Making Veterans’ Spirits Bright
By Sue Wackerlin
In times of emails, Facebook and all the social media platforms, good ol’ snail mail is still the most important communication to our soldiers. Packages we put together for them have begun to arrive, and we are starting to hear from our soldiers.
This year is the first time in decade of Adopt a Soldier that are soldiers have been reaching out to ask us to send to their buddies serving. I’m including a picture and message we received from a deployed soldier just yesterday.
“Hello! I just wanted to thank you for the boxes. I’m a soldier stationed overseas not going home for the holidays and the homemade cookies and snacks mean a lot to me! I have a couple friends here who could use a pick me up. Are you still sending boxes?”
This is the 3rd soldier in two days that has reached out. We receive many of our soldiers from their families, but over the years, our “adopted soldier” have continued to share with us the names of those they serve with.
We’re touched that Adopt a Soldier has gained the trust of those serving who feel they and their brothers & sisters in arms are in good hands with us. Of course, we’re planning another shipment as soon as we can, in between two Christmas events for our veterans in need.
As for our troops, the deployments range from Africa, Germany and places we cannot divulge. While we no longer provide folks with names and address of our soldiers, we always welcome those that would like to support them, to feel free to send letters, or cards for us to place in the care packages.
All letters are opened and read before adding them to our boxes. For those that would like to purchase items for the packages, we do have an Amazon wish list folks can easily shop & ship to Adopt a Soldier. See adoptasoldier.com.
Many Americans don’t realize along with the cost of items for our care packages, the cost of postage ranges from $22- $25 per box. So any donations are always welcome.
Sue Wackerlin of Peotone is the founder of Adopt A Soldier.