In January, a family friend began a year’s deployment in the Persian Gulf,
leaving behind his two young children.

After his departure, I became aware of the many organizations that send
items to our troops, but found little that deployed parents can have readily
available to easily communicate with their young children.

In an effort to help my friend keep in touch with his children -a difficult
taskunder the best of cricumstances, I designed interactive postcards for
him to mail home. The cards are viewed as little gifts both by him and the
kids, with space for a note from him and drawings the children enjoy coloring,
connecting the dots and working out mazes.

When completed, the art is mailed back to him, sharing the children’s
creativity and accomplishments and maintaining ongoing communication. He
says that the cards are especially helpful as an easy, economical way to
keep in touch with his children and give them an equally easy -and fun– way to send a
little of themselves to him.

Thus began the birth of the “Troops In Touch” . I have become so energized
that I’ve designed over 50 cards –some gender specific, others general in
nature, including military, sports, seasonal and holiday themes. The next
step of making them available to others seemed natural.

These cards perfect for young children who cannot write on their own and for
busy spouses with too much to do to supervise letter writing — the
activities on the cards require little or no supervision.

They’re especially easy for the deployed parent since he/she doesn’t have to
come up with new things to say required by a letter -and when the postcard
is returned, the “artwork” provides a topic for a response.

But most importantly, unlike an e-mail or phone call, the postcard has been
touched by loved ones. Children can hold the cards, carry them around, sleep
with them under their pillows and know that they’re receiving and sending
their very own mail.

Realizing how important it is for parents and children to stay in touch, I
had hoped to provide the cards at no cost but I simply cannot afford to.
Ideally, FRGs and groups that support military families will order in quantities to
help keep the fee modest.

Individuals may also order cards for service people they know from my
website -and those sales enable me to have a small income stream so that I
can donate them when needed. Additionally, I could offer your members &
supporters discounts for all purchases.

I hope you will help spread the word about this new resource.
You can see a few samples at my website at http://www.createmygift.com/troops.php
and I’d be happy to send actual samples of the postcards to you as well as
answer any questions you may have.

Sincerely,
Beth Allen