Help Soldiers Coming Home

Joint Base Lewis-McChord, the third largest base in the United States welcomes home this summer 18,000 troops at roughly the same time from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Homecomings are special, especially for the moms and dads walking into the arms of their families.  But for 7,500+ single soldiers, often their first night home is inside a bare, bleak barracks room.  With combat stress and other mental pressures, sometimes this is a recipe for disaster.

The Fort Lewis Chapter of the Association of the United States Army plans to change that by raising enough money and supplies to give each returning single soldier a welcome home basket in their rooms.  We want to make up their beds, give them snacks and water, stock their bathrooms and provide as homey a homecoming as we can.  These are mostly teenagers and early 20-somethings with big appetites arriving home late at night when the chow halls are closed.  We need snack and microwavable products, non-perishable with expiration’s good through August, 2010.

Any cash donation or product donation goes a long way.  You can imagine the support we need to fill 7,500 barracks rooms with the love our returning heroes deserve.  Please give generously.  You will be recognized for your contribution in a special edition of the Ranger and Airlifter newspapers publishing June 3, 2010, AND in an insert going inside each barrack’s basket.

The Association of the United States Army – Fort Lewis Chapter is a 501(c)3 so the donation is tax deductible.  You can send the money to AUSA Fort Lewis, c/o The Ranger newspaper, P.O. Box 98801, Lakewood, WA 98496.  Any questions, and to coordinate delivery of items, please contact Denise Dhane at (253) 686-1505 or denisedhane@yahoo.com, Carlene Joseph at Carlene.Joseph@Harborstone.com, or (253) 312-9279, or Ken Swarner at (253) 584-1212 or publisher@ftlewisranger.com.   We hope to hear from you soon.  Our soldiers start returning home at the beginning of June.

Sincerely yours,