Hey Canada, Our Soldiers In Afghanistan Need Something. Please Help...

As many of you may know, I try to keep in touch with members of our Armed Forces serving in foreign countries.
I've had a special request from one serviceman for something they need.

Newspapers from home..............

Internet service is very poor at the camps, and many members don't have the time to wait for a page to download from a simple news sight.

Here's a snippet from a recent letter:

Heh Vic,

I’m a little pied off, I just spent an hour composing an email to you on Yahoo mail and the website shut down just as I was about to send it… Anyway, I’ll try to remember what I babbled about… now I am composing on MS Word and I’ll copy and paste it when ready…

Nice to hear from you too… Today we had the visit of little poopers (mice’s we believe), turn the place upside down to track them but to no avail… usually the nasty crawlers (snakes) follows them… last week one of the guys got bitten while sleeping by what we believe a little mouse… he’s ok now… just a scab and no apparent infection… no sightings of snakes yet...

Yes, I know that you are pretty resourceful and I think that I would like to take you up on the offer… in the near future I heard that Canada Post will pick up the tab during a certain period… you might want to check that out…

What would be nice would be English and French newspapers… we don’t see much of that around here… not that we have lots of time to read but some would be nice to read about stuff from home…

(I put the Bold in that last part for emphases)


These people are doing a job that few of us could do, and I was hoping some members could take the effort to make their lives a little better.

I'm contacting my local newspapers with this simple message:

Dear sir,

As you know we have many soldiers working and fighting in Afghanistan.
I have a special request that I hope you can help me with concerning
your publication.

One of our men in uniform lamented that members on the base could not
get news from home because of bad internet service.
He expressed a desire to be able to read papers from home, and
promised to pass them around the base for other soldiers to read.

I was just wondering if you could find it in your hearts to forward
some issues of your paper to his address to make them feel more in touch with home.

The papers do not need to be sent directly to Kandahar or Kabul, just
to a Canadian address that will transport them to the base over-seas.
It would mean a lot to these people to hold a paper from home, even if
it is a few days old by time they get to open it.

Thank-you for anything you can do, even if it's a few issues. This particular
soldier returns home just after Christmas, so the address will not be
valid after that.

I've posted the address that will get it to a military air transport
that will ship it to our soldiers if you are able to help out.

Thanks again,
Victor


Please send to:

PO2 MIKE LESPERANCE, N48 858 569
NSE/ESN / CMC (CONTRACT CELL) QA
OP ARCHER
PO BOX 5058 STN FORCES
BELLEVILLE ON K8N 5W6


Just For Your Information.......
"Every parcel is scanned/x-rayed for devices or liquids and they don't
send it if something suspicious is found... "

If anyone else could contact their local paper or a magazine and urge them to donate a subscription, or even a single issue to our folks in uniform, I know it would be appreciated by our soldiers.

You could even mail a copy of a paper you receive to the address posted, and I guarantee it will pass through the hands of many men and women desperate for any news from home.

They miss their families and home so much, and this is a small thing to make them feel more in touch.


Thank-you for any effort you make.
anxietydisorder......





Edit: You know I need to edit, it's just my way....





[edit on 3/9/2007 by anxietydisorder]

HeyAD great idea.Consider it done.I'll grab an extra Toronto star on the weekends and send it out,would that work?I can't even believe the horrible conditions they endure there.Anything to make them feel better,i'll do.

Yes AD, that would work just fine.

Our soldiers are starved for information from back home, and any paper you send to the address I posted will get shared around the camp like a treasure.

If you can, also send an e-mail to the paper requesting they also send a few copies to the address I posted. So many of our men and women would love to have an actual paper from Canada in their hands.

Thanks for your support, not for this thread, but for our troops.

I've been working on sending e-mails to various publications in Canada and I received this in my mail a few minutes ago.

CANADA POST TO REPEAT OFFER OF FREE MAIL SERVICE
TO FAMILIES OF DEPLOYED TROOPS

OTTAWA-Canada Post today announced it will again provide free parcel service
for family and friends of deployed Canadian troops for the coming 2007
holiday season. The program, which will run from October 26 to January 11,
2008, means Canada Post will deliver parcels free of charge to designated
Canadian Forces Bases.

At the same time, Canada Post is pleased it will also begin providing free
delivery of letters to deployed troops effective immediately through 2008.

"We are pleased to again this year work with the Department of National
Defense on this important initiative, " said Moya Greene, president and
Chief Executive Officer of Canada Post. "We know how important mail from
home is to the men and women serving overseas under very difficult
conditions. This is our way of showing our continued support for our troops
and their families."

With capacity limitations on military aircraft carrying supplies and
munitions to deployed forces, this offer is restricted to family and friends
of the service men and women serving in Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina,
Sinai and Jerusalem. Troops serving on any of the deployed Her Majesty's
Canadian Ships are also included in the offer.

Quote from DND

To ensure the proper customs declaration form and addressing information,
the letters and parcels will need to be deposited at one of Canada Post's
more than 17,000 retail outlets across the country. (Letters and packages
dropped in regular mail boxes will not qualify._ They will then be forwarded
to Canadian Forces Bases in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Victoria, British Columbia
and Belleville, Ontario. Once delivered to the military bases, the
Department of National Defense will take charge of the letters and parcels
and ensure their delivery overseas. All mail must be addressed to a specific
soldier, including rank and mission information.


For further information, contact:
Canada Post Media Relations
(613) 734-8888

I'll repost this closer to the date it starts, but keep it in mind.
Canadians will be able to send Christmas care packages to our troops for free.

All you need to do is tell the Post Office you're a friend of the person serving.


I'll see if I can get a list of some of our service members posted before the date arrives.

Just a note to add:

ALL CONTENTS OF ANY PACKAGE NEEDS TO BE CLEARLY LISTED ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE PARCEL FOR IT TO BE ACCEPTED FOR TRANSPORT BY THE MILITARY.

VERY IMPORTANT.......

Thanx
anx...

Update with some pictures....

Reader's Digest and Our Canada have sent out a number of copies of their magazines to be shared around the camp. I've also been sending single copies of my cities main paper, and have a friend in Montreal sending out some editions for the guys that speak French.

I'm looking for any Canadian members that live in or near these towns to forward a copy or two of your local paper to the address I provided above.

Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Val-Cartier, Shannon, Val-Belair.

The men and women from these areas have made a special request for papers from their homes to see whats going on. Postage to the address provided for a single news paper is about $1.00, and from the e-mails I'm getting, they're loving every paper they get, and passing them around.


I can post a few pictures of one of the camps, but for security, can't post names and faces, or location. I've degraded the picture a bit for that reason, and to save upload space.


This first one is some of the stuff that keeps them alive and gets them around.





A couple shots of sleeping quarters. Notice the protective barriers....




They use tarps and sheets between the bunks for a little privacy. I can't show you an actual bunk because of personal effects and family photos, but each man has a little private nook he can call home for now.




This one is just a chow line. Their big complaint is way too much chicken and not a lot of variety.




They say the weather changes from hot to very hot, with the odd sandstorm for variety.




Now keep in mind this is a Canadian Facility, so they did bring a little comfort from home. Of course they built a hockey rink, just no ice.




And how could our soldiers survive without a Tim Horton's ?
The posted rules for Tim's include "NO CUTTING IN LINE" & "NO ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE OF FIREARMS".
Sounds like good rules to me......




They also have a Burger King and Subway along the boardwalk, and even a corner store for toiletries and stuff.





I'll end this post with a beautiful sunset beyond the razor wire.





Please, someone send these hard working people something to read from home......

I'm on it AD....Sent two copies of the Toronto Star.
Great pictures...and lucky they have a Timmy's.....
A morning without Timmy's is Torture....might as well stay in bed...

I just e-mailed the Hamilton Spectator, so hopefully they will get back to me on this subject. Once they do I will post it.

Wow, thanks guys. Stars for both of you..........

I've e-mailed about 30 newspapers, and a number of magazines. A few have been very kind and promised to send out issues right away. Some have already arrived at the base in Afghanistan and the soldiers are lining up to get a look at them.

I spent the whole morning on the phone to papers in Quebec and had great luck with a few of them. It also looks like Maclean's Magazine will be sending a subscription, I'm just waiting for their confirmation from a guy higher up the ladder.

Here's a note I got the other day from a soldier.

When I got back to the office after a 12 hrs round trip exiting convoy (pictures will be sent soon), I had a big envelope waiting for me... :-)

Readers Digest sent me 5 Our Canada and 4 Reader's Digest little books... the guys in the office said to tell you a big thank you.
i'm tired & going to sleep, ttfn,

And another from yesterday.

Hoo Hoo! Boys here are happy and they thank you and -----.

Thanks for all of what you do, its appreciated.

Some guys are from Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Val-Cartier, Shannon, Val-Belair. papers from there would be nice. I got your newspaper in the mail today, thank you. When I opened the envelope and got it out, there were two english guys that wanted to read it. I read it then I shared.

I look forward to your cake.

ZERO tolerance on sex, drugs and alcohols. They don't even want to see chocolates filled with alcohol.

I try to take picture as the tour go by, I'll post them on an irregular base, never know what will be there... I have pretty much everything of what I need around here reference as far as what you could call comfort. Newspapers are cool as it gives us a flavour from home that we miss.

Keeping safe, take care

So the stuff is getting into the right hands, and they really appreciate what we're doing. And hell, it's the least we can do for those that do so much to serve their country.



EDIT: I'll repeat the address for those that can send a paper or magazine out.

PO2 MIKE LESPERANCE, N48 858 569
NSE/ESN / CMC (CONTRACT CELL) QA
OP ARCHER
PO BOX 5058 STN FORCES
BELLEVILLE ON K8N 5W6



[edit on 25/9/2007 by anxietydisorder]

I'm sending some papers from home tomorrow. I can mail all of last weeks before the recycle picked up. Do they wan't Chateleine?
I'll get some stuff together in box for when they send it out free, let me know what they need and I'll save it for them.

When you talk about soldiers, we think of men. Why not send a few magazines that the ladies would like to read.

A Cosmo for the women would be nice if you can get it away from the men
I have a couple i can send, they'll be sent when the post office opens today.

Thanks for doing this anxiety, it's so tuff being away from home, i know.

Recently, I heard the news that Afghan protesters shouted "Death to Canada, death to foreigners, etc..."



You can find the articles on google relating to this.

It's fantastic that more stuff is going out.
Any magazine for women would be coveted by the ladies on the base.
Send what you can in the way of magazines, I know Cosmo will be a hit.

Just don't send anything pornographic, it won't get through...

Originally posted by TheoOne
protesters shouted "Death to Canada, death to foreigners, etc..

That's very possible, no one wants their country to be occupied by foreign troops.
Post a link to the story if you can find it, I'd like to give it a read.


But for now............
NEW NEWS BEING SENT...

I have two new papers in Quebec sending papers over to the troops that speak French. One weekly called Journal Le Carrefour is sending some back issues and the current editions out in the mail today.

Maclean's Magazine has been sending English editions to Afghanistan for a while, but I don't know what base, and they won't tell me. They asked me to call a number in Montreal for French editions, but the line is always busy.
If anyone want to try to get them to send some stuff call 514-843-5141
Ask for the Director of Marketing............


I'm going to send all the issues of the Hamilton Spectator from this week, but I hope Equinox99 gets a reply that they will send them on a regular basis.
It's nice to know that I'm not the only ATSer in Hamilton.


More pictures should be posted on Friday..............



[edit on 27/9/2007 by anxietydisorder]

AD you're a freaking ledgend!!

Awesome work!

Now I know there are a lot of Chinese in Canada. Are there any serving? If yes and they want some Chinese language papers then let me know, The Law (wife) gets a paper everyday I'll send some on.

MonKey

Originally posted by ChiKeyMonKey

Now I know there are a lot of Chinese in Canada. Are there any serving?

I'm sorry I didn't reply sooner, but I was waiting for a reply from my contacts in Afghanistan. At this point I don't know of any Chinese speaking Canadians working on the base in Kabul, but send a couple of papers anyway.
I know we have many soldiers serving in our military that speak and read both Cantonese and Mandarin, so I'm sure it would be appreciated if you sent a paper in their language.
Anything in Tagalog or Malayo-Polynesian languages won't go to waste either.


I just received an e-mail from a French language newspaper that requested me to call. It looks like the publisher will send a number of different publications.

I have a translator coming over later today to make the call for me.
I really should have paid more attention in school when they taught French.



EDIT: Good news...

I just spoke with the Directeur des ventes du Journal Le Soleil.
He has generously agreed to send 6 - 8 copies of their French language newspaper every day. They publish six days a week in Quebec City and he will have an Ontario distributor deliver a bundle to the base guard shack in Belleville each morning, all addressed and ready to go on the plane.

The guys are gonna love this.

[edit on 3/10/2007 by anxietydisorder]

Good news, and bad news....

First the bad news.
Tim Horton's almost got hit with rocket fire. :shk:

From an e-mail from the front today:

In the past week, tension has increase to the point now that even when go pee that what have to mandatory wear our protective gear. Last night we got it twice with rockets, one of them came too close to Timmy... the bastards are lucky they didn't hit it because they'd be in bodybags by now... no one got hurt... close but not injured... we were lucky on both hits. The other night, it was a car bomb on the camp... not sure how this one got in, but they found one... mind you, with over 2000 + locals coming in everyday...

Canadian soldiers take their Timmy's very seriously, I hope they nail the bastards that would try to take that away from them.


The good news.......

A media distributor in Ontario is supplying The Toronto Sun, Can-West Global is sending a variety of publications, and I have a direct contact on the Trenton base that will forward anything for me for free. If he can't ship it via military transport he can send it commercial carrier still at no charge.

Persistence is paying off.

I also have a couple pictures I want to share:


This is a transport plane being prepared for loading.




Here's supplies, including mail for the troops being loaded.



This is how the newspapers are getting to our men and women serving in Afghanistan.

Some of the candy and items sent in care packages are also shared outside the camp. This is one of our soldiers talking to local boys. I'm sure he had a few treats from Canada to hand out at the time.




They are serving our country so I feel compelled to add this..........





Edit: added pictures



[edit on 4/10/2007 by anxietydisorder]

We now have a box sitting on a trunk in the living room. So far it only has a few magazines, a box of biscuits, and a couple DVDs in it. I'll make sure to include some Halloween candy and treats for them to pass around. We'll have it full of stuff before the free mailing period starts after October 26.
AD says Canada Post will accept any package up to 20 Kilos for free, so I want to max this out.

Post any other suggestions about what I can include because it goes in the mail in a couple weeks.

I've been wanting to put together a care package for our troops but have no idea where to send it and what to put in it.

It seems this thread is the best place to ask and you (AD) seem to be the authority on this issue

got any suggestions? Seeing as CP is sending 20kilos free i might as well put as much in as i can.

Edit: I just re-read the thread, specifically the part of Canada Post. I dont know any service men/women but still really want to send a care package. Is there any way to go about this?

[edit on 10-10-2007 by InSpiteOf]

Thanks for your support, I know the troops will enjoy whatever you send.

The address I posted above goes to a soldier in the supply chain, and he distributes items to soldiers not working directly on the base. Anything sent to that address will get shared around to those that need it most.
I've known him for many years and the man has a heart of gold. He enjoys being in the position to provide goodies to the other guys in the field.

I'll post a list of stuff that is forbidden first.

DO NOT SEND........

alcohol, including liquor filled chocolates :w:
liquids such as juice, pop, etc...
pornography of any sort
drugs or medications
pork products
weapons
munitions
any illegal item or substance

Security is very tight.
Packages will be x-rayed, sniffed, and possibly opened for inspection before transport on a military aircraft or entering a base.

You will need to do a customs declaration form at the Post Office, but you also need to list the contents on the exterior of the package.
I was worried about packages being stolen because everyone would know what was in the box, but so far everything is getting through without problem.

I can think of a few things that you could send, and I hope other members will post with any other ideas they have.

board games
playing cards
candies and cookies
a box of tea and some biscuits
convenience foods
chocolate bars
movies on DVD
a few magazines or books
your local newspaper
a bicycle

Anything Canadiana will really be enjoyed, like a mug from Tim Horton's or with a Canadian flag on it. Some stickers of Canadian flags, or maple sugar candy in the shape of a leaf.

The soldiers like to pass out hard candies to children in the towns so they don't throw rocks at them. A bag of individually wrapped candy goes a long way to ingratiate local boys.

I'm sure others have some ideas, so please post them.


As far as the Post Office is concerned about it being sent free, Mike Lesperance is your best drinking buddy, and you've known him for years.
They can't prove he's not a friend, brother in law, or whatever......





[edit on 10/10/2007 by anxietydisorder]

Thankyou very much for the information and thats who ill send the package too. Im going to try and get it out before the end of the month and ill post back when i send it.

I cant imagine what its like to be there in 100+ degree weather with 50 pounds of crap on your back.

Edit to add: I know you said pork products are a no no, but what a bout beef jerky? Its not the greatest, but its high in protien, keeps for long periods of time in most climates, and im sure it tastes better than MRE's

Also, can we write a thankyou letter addresed to the troops and put in the package? (probably a stupid question)

[edit on 10-10-2007 by InSpiteOf]