christmas 2011.
The Christmas 2011 packing is scheduled for Saturday, November 12. Yes, this is an early date, but all boxes must be en route to the Middle East BEFORE the Thanksgiving holidays (and the normal Christmas mail rush) if they are going to arrive on time. The Shreveport chapter set a new record last year by shipping 178 boxes–my goal this year is 200!
Here’s our WISH LIST of items to help bring smiles to the faces of our deployed U.S. troops this Christmas:
1) Non-perishable food items -instant hot chocolate mix
-instant oatmeal/grits -tuna in foil packs -snack crackers -BEEF jerky
-coffee/tea/creamer/sugar
-Ramen noodle and instant cup-a-soups (any flavor but pork) -Pringles potato chips
-granola bars
-sunflower seeds
2) Hygiene products
-non-aerosol athlete foot medication
-disposable razors
-lotion
-travel sized items (the complimentary soaps, etc.
found in hotel bathrooms)
-Blistex/Carmex/Chapstick
-non-aerosol shaving GEL (Dollar Tree carries this item) -baby wipes
3) Christmas candy (ALL TYPES and holiday treat bags to make small packages of candy for individual troops) 4) Other items
-tube socks -nail clippers
-quart/gallon sized zip lock bags -small games (unwrapped)
-comics and sports sections of newspaper
-empty Christmas stockings (used to fill with items prior to packing date)
-blank Christmas cards troops can send their families (no overtly religious themes)
-handmade Christmas cards and/or artwork made by children (TROOPS ENJOY MORE THAN ANYTHING) -notes/letters of appreciation & encouragement
-medium sized cardboard boxes, void of advertisement on outside of box and clear packing tape
(If local stores/vendors/businesses are willing to donate, we won’t have to use money to purchase them). 5) Monetary contributions (costs us $1.45 per pound to ship boxes – Christmas 2010 shipment costs nearly $5,000)
TAX-DEDUCTIBLE checks should be written to OSOT, INC. & mailed c/o 243 Justin Ave., Shreveport, 71105.
Due to organizational rules, we CANNOT ship:
-pork products or anything pork flavored (i.e. vienna sausage, spam)
-home baked goods (for safety reasons, everything needs to be commercially packed) -overtly religious items (i.e. prayer books, rosaries)
-aerosol cans (i.e. shaving cream, sunscreen)
Items can be dropped off at the following locations: American Climate Controlled Storage (6721 Pines Rd., Shreveport); St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church (522 E. Flournoy-Lucas Rd., Shreveport); or ANY UPS Store in Shreveport/Bossier.
Especially since Veteran’s Day is in November, PLEASE HELP PROMOTE OSOT, INC. DURING OCTOBER and EARLY NOVEMBER to show support for our deployed men/women protecting American freedom. We need more schools, churches, scout troops, business, civic organizations and patriotic individuals involved in helping us collect items.
For more information about this organization, please go to www.osot-shreveport.org, email me at ssomathies@yahoo.com or call 318-862-9847 (9-6) or 318-219-7488 (evenings/wknds) to see how you can get involved.
On behalf of our deployed troops and their families, thanks SO much for your attention to this information and your support. Shirley Olivieri-Mathies, Chairman of OSOT, Inc.-Shreveport (& PROUD Army Mom of son to deploy 3rd time-November 2011)
