See below for ways you can support our troops

Troop Support Photos
(More photos at the SAMS Website)

Items to add to your packages if you are sending to the troops:
Things they DON'T want: too many tampons (esp. when a box goes to a bunch of guys), hard candies, cheap razors, hotel soaps.

Things they DO want: Instant oatmeal, heavy duty lotions (like Gold Bond), candy bars, jerky, microwave meals such as Health Choice fresh mixers, Tuna Creations.
(More info on what to send - scroll down)

Family and friends of deployed Army Personnel in Afghanistan can now send a HooahMail letter to be downloaded, printed, and ready for delivery, usually within 24 hours. THE SERVICE IS FREE, PRIVATE and SECURE

If you go to this web site, www.LetsSayThanks.com you can pick out a thank you card
and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq.
You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to a member of the armed services.

Note: No service personnel can receive mail not addressed to them by name.

Here is another site worth visiting.  They support the families of our military who have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan
Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund

Blue Star Moms - Sacramento

We sent out 2,000 care packages to the troops in 2009 (1,100 of those were sent for the holidays).   We will continue to be packing care packages to send to the troops.  If you would like to make a donation, please see the list of drop off boxes throughout the community.  They are listed on this site.   Please let these businesses know that you appreciate their support of our troops.

Please email us at support@sacramentoBlueStarMoms.org to add your deployed loved one's name to our care package list. 

Patriot Guard Riders
PGR is very active in the Northern California area supporting welcome home events at the airports as well as veteran funerals and other ceremonies.

About Troops Need You  Troops Need You is dedicated to maintaining the American tradition of mobilizing citizens to directly enable wartime success.  By using donated funds from people across the country, Troops Need You delivers what combat units need to win over local Iraqis.  So far, that has included everything from medical supplies to soccer equipment to water purifiers--even gun cleaning kits and wheelchairs.  We deliver to the troops the mission-essential supplies they say they need, so the troops can finish the mission and come home--victorious.  Donate online or mail to Troops Need You, PO Box 2812, Reston, Virginia 20195.

About the Founder Major Eric Egland (Reserve) has served in Iraq and Afghanistan.  As a counter-terrorism advisor, he went on combat patrols throughout Iraq, listening to the needs of our troops.  He later founded Troops Need You to get help get them what they need to succeed. Eric earned a Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence from the National Defense Intelligence College and graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy.  He and his wife, Ania, run Troops Need You as volunteers, and he has discussed national security issues on Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, C-SPAN and NPR.  His perspective on national security was featured in a Fox News documentary on Iran.

ThanksUSA provides scholarships for children and spouses of military families. On this Independence Day, you can help us help the families of America's active-duty military. ThanksUSA funds and delivers academic scholarships (1,750 since 2006), for the spouses and children of every branch of our armed forces including the Guard and Reserves. Click to enjoy a video with Lonestar and learn more about ThanksUSA

 

 

Knitting wool helmet liners for the troops:
If any of you want to help, go to www.geocities.com/helmetliner  for information.

Note: No service personnel can receive mail not addressed to them by name. 
Do not send mail to  "A Recovering American Soldier c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center"
The Post Office has been directed not to deliver such mail.  See below for some better ideas.

 
Want to support to a Soldier in harm's way, but have no idea of what to send, who to send it to, or how to send it?

http://anysoldier.com/ (This links also to Any Marine, Airman, and Sailor)

You can donate money which ALL goes to sending support.  You can just send a letter or you can send a generic care package, or you can pick out something specific that our troops really need and send that.  Read the FAQ on the website.  (More information below) 

Here's the "top ten" from some infantry soldiers recently returned from Iraq:

Gatorade and other powdered drink mixes
Babywipes and Toilet paper
Q-tips and Pipe cleaners
Cigarettes (menthol) and Skoal
Hard candies, nuts, jerky

Hi there, this is LT Bob Moore (USN). I’m happy to see that there is so much support for the troops. I just returned from a deployment in Afghanistan and I always enjoyed receiving gift boxes from people all over the country. I can tell you that receiving mail/packages is a HUGE deal to the troops because it lets us know someone cares about us being where we are deployed. The packages and letters I received helped make the days pass and always gave me something to look forward to. You can pass this email along if you’d like because I might be able to shed a little light on what troops are generally looking for. I was in Iraq in 04 and I returned from Afghanistan last month. Here is a list of things I always enjoyed:

Iraq
Gatorade powder
The single packages of those drink powders that you put into a bottle of water
Gift cards for AAFES - http://www.aafes.com/
Beef jerky
Good sun block (45spf or higher)

Afghanistan
Warm socks/gloves and undergarments – it gets extremely cold in Afghanistan
Mosquito repellant (the lotion kind)
Good coffee for those cold mornings – coffee mugs and travel cups also.

General items for any soldier in both countries
Candies, spicy foods (rice crackers, spicy peanuts, etc. - foods with flavor) The Dining Facilities (DFACs) serve rather bland foods. Word puzzle games – there’s dozens of little pocket book game books. Name brand shampoos and soaps -  the BX/PX, if there’s one near you, only sells a few generic brand toiletries. Fingernail clippers, Q-tips, chap stick, etc are good things to send as well. 

I got packages from quite a few people that I didn’t know and you have no idea how good it makes you feel to hear from people that support you. It’s an uplifting experience and keeps the troops moral as high as can be expected.

Thanks again and support those deployed! Take it from me, in that environment, they deserve it!

Bob Moore LT, USN