We wanted to reach to thank you for our first set of packages. The fig bars are great and created a lot of happy (and full) Soldiers. We are very thankful for your team and partners’ generosity. We hope you can share these photos with them as a way to show our appreciation. v/r Luke
From the FRONT: 6 May
Excerpt from an email we just received from one of our SF teams heading to parts unknown. We often supply them before they leave as most don’t have access to email, regular dining facilities and most stay in very austere environments:
Mr Allan/Alan,
I have successfully received ALL packages in perfect timing; everything was able to get packed in time, and we are all good to go.
I’ve said it a few times but I want to say it again: From the bottom of my heart and my team’s heart, you guys showed us a level of support like we have never seen. The amount of supplies you were able to provide for us was way beyond anything I could have asked for. For that we say thank you!!! I look forward to sending you guys pictures as our trip starts, and hope to meet you one day!!
JR
From the FRONT: 3 Jan
Hi Lara, Our package from you arrived with our mail push two days ago and I am sorry that I haven’t written sooner. Our mail takes a long time to reach us here in (location redacted) but it is a huge morale boost when it does come through. I am very grateful for your thoughts and all of the supplies that you sent. Whenever I receive a box of supplies I always bring the company together in our CP to open and distribute the treats among the platoons. It goes a long way to making Soldiers’ day when they might not have gotten something from home. Beyond just getting something to snack on or have, these packages remind the Soldiers that there are more people back home than just their immediate family who care about them and appreciate what they are doing; they provide motivation and a drive to do the job.
I hope you and your family had a very Merry Christmas. We celebrated in the best way that we could but it is hard to truly get in the spirit of the holidays in an environment like this. We did have a great meal that was a mix of a little American food and local Kurdish food which is very different but delicious in its own way. Mostly, we were happy that all of the Soldiers were safe and at least able to call home and talk with their families as they opened presents.
Also, before I wrote this, I had a cigar with some of the guys in the company who smoke and WHAT A TREAT. Artuero Feuntes are some of my absolute favorites. It was fun to see some of the younger guys who have never had a good cigar before enjoying them. Thank you again for your support, it means a great deal. Thanks, 1SG C”
From the FRONT: 4 Jan
“Happy New Year, Alan!! And a Merry Christmas too. We received your box with the GREAT selection of cigars today. I’m floored–those are great choices. Thank you!!! I sent an envelope with a command coin in there, hopefully it’ll make it before 2024 (my wife just got 3 letters I sent between Oct and Nov…) Thank you!” from the CO of one of our units on the high seas.
From the FRONT: 29 Dec
“My name is Matty and I’m a Navy physician working on a task force in (redacted). I’ve been traveling a lot around the continent and recently got back from (redacted) – just in time to see that I had a Christmas present from you!
I wanted to say thank you for the overly generous gifts; these packages are always so thoughtful but I’ve never received a personalized Christmas present on one of them before. Naturally, I spread the wealth and gave a lot of the candy and snacks to my Sailors. But we put the speaker up in our medical space so we can all appreciate music this New Years. And the gift card is so generous – thank you so much. You have made an otherwise lonely Christmas much warmer. I really hope you were able to enjoy the holidays yourself as well.
I work on a small special operations base and we’re not allowed to take pictures anywhere on base here – so the best I can do is attach some random pictures of my time out here. Please let me know if there’s anything else I can do to thank you and everyone else involved. Happy New Year!
Very Respectfully, Matty”
(One of our Xmas gift buyers from “Lara’s Crew,” a group of friends one of our Trustees gathers every year, just got this great email from one of our Adoptees!).
From the FRONT: 10 Nov
Hey, team! This is a long belated email response to some of the AASP packages that we have received. We have been very fortunate to be sponsored by Alan and his tremendous team. The amount of items that are donated and sent to us is amazing.
My name is CPT Jeff (last name redacted) and I currently serve as a Physician Assistant for a unit deployed to Europe. This is the 2nd time I have had the privilege of having my good friend Alan sponsor my unit. While the conditions may not be austere as some of your other adoptees, we have greatly appreciated the care packages.
I would have to say the item that gets used the most is the Keurig. Our entire team needs a constant supply of caffeine to care for our Soldiers, and the K-Cups really helps. So, a huge shoutout to Diane and Bill Casey for the Keurig and Marie Sweeney-Tevis for the K-Cups.
Thank you to the Unilever team for the razors and shampoo. That is a constant need in any deployed setting.
Thank you to Pat Sullivan and Marie Sweeney-Tevis again for the KIND bars, drink powder and K-Cups which keep us going.
Thank you to Lisa Slater from Hershey’s for the Hershey’s bars. Those were gone quickly lol. All the bars were picked up and enjoyed by pretty much everybody that saw them.
Thank you to Justa Silva for the Goya goods. We’ve all been introduced to some garlic plantain chips which we’ve found to be very delicious.
The shirts and ceramic cups from Subaru were very helpful, so thank you to Tom Salvino. The shirts are pretty comfortable and are a good addition to the cold weather here.
Also thank you to whomever supplied the TRX. Next to the Keurig, that is the next most used piece of equipment. We have a gym here, but are able to supplement some exercises with the TRX.
All of these packages wouldn’t be possible without the packaging and storage facility, so thank you to Phyllis Duke, as well as Allen Rizzardi and Francisco Magana for managing the warehouse.
Lastly, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your love and dedication to helping deployed soldiers. It means a lot to me and my team. If I ever meet any of you in person, I would like to buy you a beer 🍻. Attached to this email is a picture of me and some of my medics after opening up one of the first packages we received from AASP. Thank you all! v/r, Jeff
From the FRONT: 15 Sept
“Just got the box with the cigars. Thanks so much! Jason”
From the FRONT: 1 Sep
“The recent treats arrived and I divided up the items and dispersed to different departments and locations. Thank-you for taking care of us on this remote garrison – it does alleviate the some of the tension that goes with the isolation. Cheers, Darryl”
From the FRONT: 31 Aug
“We received the additional coffee machines and the 3 x TRX systems! We will get you pictures of the team using them before the week is out – recent events out here have consumed us and I wanted to make sure I followed up that we absolutely appreciate you and the team’s generosity and support for us. I cannot thank you enough. Stand by for some action shots in the coming days. All the best – Nick”
From the FRONT: 27 Aug
“I would like to thank you for your continued generosity sending care packages to the Soldiers of (name/location redacted). It seems the longer we have been deployed the more Soldiers look forward to mail call – particularly because of care packages from your organization and others like it. I cannot emphasis enough how much of a morale booster it is when the unit receive care packages.
It is a highlight for me as a leader to let Soldiers know we have received care packages and see the excitement.
Thank you again for all you are doing to support us! Very Respectfully, Spencer “