UPDATE: Breakfast has been reinstated for this unit! Yay! However, care packages are always appreciated. So, if you still feel like sending a box, I’m still happy to pass on the APO mailing address!

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Recently while visiting my parents, my mom presented me with a little service opportunity, and asked if I could bring it to my community (which of course, includes you).

A fellow teacher at my mom’s school (Julie) has a daughter and son-in-law stationed in an advanced outpost in Afghanistan. She hears over and over people say, “Wow, thank them for their service” but it always rings a little hollow. There is never the follow up question What can I do? or What can I send? How can I help this suck less for you and for them?.

Julie had initially asked my mom to adopt a couple soldiers and send them care packages, especially the soldiers who rarely if ever receive something. However, a newer and pressing need has developed. Due to budget cuts back here at home, the government has suspended breakfast indefinitely for her daughter’s entire unit.

**Side note, this has nothing to do with the current government shutdown and everything to do with the (seemingly forgotten) sequester-fester.**

Julie’s request now is for people to create care packages filled with breakfast items that will travel well (pop tarts, trail mix or granola bars for example) and mail them to her daughter. Her daughter will then distribute the items to her fellow soldiers.

I have the APO address, and if you use the largest pre-paid box at the post office, it costs somewhere around $14 to mail a box all the way to Afghanistan.

If you are interested, leave a comment with your email address (or send me an email caitlinelder25(at)gmail(dot)com), and I’m happy to send you the APO address. You will need to fill out a customs form, but (thanks to the amazing internet) I’ve found a website that shows you how to do it quite simply.

Please share with anyone you think would be interested.

All political affiliations aside, I think everyone needs to start the day with breakfast. Don’t you?

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Here’s a pic of some of our Ladies group from church filling up boxes and sending them out. You ladies amaze and inspire me every day. Thank you for your willingness to help those in need, even from thousands of miles away!