Operation: Gratitude

November 16, 2009

Greetings, Fellow Patriots!

"We the People of Mid-Michigan" (WTPMM) is a group of citizen volunteers who work to focus efforts at uniting Americans to exercise their Constitutional rights to restore Limited Government, Fiscal Responsibility, and Free Markets to our grand country.

We also believe that the thousands of men, women, and families of the United States Armed Forces make our freedom and our rights possible. Without their sacrifice and brave stand on our behalves, we would have none of those rights.

We are organizing local efforts to give back to those brave men and women. Together, we can send at least a little comfort and provide the reassurance that we support them and share common gratitude for their great deeds. We can make a difference in the days our brothers and sisters experience by sending some of the many common necessities and some of the little "extras" that may be taken for granted here state-side.

WTPMM is sponsoring "Operation: Gratitude", a concerted effort of the people of Mid-Michigan to buy, package, and ship many common needs and some nice wants to our brave fighting forces.

There are many ways you can help. From donating items on the lists below, to donating time at collection locations, and money for shipping.

If you would like to volunteer time, please contact us at soldiersupport@wethepeopleofmidmichigan.org. Please ask any questions, or state any comments you feel important.

If you have a soldier over-seas who we can send a package to, we will need a full address.

There are several soldier donation drives throughout the Mid Michigan area where businesses have opened doors and are donating time and treasure to better the day of a soldier. We will be sending out updates to inform of these donation locations, and other ways the people of Mid Michigan can show SUPPORT for OUR TROOPS. So, if you know of a donation location, please let us know at the address below also.


List of ITEMS YOU CAN SEND and will go a long way toward showing our soldiers that we support them:

The following list is furnished by OPERATION SHOEBOX IOSCO. There may be many other items that can be sent. If you have question, please ask, and if you know of some items not listed that are allowed, please let us know also.


Non Food Items:
Hand Lotion, Toothpaste, Toothbrush, Floss, Baby Powder, Foot Powder, Black/White Crew Socks, Shampoo, Combs, Q-tips, Kleenex, non-aerosol Deodorant, Disposable Razors, Nail Clippers, Emery Boards, Hand/Foot Warmers, Small Rolls of Toilet Tissue, Lip Balm, Sun Screen, non-aerosol Bug Repellent, Eye Drops, AAA Batteries, Silly String, Small Hand Held Games & Fun Stuff To Relieve Stress (Checkers, Play-doh, Bubbles, Frisbe, Yahtsee, Yo-Yo), Disposable Camera, International Phone Cards, Cards & Letters of Encouragement


Edible Items:
Vitamin C Drops, Cough Drops, Tea, Cocoa, Crystal Light Singles, Cheese & Crackers, Pringles, Ramen Noodles, Beef Jerky, Slim Jims, Peanuts, Sunflower Seeds, Fruit Roll-ups, Raisins, Nutrigrain Bars, Cookies, Pudding Cups, Fruit Cups, Cup a Soup, Snack Size Cereal, Instant Oatmeal, Cans of Tuna, Sardines, Vienna Sausages, Individually Wrapped Candy & Suckers, Gum (No Chocolate, It Melts)


List of ITEMS YOU CAN NOT SEND
Items NOT Mailable are Glass Containers, Aerosol Containers, or Hand Sanitizers containing Alcohol.

WILL YOU COMMIT TODAY? Will you promise to participate by buying some or all of these items and delivering them to a collection point near you? If you will do this and/or volunteer to help in some ways, we will do the rest by sorting and packaging the items into boxes for shipping overseas.


Current Collection Points:
Williams Town Hall
Auburn, MI
November 24, 7:00PM - 8:30PM


Watch for follow-up messages via email with more collection points. They may not all be supported by WTPMM, but will SUPPORT THE TROOPS!

If you will commit, and either deliver goods to the collection locations, or volunteer with a reply to this email telling us that you will help those who fight for us, we will follow up with similar efforts for as long as you are willing to help!

If you've thought about it, and haven't yet, now is a good time to start. It is, indeed, the very least we can do to give back to those who put their lives on the line every day for the safety, security, and freedom of each of us.

If you can volunteer your time to set up a collection point, or help gather donated items from collection points or help package them for shipping, please inform us. Email is the most efficient way of communication for our volunteer organization, so please reach out via email if you can. But if you'd like a phone call, pass the contact info and we will contact you, as soon as we can.

Please watch your email for further instructions.


Thank you.


Pray for the safety and success of our troops.


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Factoids, event notices, and news about activities are sent on a fairly regular basis, and are discussed in our online forums. Ideas for Factoids may be sent to factoids@wethepeopleofmidmichigan.org. Please feel free to forward these pieces of information to friends and family.

If you have information to share, or opinions you would like to discuss, please visit our Online Forums. If there are topics you would like to see there that are not already being discussed, please send us a note at theforums@wethepeopleofmidmichigan.org.

Again, thank you for your interest in We the People of Mid Michigan.


Warm regards,

We the People of Mid Michigan
soldiersupport@wethepeopleofmidmichigan.org
www.wethepeopleofmidmichigan.org