Reserves Depleted
No, not the Army Reserves, but my cash reserves. I really try hard not to beg for money on this site unless I need to. I realize how much you all have done in the past and hesitate to squeeze for more. In the past few months, I’ve added personal and ASP funds (my other blog, A Soldier’s Perspective) to the money you sent to send kids to D&C camp, sent four huge boxes full of Girl Scout cookies to Soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq, and purchased a few ASP t-shirts for individuals who have done a LOT to help us with our projects. This has tapped me out financially and I need your help again.
Today, the employees at one of the local Starbucks Coffee shops here on Airport Rd donated over 100 pounds of coffee to me to send to troops. I don’t even have room on my conference table for anything else now, but my office smells nice! I have addresses and plenty of troops to send it to, but I can’t afford the postage right now. I have exactly $1.86 left in our account (yes, that’s after our most recent $40 donation – thank you;)). For those that are new, virtually every dollar collected through my milblog and through my writing here is put back into Soldier-support projects. The only money we keep is used to pay for registration and hosting.
In addition to postage, I could use some money to purchase three coffee grinders. Almost all of the bags are whole beans. Since I don’t drink coffee, I have no idea what a good grinder looks like or costs, but Wal-Mart seems to have a bunch for about $20. So, here’s what I need: approximately $175 for postage and about $75 for the grinders.
So, could you please tap your resources, friends, family, neighbors, and anyone looking for a way to support the troops and ask them to donate through the Paypal tab in the upper right hand corner. They can use credit cards, debit cards, and Paypal accounts to donate. Also, if you get the chance, please send a card or letter of thanks to the employees at Starbucks Store #9543:
Starbucks Coffee
800A Airport Rd SW
Huntsville, AL 35803
(256) 881-1240
You can also call them, but they are a busy store and I think they’d much more appreciate a personal letter or card. I mailed them an official thank you on my Company letterhead earlier today. Maybe they’ll post the letters in the restaurant which will encourage more support. If so, I’ll go by there on a regular basis and take pictures for everyone.
DNR
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:12 pmCJ, et el,
We have been shipping large amounts of care packages and supplies to our troops. In a fervor to find a better way than the USPS, we came upon UPS. They now can ship to APOs and for 1/10 to ¼ the price of the good ol’ government.
We estimate that your 100# of coffee should ship for $90 +/-. The only catch is, it must be to one person. The box can contain individual package that this one person must then distribute.
We are doing all of our bulk shipping through a local UPS store. Approach your local UPS store. If they tell you different, let me know and we’ll get the details hammered out.
DNR
Patriotwatch.com
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:42 pmWe want to lend a hand CJ. Don’t know how much yet but count us in.
I do want to thank DNR for the tip on UPS. We’re still waiting for the new larger military flat rate boxes from USPS that we wrote about in solving the issues we covered last year entitled GOING POSTAL. http://www.patriotwatch.com/GoingPostal.htm
Trust me CJ, we know how it feels when someone steps up with a donation of goods for the troops but we have no funds to get them off. Never feel bad about asking for help. How else can loyal Americans know how to help and get through the maze on trying to do it alone. Bless you for what you do pal.
Mary Hacker
September 4th, 2008 at 11:23 amCJ,
First, Starbucks will grind the coffee for you for FREE if you ask them to. Please ask them in future to grind it first before donating. Our org. has gotten many bags donated and I take it to my local Starbucks and have them grind it for me. Then, we ship it.
Secondly, do you have 501(c)3 status? If not, I’d be happy to help you with the paper work to get it started. Someone helped me and I’d be happy to help you. Let me know If I can help with anything else. We are not that far from you.
Mary
CJ
September 4th, 2008 at 11:44 amAll, thanks for the donations. I”ve got everything I needed. I’m speechless.