Here is an excerpt from a letter we received from a supporter of out troops. It really touched our hearts and strengthened our desire to collect and send care packages to our boys and girls overseas. They need our support and care. Anything from home, your showing of care, goes a long way in lifting the moral and spirits of our young men and women.

My name is Victoria . I am a member of the USMC Hangout group, and read your email in the posts today. I applaud your desire to send carepackages to the Marines.

Regarding the kinds of items which would be well-received: I've been communicating with Marines on several ships in the Persian Gulf. What I have been told by many of them is that they have had chicken over-cooked, chicken badly cooked, chicken under-cooked (that one scares me!), but I think you'll see a pattern there... Those guys have each lost about 20 lbs in the last 4 months. They're needing protein and healthy foods. I've had requests for peanut butter and jelly (I find it weird that those items aren't available in the mess!) breakfast bars, protein bars, instant oatmeal, things like that.

I've been sending those items, along with large packages of jerky (Sam's is wonderful!) and dried apricots, and roasted almonds. Items sent have to be nonperishable, portable and (to my mind) in enough quantity to be shareable! So far the item I hear most about is the jerky. I think they're just craving beef that's not gray! If I could afford it, I'd be sending industrial sized cans of protein powder! ......

So, that's my take on things.

Best regards,

Victoria

Semper Fi!!!