Help Needed

I am deviating from my usual blog and using this forum to ask for your help.  The son of a friend of mine recently deployed to Afghanistan (his 4th deployment - the photo of him and his family, above, was taken the day he left for Afghanistan).  This soldier and the other soldiers in his unit are in dire need, so I'm reaching out to ask for your prayers, your help in getting this information out to others, and if you are able and feel so led, your help in getting some of these items to her son and the soldiers in his battalion.  Here's the information from my friend, Karen:

****

I am writing to all of you and asking for your help.  As you all know, Chris is in Afghanistan for a year.  There are about 4,800 men in the brigade, Chris is in one of the 6 battalions comprised of about 490 men and has 32 in what he calls his shop. Before leaving they had to pre-ship everything they would need for a year ahead of time.  Their extra uniforms, boots, bedding, family mementos, leisure items, etc.... They usually go into debt trying to buy all the things they will need before they leave. As they are not allowed to ship out with all of this they have to ship ahead of time.  Well...........they had 38 of these big containers lost. Chris received one of their 20 x 20 foot containers that was packed from top to bottom and first of all it had been lost for awhile and when they opened it there was absolutely nothing in it!!!!  Everything had been stolen. They bypassed the locks, the custom seal and cut open the back of the container, emptied it and welded it back on. They have lost millions of dollars worth of equipment, laptops, and etc...  I am most concerned about the uniforms and boots and laptops, and whose hands they are in, but that is another story. Anyway they are up in the mountainous region of Logar Province. They are not situated at a base where they could hope to replace their personal items. So I am asking each of you to find it in your heart to send a box to a soldier for Christmas, anything you send is going to be greatly appreciated. Chris is the Support Operations Officer and will distribute these items. I found out the last time he was over there that you can't just send a box to a soldier, they will never receive it.  It must go to a named soldier, so therefore that is why I am asking you to send it through this channel as I know that it will get to those in need.  Everything will be need to be sent by November 15th for them to receive it in time for Christmas. Please get this info out to any of the organizations that you are involved with and to your Church, and any other way you can think of.  I know that you will bring a moment of joy into some soldier's life and they will appreciate something from home.

I go to the PO and get these large FLAT RATE priority boxes, they are free, and they are not big, 6 inches deep and 12 inches wide....also pick up a stack of the customs form to fill out since it is being shipped out of the country. If you are not familiar with this form, you just put your address and his address, they give you 4 lines to list the stuff in the box, I usually just put candy, socks, snacks etc...I'm not always exact, mark that it is a gift, sign your name and date it, put a value on it.  It costs $12.50 to mail no matter how heavy.  I have found this the most economical way to send him stuff. Of course, some things won't fit, then I just pack it well and pay the extra cost, most times over $20.

I got a list of things that they like from Chris and of course anything you can come up with you would like to send to them.
Jelly beans
Chips in a can (otherwise they get squashed)
Dip in the can( no glass containers allowed) (also no aerosol products)
Jerky
Sunflower seeds, cashews, mixed nuts, etc.
Any kind of candy
Chap sticks ( it is arctic cold there about 10 degrees)
Air fresheners that stick up or in a sealed can( like you can usually buy at the carwash where you have your car washed)
Socks (they wear them until they can't any more and throw them away)
Gold Bond foot powder
Large and x-large briefs
Any good thermal underware they can wear under their uniform, like under armor stuff at Academy  ( I purchased Chris some Pantagonia thermal wear that people buy for skiing, they have it in different weights, but it is expensive) I'm sure anything is going to be appreciated.
Some light weight fleece blankets ( bought Chris one at Bed, Bath Beyond with the LSU people tailgating)
Toothpaste
Stick deodorant (no aerosols)
Electric shavers (can't send shaving cream in a can) maybe some kind of soap

Microwave popcorn (a huge hit)
Rice Krispie treats 

Crocs or shower shoes (showers are 500 yards away and they need these so they won't have to put their dirty boots back on)
And last but not least.....iTunes gift cards........the soldiers can buy movies and download to their computers. This is really a big hit!!!!  Yeah they really do have Internet access..........really amazing isn't it. That is if they can afford $150 a month to have it!  What a ripoff!!
Also send cards as often as you can they really appreciate any mail from home.

That about sums it up my friends. I just want to thank each and every one of you for doing something for one of these guys.  I know that many of you have asked what you could do, so this is the info I have at present, and your efforts are  greatly appreciated.  What you are doing may mean the absolute world to someone lonely, alone in a dangerous situation far across the world.

God bless each and every one of you, love
Mike & Karen

Chris Brown
HHC, 94th BSB
FOB SHANK
APO, AE  09364

christopher.m.brown@afghan.swa.army.mil
This is Chris's email address, but can't promise that he will find the time to write but I hope he will if you do email him.

****
Thanks so much!  Oh yes, remember to choose wisely :-)