history of the care package
In 1945, the Cooperative for American Remittance to Europe (or Care, as they are known today.)began a program to send food relief to Europe in the wakt of World War 2. At that time, a CARE package was a package specifically sent by the Cooperative for American Remittance to Europe. Today a care package has become a more general description for a parcel of supplies. Food, and goodies sent intra or internationally to provide comfort or relief to its reciepients.
When the CARE package program took off in the mid-1900s, Americans could purchase for $10 to send to friends or
relatives that were fighting or living abroad in Europe as part of the war effort. The packages were guaranteed to arrive w/in 4
months and were known as "10-in-1" food parcels because of the amount of food months and were rations they contained. It
wasn’t until much later that generic care packages began including non food items such s books, blankets, office supplies, tools and medicine.
The first shipment of 20,000 care packages arrived on the port of Le Havre,France on May 11TH,1946. Since the first shipment was over 60 years ago. Millions of care packages have been sent throughout Europe, Asia and remote corners of the world. The logic, emotion, and the purpose behind a care packge may best be summed up by President John F. Kennedy's comment in 1962. " Every Care Package is a personal contribution to the world peace our nation seeks. It expresses America's concern and friendship in a language all peoples understand."
When the CARE package program took off in the mid-1900s, Americans could purchase for $10 to send to friends or
relatives that were fighting or living abroad in Europe as part of the war effort. The packages were guaranteed to arrive w/in 4
months and were known as "10-in-1" food parcels because of the amount of food months and were rations they contained. It
wasn’t until much later that generic care packages began including non food items such s books, blankets, office supplies, tools and medicine.
The first shipment of 20,000 care packages arrived on the port of Le Havre,France on May 11TH,1946. Since the first shipment was over 60 years ago. Millions of care packages have been sent throughout Europe, Asia and remote corners of the world. The logic, emotion, and the purpose behind a care packge may best be summed up by President John F. Kennedy's comment in 1962. " Every Care Package is a personal contribution to the world peace our nation seeks. It expresses America's concern and friendship in a language all peoples understand."
Sending smiles to soldiers
Military Care Packages: Sending Smiles Overseas
The United States Armed Forces began protecting the United States before it
ever became the United States. The first military units were formed in 1775, one
year prior to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In the beginning,
the U.S. Military comprised of the Continental Army, the Continental Navy, and
the Continental Marines. These military units were necessary to protect the New
World from the mounting pressure brought forth by the British Empire, which
eventually turned into the Revolutionary War. Today, over 1 million men and
women serve in the U.S. Armed Forces either in the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, or Coast Guard.
These people protect the very frreedoms American have become accustomed to , and
they deserve the never-ending thanks and support of the American People.
One way to thank the men and women serving in the military is to send them
care packages. According to statistics released by the U.S. Government, as of
September 2011, more than 205,000 military personnel have left their homes, families, and
friends to serve overseas in over 150 countries. U.S. military personnel are
also frequently relocated away from their homes even within the United States.
Some are moved up to Alaska, or serve in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Guam.
Regardless of where a person is stationed, being away from familiar surroundings
is difficult.
This is where a care package comes into play. Whether sending the package to
a family member, friend, or total stranger, showing the true appreciation these
people deserve for the sacrifices they are making will not only make their day,
but the sender’s as well. Both the men and women serving in the U.S. Armed
Forces are away from their families for extended periods of time. Many male
soldiers have sons or daughters born while they are away; many female soldiers
must leave their little ones behind for someone else to temporarily raise while
they serve their country. When placed in this perspective, it is hard to imagine
that something as simple as a care package makes a difference, but it does. Just
saying “Thank you,” and showing enough love to take the time to prepare and send
a token of appreciation not only helps keep our soldiers spirits up, but also
reminds them of why they are serving in the first place: To protect this great
country and the citizens that live within it.
So, what to send? Depending on where they are stationed, military personnel overseas cannot access
many of the things that we take advantage of daily; this includes items that
people might not even think about as a necessity, such as small bottles of hand
sanitizer. Of course it is great to send the troops goodies, but they also need
non-food items. Some of the most requested staples from the U.S. are baby wipes,
hand sanitizer, batteries, DVDs, and video games. U.S. troops are also in need
of provisions like laundry detergent, fabric softener, linens, small flashlights,
and international phone cards so they can call home.
Of course, the troops receive love when they receive goodies, as well, and
many soldiers request beef jerky, coffee,
powder drink mixes like Gatorade, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and an old
American favorite: tuna or chicken salad — in foil pouches, please. Cookies and
candy are always appreciated, but certain types of candy, such as chocolate,
cannot be sent during summer months if the care package is going to an extremely
hot location like the Middle East. It is also important to remember that the
U.S. canine military staff needs appreciation, too. Animal lovers wishing to
include something for the canine soldiers can include dog treats, dog toys, dog shampoo, and
flea treatments.
Those wanting to really show appreciation for the
U.S. Armed Forces can organize a community care package drive to ensure numbers
of packages get sent to the troops. Contacting the local recruiting office is a
good start. They can help organizers get a list of local military personnel who
are stationed overseas and what is acceptable to ship to the troops. The fun
begins after that. With the information in hand, organizers can advertise a
military care package drive in the local newspaper, on the community bulletin
board, and spread the word through community centers and places of religion.
Organizers can also spend a couple of hours outside the local grocery stores
handing out lists of items the soldiers need as people enter the store to do
their shopping. If every shopper buys one thing on the list, organizers will
have hundreds of items to ship very quickly. Chances are local grocery stores
will also be willing to donate boxes to ship the care packages in. Once the
items are brought to one location, the care package preparation party begins.
Volunteers will find great joy in assembling and preparing the care packages to
be shipped to the troops, and it is doubtful that postage will be a problem
either, as some people may wish to donate the postage for the care packages to be sent instead of actually
purchasing an item to send.
No matter how the packages get there, it is important that they get there.
Whether a huge care package party, or just a few friends and neighbors wanting
to send a couple of boxes, military personnel stationed overseas miss home, their
family, their friends, and the lifestyle that they are accustomed to. Sending a military care package with some
reminders of the U.S. gives the soldiers a little piece of the country they are
fighting to protect. It also provides them with the knowledge that the people
they are protecting are thinking of them, and care enough to send something as
simple as a box of cookies. When you are stationed halfway across the world away
from your family, a box of cookies really isn’t simple at all.
The United States Armed Forces began protecting the United States before it
ever became the United States. The first military units were formed in 1775, one
year prior to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In the beginning,
the U.S. Military comprised of the Continental Army, the Continental Navy, and
the Continental Marines. These military units were necessary to protect the New
World from the mounting pressure brought forth by the British Empire, which
eventually turned into the Revolutionary War. Today, over 1 million men and
women serve in the U.S. Armed Forces either in the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, or Coast Guard.
These people protect the very frreedoms American have become accustomed to , and
they deserve the never-ending thanks and support of the American People.
One way to thank the men and women serving in the military is to send them
care packages. According to statistics released by the U.S. Government, as of
September 2011, more than 205,000 military personnel have left their homes, families, and
friends to serve overseas in over 150 countries. U.S. military personnel are
also frequently relocated away from their homes even within the United States.
Some are moved up to Alaska, or serve in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Guam.
Regardless of where a person is stationed, being away from familiar surroundings
is difficult.
This is where a care package comes into play. Whether sending the package to
a family member, friend, or total stranger, showing the true appreciation these
people deserve for the sacrifices they are making will not only make their day,
but the sender’s as well. Both the men and women serving in the U.S. Armed
Forces are away from their families for extended periods of time. Many male
soldiers have sons or daughters born while they are away; many female soldiers
must leave their little ones behind for someone else to temporarily raise while
they serve their country. When placed in this perspective, it is hard to imagine
that something as simple as a care package makes a difference, but it does. Just
saying “Thank you,” and showing enough love to take the time to prepare and send
a token of appreciation not only helps keep our soldiers spirits up, but also
reminds them of why they are serving in the first place: To protect this great
country and the citizens that live within it.
So, what to send? Depending on where they are stationed, military personnel overseas cannot access
many of the things that we take advantage of daily; this includes items that
people might not even think about as a necessity, such as small bottles of hand
sanitizer. Of course it is great to send the troops goodies, but they also need
non-food items. Some of the most requested staples from the U.S. are baby wipes,
hand sanitizer, batteries, DVDs, and video games. U.S. troops are also in need
of provisions like laundry detergent, fabric softener, linens, small flashlights,
and international phone cards so they can call home.
Of course, the troops receive love when they receive goodies, as well, and
many soldiers request beef jerky, coffee,
powder drink mixes like Gatorade, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and an old
American favorite: tuna or chicken salad — in foil pouches, please. Cookies and
candy are always appreciated, but certain types of candy, such as chocolate,
cannot be sent during summer months if the care package is going to an extremely
hot location like the Middle East. It is also important to remember that the
U.S. canine military staff needs appreciation, too. Animal lovers wishing to
include something for the canine soldiers can include dog treats, dog toys, dog shampoo, and
flea treatments.
Those wanting to really show appreciation for the
U.S. Armed Forces can organize a community care package drive to ensure numbers
of packages get sent to the troops. Contacting the local recruiting office is a
good start. They can help organizers get a list of local military personnel who
are stationed overseas and what is acceptable to ship to the troops. The fun
begins after that. With the information in hand, organizers can advertise a
military care package drive in the local newspaper, on the community bulletin
board, and spread the word through community centers and places of religion.
Organizers can also spend a couple of hours outside the local grocery stores
handing out lists of items the soldiers need as people enter the store to do
their shopping. If every shopper buys one thing on the list, organizers will
have hundreds of items to ship very quickly. Chances are local grocery stores
will also be willing to donate boxes to ship the care packages in. Once the
items are brought to one location, the care package preparation party begins.
Volunteers will find great joy in assembling and preparing the care packages to
be shipped to the troops, and it is doubtful that postage will be a problem
either, as some people may wish to donate the postage for the care packages to be sent instead of actually
purchasing an item to send.
No matter how the packages get there, it is important that they get there.
Whether a huge care package party, or just a few friends and neighbors wanting
to send a couple of boxes, military personnel stationed overseas miss home, their
family, their friends, and the lifestyle that they are accustomed to. Sending a military care package with some
reminders of the U.S. gives the soldiers a little piece of the country they are
fighting to protect. It also provides them with the knowledge that the people
they are protecting are thinking of them, and care enough to send something as
simple as a box of cookies. When you are stationed halfway across the world away
from your family, a box of cookies really isn’t simple at all.