When Mary Scantlin’s neighbor’s 19-year-old son was called to serve in Iraq last year, she was shocked to hear that the U.S. Marines suggested he bring his pillow.
She was struck by the irony of the request—realizing that soldiers are missing basic supplies but also the warmth and comfort of home.
Scantlin, a New Territory resident, was instantly moved to create an outreach Program called “Good News for Soldiers” which consists of sending care packages with personal notes or letters to specific soldiers.
“It’s a little box of love from home. Regardless of the contents, it holds the good news that there are people at home that care about them,” she said of her care packages. Each one includes a note from Scantlin (signed by a “Grandma in Texas”), volunteers, or local children. “The marines wrote me that they are especially touched by the letters they receive from children,” she said. The flat-rate boxes (provided by the Post Office for free) are carefully and efficiently packed with magazines, books, personal hygiene items, cough drops, aspirin, Tylenol, and pocket-sized snack packs. She fits as much into them as possible as the post office charges $8.10 regardless of weight or destination.
One sergeant with a medical police unit out of Boston suggested sending pre-packed backpacks with wash cloths, personal hygiene items, Bibles and other inspiring literature, toothbrushes and toothpaste, pajamas and home-made afghans. One very popular request is for baby wipes in the small, packable packages. Scantlin says she likes to send snack items that the soldiers can carry in their pockets because they sometimes go on 12 hour-long missions .
Although she sends out packages regularly, she hits the holidays hard. Her next mass mailing is scheduled for Easter, a season that “speaks of new life and hope,” she said.
Scantlin sent out 270 packages last year and wants to send out hundreds more this year. She needs volunteers, though. “People in New Territory don’t even know there is an outreach right here,” she said. Scantlin has a room set aside in her Pointe Royale' house for sorting and packaging. Donations of money and supplies are also welcome although she is still waiting for approval of her application for tax-exempt status. The packages cost $8.10 each to mail, and that doesn’t include their contents. And of course, she could use letter-writers too to bring “Good News to Soldiers”!
“Whatever your views on the war, we need to support our military. I am very patriotic,” she said.
To volunteer your time or resources, contact Mary Scantlin at spgndy@yahoo.com and write “GNFS” in the subject line.
She was struck by the irony of the request—realizing that soldiers are missing basic supplies but also the warmth and comfort of home.
Scantlin, a New Territory resident, was instantly moved to create an outreach Program called “Good News for Soldiers” which consists of sending care packages with personal notes or letters to specific soldiers.
“It’s a little box of love from home. Regardless of the contents, it holds the good news that there are people at home that care about them,” she said of her care packages. Each one includes a note from Scantlin (signed by a “Grandma in Texas”), volunteers, or local children. “The marines wrote me that they are especially touched by the letters they receive from children,” she said. The flat-rate boxes (provided by the Post Office for free) are carefully and efficiently packed with magazines, books, personal hygiene items, cough drops, aspirin, Tylenol, and pocket-sized snack packs. She fits as much into them as possible as the post office charges $8.10 regardless of weight or destination.
One sergeant with a medical police unit out of Boston suggested sending pre-packed backpacks with wash cloths, personal hygiene items, Bibles and other inspiring literature, toothbrushes and toothpaste, pajamas and home-made afghans. One very popular request is for baby wipes in the small, packable packages. Scantlin says she likes to send snack items that the soldiers can carry in their pockets because they sometimes go on 12 hour-long missions .
Although she sends out packages regularly, she hits the holidays hard. Her next mass mailing is scheduled for Easter, a season that “speaks of new life and hope,” she said.
Scantlin sent out 270 packages last year and wants to send out hundreds more this year. She needs volunteers, though. “People in New Territory don’t even know there is an outreach right here,” she said. Scantlin has a room set aside in her Pointe Royale' house for sorting and packaging. Donations of money and supplies are also welcome although she is still waiting for approval of her application for tax-exempt status. The packages cost $8.10 each to mail, and that doesn’t include their contents. And of course, she could use letter-writers too to bring “Good News to Soldiers”!
“Whatever your views on the war, we need to support our military. I am very patriotic,” she said.
To volunteer your time or resources, contact Mary Scantlin at spgndy@yahoo.com and write “GNFS” in the subject line.
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