I'm sorry to bother you, especially on a Sunday. But Daily Kos has been trying to do something wonderful and we're running out of time. You see, our Netroots for the Troops fundraiser ends the day after Memorial Day. We're hoping to send 600 Care Packages to our sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers, serving in harms way. They're badly needed, a reminder to those far away from home that they're not forgotten.
A reminder to the families left behind, that they're not alone.
We need to raise $100,000 to pay for those 600 care packages and shipping. That's a great deal of money, especially in this economy. We've finally made it past $30,000 but there's a long way to go, in a very short amount of time. Your fellow kossacks have been raising funds by writing diaries, asking co-workers for donations, and sending out emails to friends and family. Our own beantown mom's children wanted to do something to honor their beloved grandfather, a Korean War Vet, who passed away last year. They've been having having bake sales.
And making and selling jewelry to raise money for NFTT.
You know how generous this community's heart is. Where there is a need, we reach out and try to help. Whether it's Sara R's quilts, allie123's constant work for the people of Haiti, Navajo's support for the Pine Ridge Billboard Project, ShelterBoxes for the people of Japan, Kiva or NFTT, we try to help.
There are members of this site who have lost jobs, homes, and dreams. And yet they give. They give their time and energy. They give $5 they can ill afford to donate. They are the ones who do give until it hurts. We're all trying our best to reach out, to make a difference, to let people know they aren't alone and forgotten.
It's been almost ten long years of war, of families split apart, of lives lost and mangled.
We all want them home. Until then, can we at least make sure that they know they haven't been forgotten? It's important.
"...why it matters.
Son was a recipient of a NFTT Care Package during his first tour in Iraq a few years back. Received so many goodies, enough for him and his buds there.
The thing that touched him the most wasn't necessarily the items, it was that strangers cared enough to think of them. That's it- strangers cared.
He's coming home from Afghanistan- third tour- in 21 days- there's a lot of young men and women taking their places.
Keep caring, strangers- it means the world."
Thanks from a soldier
... for doing this. I'm sitting in mob station about to deploy for the 'Stan and it warmed my heart to see this.
I realize you may never see this, that time for this is almost gone. The items for the care packages need to be purchased in time for Netroots Nation in June. There, our wonderful volunteers will be packing the boxes and shipping them out.
Our beautiful Navajo took some wonderful photos last year of our team putting the packages together.
http://www.dailykos.com/...
So, would you have a moment or two?
Can you help? Anything you can do would be greatly appreciated.
Time is short, but I believe in the power of people working to make things happen.
I've seen it happen time and again.
Thank you for reading this. Hope all is well with you and yours.
Sincerely
Ono
Our goal for Netroots for the TroopsTM 2011 is $100,000.0 (cash or in-kind donations)
NFTT's primary function is the purchasing and assembling of Care Packages at Netroots Nation to be mailed to American Military serving in war zones. However, the needs of our military families and veterans at home are also a NFTT priority. As llbear et al. have shown, far too often veterans and their families end up caught between a need and red tape. As we raise funds this year remember that your donation will be helping on multiple levels. Our deployed sons and daughter will know they have not been forgotten. Military families will know that they are not alone. Veterans at home will receive needed help.
We realize that you would like to donate something tangible to go inside the packages that will be mailed to the troops. Unfortunately, accepting in-kind donations from individuals is not practical in terms of storage and handling of the items. We will only be accepting corporate donations or cash from YOU to purchase items for the care packages this year.
Here’s how YOU can help:
1. Please contact TexDem if you know someone who might be helpful in securing the corporate in-kind donations. Just leave him a message through the dkos message system. To help you think of companies who could donate products, see below for a list of potential items. Put your thinking caps on and let us hear from you. It takes time to get through the corporate processes so we need to hear from you ASAP!
2. We are accepting cash from individuals and -beg- ask that you DONATE HERE to contribute to this worthy cause. Your donation will enable us to purchase the things that we are unable to obtain through corporate donations, and will help to pay the costs of shipping them to our troops.
3. Sign up for a diary! Don’t worry---we’ve made it easy for you. We’ve got a template set up, and all you need to do is add a small introduction. You can tell us why you are donating or share a story of someone you know who has served or is serving. You can post some favorite pootie and woozel photos. Or how about some gardening photos? We love them! Recipes? We're ready to cook. A list of the top ten guitarists of all time? We'll listen. An homage to your favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy writer? (Terry Pratchett is one of mine.) We'll be reading. We want you to have fun while raising money for our troops and their families. Just drop Onomastic/Ono a message through the dkos message system to get the template and on the schedule.
4. Do you know a service member who would like to receive a care package? Email a request to: info@netrootsforthetroops.com before May 31, 2011. Please include all of the following information. Unfortunately we will not be able to process any incomplete requests:
Rank:
Last name:
First name:
APO Address Line 1:
APO Address Line 2:
APO Address Zip:
If you know of a Military Unit that would like to receive care packages please include Unit and contact information by May 15, 2011.
5. Write letters to be included in the packages! If you need some ideas, rbutters wrote an excellent diary with tips on how to write letters to troops and why it’s so important to them.
6. Help us assemble the packages in Minneapolis. It's fun! More information will be forthcoming for those of you who are going to be in Minneapolis and would like to help there.
7. Please consider joining the NFTT FaceBook Group. Invite your FaceBook and non-FaceBook friends.
_________
The goal for 2011 is 600 Care Packages assembled in Minneapolis, that equates to approximately $100,000.00. Again this was decided upon after seeing we could assemble 300 in 45 minutes in Pittsburgh. Those boxes had a retail value of approximately $210.00. The items we'll be sending will be comparable to what was sent last year. However, that list is subject to modification based on suggestions, request and needs. Btw, check out the NFTT website.
The following list contains some of the things we have included in packages. Please let us know if you know someone who might be helpful in securing these corporate in-kind donations. (Please DO NOT send these items yourself! We have no way to accept them. Instead, your cash donation is the very best way to help make this happen on the ground in Minneapolis.)
- Baby wipes
- Mechanix gloves
- LED flashlights
- Gel shoe insoles
- Goop Cleaning Gel
- Powdered energy drinks
- Gel energy food packets
- DVDs and CDs
- Letters to the soldiers
- More suggestions coming soon
The NFTT diaries are a way for the Daily Kos community to support the troops in Afghanistan and Iraq and their families. We send them packages of items they might not otherwise receive through the normal military process but that they find useful. This is a non-political diary. While we understand there are differing views on the wars and the warriors, the site gives plenty of opportunity to express those views elsewhere. Furthermore, we would hope that users do not engage with those that attempt to hijack or otherwise disrupt these diaries.
We appreciate your understanding and support. Thanks!
Netroots For The TroopsTM is a project of Netroots for the Troops, Inc., a Virginia non-profit corporation. Netroots For The TroopsTM raises money for the assembly, mailing and delivery of care packages to American military in war zones, and to provide assistance to military families in the United States. Netroots For The Troops, Inc. is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization.