EASTER IN AFGHANISTAN

EASTER IN AFGHANISTAN

My care packages are fairly similar in content and do not change throughout the year.   The boxes contain lots of non-perishable food, some toiletries, socks and lots of reading material.  The Marines like to read magazines such as Guns and Ammo, American Rifleman, Car and Driver, Sports Illustrated, Bowhunter, Motorcycles, Rolling Stone, Men's Journal, and a daily devotional "Our Daily Bread" for those who seek spiritual enrichment every morning.   Each year a local Girl Scout troop reaches out to their friends and families to purchase cookies for my care packages and I am astonished when multiple cases are delivered to my home.   Those cookies are always cherished by the recipients and a tasty reminder of home.

This past January started with a new challenge...a special request from one of my contacts, a first sergeant with 8th Communications Battalion.  We had been in contact since they arrived in Afghanistan.   She wrote that she had 130 troops at her location and wondered if it would be possible to supply items she had included on her Easter wish list.   The list included Easter baskets, grass for the baskets, plastic Easter eggs, chocolate Easter candy and stuffed animals.  

I felt in my heart that when I sent out the email request to friends who have supported the care packages over the years their enthusiasm to participate would be contagious, and it was.   One of those friends shared my email with some of her friends and then things really began to take off!!!   Nevertheless I was truly stunned at the responses I received from friends and strangers alike.    One sewing club offered to hand-make 130 burlap Easter baskets with hand braided handles (burlap would fold up and be much easier to pack and ship than straw baskets)......but can you imagine hand sewing 130 of them, and then adding braided handles?    One couple offered to supply the stuffed animals.  Another donor offered to supply the plastic eggs, and another the grass.   Lastly a club  I belong to offered to supply the chocolates.... foil covered  eggs, individual chocolate crosses and chocolate bunnies, as well as 130 signed Easter cards, hand delivered to me.  Thank goodness we started in January!!!!

Each of the donors shipped their contributions directly to the Marines because the donors were scattered all over the US.   The candy and cards I shipped because  they were local.   Arrival date in Afghanistan was of great concern.   Since this project started in January we assumed we had plenty of time.  However, that is not always the case when you are counting on the mail system.   Items arrived over a span of several weeks starting in February with the grass arriving the day after Easter.   The 1stSgt managed to put everything together in such a way that each recipient received a basket with each of the items.   They were also treated to a cookout in celebration of the Easter holiday.

The pleasure derived from giving is as great, if not greater, than receiving.    Each of us who contributed was anxious to see photos of our troops enjoying their Easter gifts.   To know that from so many distant places this project came together almost flawlessly was truly uplifting.    It is a wonderful feeling to know that there are Americans out there who want to show their support, to let our troops overseas know that they are loved, appreciated and not forgotten, on holidays and every day.