Quote

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!).

Quote

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

Quote

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”

Quote

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 “

Quote

From the FRONT: 27 July


“Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon Volunteers and Sponsors,
My Soldiers and I would like to thank you for your generous donation of gifts and time to send us care packages. We greatly appreciate the packages, as our current location is austere, and we have limited access to many familiar American products. Mail day is a high point for all our Soldiers, because – even if a Soldier is not getting a package or letter from friends or family – they know there will be a few care packages from your organization and others like it for their company.
As a commander, it is great to see the joy brought by these packages to my Soldiers. Whenever I notify my Soldiers that a care package has arrived from Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon, my Soldiers immediately swarm the company to see what gifts and treats have come in and the box is empty within ten minutes. Attached are pictures of many of my Soldiers after distributing out the treats, gifts, and hygiene products.
Thank you again for your continued support of our Soldiers, the United States Army, and our Nation. Very Respectfully, CPT P”

Quote

From the FRONT: 27 July


“Thank you for the care package that we received; morale is at an all-time high. The various snacks and other items have helped to keep spirits high while accomplishing our mission. It makes the soldiers remember home while we are gone for this long period and helps ease the constant worry of loved ones. It shows us that there are many people who still support us in our endeavors. Also, it gives us a reason to continue going forward knowing that we have an outstanding support group to lend a helping hand when needed. Mail is rather slow here so getting these packages from time to time gives us something to look forward too. So from the bottom of our hearts, we thank you so very much and we will continue to make America proud in everything we do. Sincerely, Your American Soldiers”

Quote

From the FRONT: 21 July

“Great hearing from you! Chaplain (name redacted) runs a fantastic “respite” that doubles as our chapel – the team enjoys your care packages and the new Keurig while relaxing when they are not on missions. We cannot thank you enough for your generosity and care for Soldiers – its goes further than words can explain.

I think the Keurig’s go a long way as it serves many purposes out here for the team – coffee, tea, *quick bowl of hot oatmeal, etc… you can send to me and (name redacted) and I will ensure those who could use one in a command post or living area will get it – you’ll get the pictures of them with it and a thank you to the team!

Thanks again and tell those Liberty Subaru fellas I say hello!”
Nick

Quote

From the FRONT: 19 July

“Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness and generosity! We are so blessed to have the use of the Keurig and the KCups you’ve sent. You may have heard that the Infantry runs on caffeine and we go through coffee like crazy. The Keurig makes it a little quicker than brewing a full pot when people are in a rush; we have it set up in our chapel so it gets used before/after chapel service on Sundays, as well as during our weekly Bible studies, other meetings that we host throughout the week, and as people rush in and out throughout the day. Thanks for expanding our work here and supporting us on deployment. We are infinitely grateful.

I stuck a thank-you card in the mail the last time our mail team was here, which probably won’t arrive for another month, but thanks again for your support! We also appreciate the little toy cars and the notebooks, which get snatched up quickly.”
Chaplain R.