NJ Post Society of American Military Engineers
Donations being accepted to support those serving overseas
Kabul, Afghanistan
Baghdad, Iraq
Items will be shipped to US Army Corps of Engineers and US Army personnel
serving in Baghdad, Iraq and Kabul, Afghanistan.
USACE teams are working with US military and civilian agencies in rebuilding
those countries.
Items needed include snacks, reading material, and specialty items for women.
Donations will be collected at the November meeting or by special appointment.
Please contact Susan Boone at [email protected]
to schedule your donation collection.
Items being accepted:
Pre-paid telephone calling cards (60 min or more)
Non-perishable pre-packaged foods such as:
Fruit bars, granola bars, cookies, non-melting candy (M&M’s), powdered drink mixes,
Gatorade, ice tea, Kool Aid, lemonade, coffee, hot chocolate mix, instant creamer, sugar,
hot sauce, ketchup, mustard, liquid flavor ice pops, chewing gum, beef jerky,
Twizzlers, Tootsie Roll pops, bubble gum, Skittles, Life Savers, Sweet Tarts, peanuts, pretzels,
potato chips, dried fruit snacks, trail mix, Slim Jims, raisins, pop tarts, cereal, peanut butter,
peanut butter crackers, cheese crackers
Note: Snack size packs are easier to share.
Family type magazines such as Sports Illustrated, National Geographic, Time,
Entertainment Weekly, crossword puzzles. Please remove address labels!
Paperback books, card games, board games such as Risk, Uno, checkers, chess.
Personal Hygiene items such as instant hand sanitizers, soap, mouthwash, toothpaste,
hand lotion, toothbrushes, soft toilet paper, deodorant, Chapstick, non-aerosol shaving cream,
shampoo, wet wipes, sun screen, razors, feminine hygiene items and feminine products
Basic 1st Aid items such as band aids, Advil, cortizone cream, Neosporin
Linen: single bed sheets that can fit on a cot and pillows, pillow cases. Blankets will be
accepted for those in Afghanistan.
Supplies: AA batteries, contact lens solution, writing paper, pencils, small pencil sharpeners,
pens, Patriotic stickers and emblems, new Christmas cards & blank note cards
Items not being accepted:
Weapons or potentially hazardous materials such as mace, aerosol cans, lighter fluid,
pornographic materials, pork products, perishable items (such as fresh fruit,
vegetables, or chocolate candy that melts).
NJ Post Society of American Military Engineers
Support Our Troops Program
Our progress so far…
SAME NJ Post has undertaken an effort to send care packages of frequently requested
items to enlisted, commissioned, and reserve units presently serving in units stationed in
Iraq and Afghanistan. The items have been shipped to US Army Corps of Engineers and
US Army personnel serving in Baghdad, Iraq and Kabul, Afghanistan. These personnel
are working with US military and civilian agencies in rebuilding these countries.
The "Support the Troops" program, conceived by Susan Boone and approved by the Post
Executive Committee, was developed with the assistance of young member and reservist
Capt. David Wong and lunched at our September monthly program. Care packages are
prepared and mailed in compliance with USPS and U.S. Customs regulations and troop
security protocols.
To date, over 2,250 lbs. of items were purchased or collected and delivered successfully.
Several of the recipients of our “care packages” sent us their gratitude along with pictures
of themselves hard at work.
Feedback from the Troops
To all,
This is just a short personal note to thank you for the items that you sent. Items of comfort from home (regardless of where in the US)
are always a welcome and spirit lifting treat. Again thank you for supporting us.
A. Shawn Hamilton
Construction Representative
US Army Corps of Engineers
Afghanistan Area Office
Hello, My name is Vincent (Zeek) Ruzicka -- I'm with the Corps of Engineers
here in Kabul, Afghanistan and we received a package from you' all and he was
also kind enough to share, loved the M&M's :) so I just wanted to say thank you
for your efforts and kindness. I've attached a photo: I'm in front of a jingle truck.
We call them that because of the chains that hang down and jingle when they move.
I am an engineer in Kabul, Afghanistan. The care package that you sent has been shared with the rest of us working here. I just
wanted to let you know how much your thoughtfulness is appreciated. Thanks for thinking of us.
Sincerely, Andrea Duff Arnold
Thank you for the wonderful outpouring of donations that you sent us last month. I don't think I properly and promptly thanked you,
although there is a thank you card signed by many of us and group photo on its way in the regular mail. We have definitely been
grateful for all the items you sent. I am about to re-deploy (but returning to Afghanistan again in the first quarter of next year). I know
the remainder of our group, as well as the future arrivals, would be grateful for any care packages you feel generous enough to send in
the future. Again, thanks so much for your support from back home. It's a comfort to know others are thinking of our well-being.
Regards,
Taylor Hwong
Resident Engineer
Afghan Area Office, Transatlantic Programs Center
US Army Corps of Engineers
Kabul, Afghanistan