How we got started

 

In 2009 when my husband was deployed he mentioned that there were a lot of troops that did not get packages from anyone.
That made me realize I had to do something. I started sending a lot of extra baked goods for him to give to those troops. Once Valentine's day came along I wanted to do something bigger, and more personal so I put together individual packages for about 30 troops with candy, treats and toys in gallon size Ziplock bags.

A good friend of mine Amy Summers volunteered to help me as well, and together we sent out 36 total packages for the troops!

Next came Easter and it grew from 30 troops at 1 camp to 150 troops at 5 camps! It is such a heartwarming thing to do. Just knowing that I can do something to make people smile makes my whole day!!

Generally I try to make all of the home baked goods..brownies, cookies, breads and other treats myself until it got too big for me to do alone. For 100 troops we have to have 400 brownies, 400 cookies, 400 of all home made goods so that they all get at least 4 each

Now I have a few people that volunteer to bake things. Then we go to Costco and make a LARGE purchase of items to include such as granola bars, drinks, peanuts and other things that they possibly cannot get overseas.

Comments:

"Sending props to my girl Kiley AGAIN!!! Four more boxes today! Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you; this made several Soldiers' day brighter. It is amazing what a bag of chips and some candy will do for morale!"

"Sending a "shot out" to my new buddy Kiley! Several Soldiers wanted to know if she was married after they tasted those home-made brownies! Yeah; thanks for the treats."

"Can't thank you enough for all the work you have been doing to bring a little piece of home to everyone here and Afghanistan. Wow! You and your team of volunteers have been so generous"