Archive for the ‘Supporting our Heroes’ Category

Kentucky’s Everyday Heroes 2

Friday, July 9th, 2010

Steve Flairty’s Kentucky’s Everyday Heroes #2, two years in the writing, includes Delta flight attendant Robin Schmidt. Schmidt, a resident of Covington, Ky, has been recognized nationally for her support of U.S. military personnel around the world. She is one of Flairty’s twenty-six citizens he portrays in the Bluegrass State who “by their actions, serve to inspire others to greater works of character.”

WOW! What can I possibly say? It is so weird for me to be writing a blog about this!  You see, I have been honored to be chosen as one of the individuals in “Kentucky’s Everyday Heroes 2” by Steve Flairty. When I received an autographed copy and such a beautiful letter from Steve yesterday, I could not help to hold back my emotions. This is such a tremendous compliment!

For your own book (personally autographed by me), send a check or money order, along with your shipping information to the address below. The price is $14.50 (no additional taxes or shipping fees). Checks should be payable to: Robin Schmidt

If you choose to pay through my website (http://alwayssupportourheroes.com/) the price will be $16.50 to offset the fees charged by PayPal. In the comments, be sure to include your shipping information on the PayPal website.

This is a very high honor for me, and I simply cannot wait to share the entire book with you. Not only will you love the chapter about me, but you will be fascinated by the stories of the amazing heroes Steve has written about! (do you have ANY idea how awesome and weird this is???)

If you can help me to get the word out to boost sales of the book, that would be wonderful! It is available on other websites, but Steve wants me to have an opportunity to raise money for my cause of supporting the troops by offering it to you directly, without anyone else making a profit. 😉

Much love and gratitude, for you being such valued members of my life and helping me to become the person I have become! However … I do truly believe the real heroes are the people who put themselves in harms way, in order to serve and protect us every single day … in many types of jobs, in many aspects of life.

Of course, a very special note of gratitude to Steve Flairty for choosing me as one of his heroes. (Thank you also, to Debbie Kohl Kremer, for suggesting Steve interview me, and for the beautiful article you wrote about my support of the troops in the Cincinnati Inquirer last October … THAT changed my life forever!) There are no words to truly describe how it feels to be placed in the company of these extraordinary individuals in Kentucky’s Everyday Heroes 2. !!

Always,
Robin

Robin Schmidt
PO Box 122037
Covington, KY 41012-2037

Care Package madness for Veteran’s Day …

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

Each month my creativity has to kick into gear, in order to deliver laughter to our deployed heroes overseas.  July 4th care packages are a huge success because of the kind donations for sheets and small fans, along with so many other “treats” I was able to collect in my travels. (my work schedule has been insane this summer!)

Veteran’s Day is right around the corner, and the guys (I don’t have any females that I am supporting presently) are going to be receiving treats from my layover in Paris.   However, there are still requests for school supplies and items for the local children in Iraq & Afghanistan, which I will be collecting for September care packages. 

One particular item I will be accepting donations for are beach balls.  When volunteering in Haiti we helped deliver “Peace Packs” which gave me the idea. (With coaching from my friends, I was able to get a deal from xump.com and am hoping to buy 150-200 0f the beach balls to distribute between the units I am supporting.  That means I need to get $350 to pull it off!)   Below you will see a photo of what I am planning to send in September.  My goal is for the troops to be able to blow these up and have some priceless moments between themselves and the local children.

Why not create a summer project with your kids to make cards for our deployed Soldiers, Airmen, Marines, and Sailors?  If you could ONLY know how much a card or letter means to our troops.  How would you feel if you were away from YOUR family and friends AND in a war zone?  Please help me to make a difference for these brave individuals and uplift their spirits!

Please know I appreciate your kind donations so very, very much.  Even $5 helps towards the postage, as I have 10 heroes I am supporting right now and cannot do any of this without your help.   You can send your cards and / or make a donation by simply clicking on the “donate” button on my website ( http://alwayssupportourheroes.com/ ) or send to:

Robin Schmidt

PO Box 122037

Covington, KY 41012-2037

 

From my heart, to our heroes overseas, and to each family member of our Armed Forces, I thank each of you who believe in me, and help to make a difference!  We each can change the world .. one person .. one life at a time.  :o)

Always,

Robin

Online Journal to our Troops …

Friday, June 18th, 2010

Many people continually request me to create a place online where you can make comments to our service members who are either deployed, or who have come home and need encouragement.  This “blog” is going to be that place.

Like I say on the airplane, “please write words of encouragement, prayers, tell jokes, just about anything you would like to read if you had been away from your family and loved ones for any extended period of time”.  This forum is a little different, because anyone in the world could be reading (not just our heroes).  The journals that I do for the troops are not censored, but all comments here will be approved before you will see them on the blog.

May each word shared be a tribute to those who sacrifice so very much in order to serve, honor, protect, and defend our Nation, and make the world a better place.  My heartfelt gratitude those who have worn your uniform with pride in the past, continue to do so in the present, and desire to make that commitment in the future.  May God Bless you and keep you safe from harms way.

Please have fun sharing your thoughts with our brave men and women of the Armed Forces!  :o)

Always,

Robin


Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Saturday, May 29th, 2010

As our Nation celebrates Memorial, Flag, Independence and Veteran’s Day holidays, I want to take time to say THANK YOU for your kind donations to help me support our troops.  With your help, there are service members every single month who receive much needed encouragement and supplies as they serve our country far from home.

Whether it be pillows, sheets, toiletries, junk food, homemade goodies, movies, books, games, calling cards, back scratchers, candy, or school supplies (for the local children) .. every single item is so very appreciated.  Recently the orphanage I support in South Africa sent me bookmarks to send to my troops.  They want our service members to know they are thought of and appreciated … all the way from Africa.  That random act of kindness reminds me how simple it is to make a difference for others.

These children feel they have nothing to offer the world, yet they give LOVE in everything they do.  That is exactly how I look at each donation someone provides to me.  Countless times I have had tears of joy from receiving a check to cover postage at exactly the right time, or an envelope of cards written for our Wounded troops at Landstuhl or the Combat Surgical Hospital in Afghanistan.  Thank you for getting your local communities involved in writing to our Armed Forces.  A letter or card makes more of an impact than you can possibly imagine.  It’s the human factor .. after all, I don’t know anyone who would be annoyed with receiving a note of “thanks” or appreciation .. whether they know you or not.  🙂

When asked “what next”, I often tell people it is my desire for NONE of our service members to ever feel alone on the battlefield or when they return home.  With your continued support, I hope to make that dream a reality.  Please feel free to make a donation on my website of http://alwayssupportourheroes.com/  (for monthly care packages) or sign up to adopt your own hero today.  http://adoptahero.us/ .

You can also send cards, donated items, or checks to me at:

Robin Schmidt

PO Box 122037

Covington, KY 41012-2037

Thank you, thank you, thank you .. for honoring our heroes and allowing me to continue to do what I do through your kindness.  You have touched me deeply with your generosity, and I cannot thank you enough for being a blessing to me.  Even if you have not been able to give in a monetary way, thank you for believing in me .. praying for me .. encouraging me .. and guiding me with your love and friendship! 

 Each and every one of you have been an answer to prayer and I cannot end this note, without specifically saying “thank you” to my heroes, for allowing me the honor of serving YOU and supporting YOU.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your service and the sacrifices you make daily to serve, protect, and defend our Nation and my life.

Always,

Robin

Time for some “Spring” love to our troops!

Sunday, May 2nd, 2010

Sharing laughter with our troops ...

 
Since 2002 I have been “adopting” military members during their deployments overseas.  Since most of them are in war zones and far away from their loved ones, my goal is to provide them with small comforts of home and bring a bit of laughter to their days.
 
Currently I am working on care packages for May.  Since it is beginning to be very hot in the desert, I am sending them “cool” items and some “Spring” love.  :o)  Today I purchased the contents for the parcels; which include “fun” items to make them laugh … along with the typical wet wipes, hygiene products, and other items the troops have specifically requested. 
 
If you would like to donate towards the postage for my care packages this month, please do so by clicking on the “donate” button on my website http://alwayssupportourheroes.com/ .   Currently I have 5 guys (and their units) I am supporting, plus the Combat Surgical Hospital in Afghanistan (they asked for sheet sets this month), and continue collecting items for the Chaplain’s Closet at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center … also, if you want to help for June packages, please send me gift cards for WalMart, Costco, or Big Lots as I will purchase hot climate items to help them for the summer months .. and of course, their favorite junk foods.  🙂  Any donation you can make (big or small) would be GREATLY appreciated. 
 
Also, please remember this is National Military Appreciation month and Memorial Day is coming up .. please take time to thank a service member and their families for the many sacrifices they make daily to serve and protect our Nation .. and make the world a better place.
 
It is my goal that none of our service members ever feel alone on the battlefield, or when they return home.  If you would like to adopt your own service member, please go to http://adoptahero.us/ and sign up.  Please remember many of our troops DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET regularly, and it is vital to their well being to receive mail during mail call.  (US Mail delivery to their military base overseas).
 
Please send gift cards, or if you don’t have money and want to write cards to thank our heroes for their service for Memorial Day (or for any wounded members at the Combat Surgical Hospital), please send them to me:
Robin Schmidt
PO Box 122037
Covington, KY 41012-2037
 
Thanks so very much for your support and kind donations, and for helping me to make a difference for our valiant heroes.  Just look at this picture above, and know how much they appreciate what we do to encourage them!
 
It is my belief, we can each make a difference .. one person .. one life at a time!
 
Always,
Robin

AAI Wounded Warrior trip in April … and possibly Haiti? hmm…

Thursday, April 8th, 2010

We love volunteering at the USO Wounded Warrior Center!

Our next Airline Ambassador Wounded Warrior mission is right around the corner!  (YEAH!)  Thank you so very much for your kind donations and encouragement as I continue to support our troops overseas.  The poster boards that I made and had so much assistance in getting signed look fantastic!  (the signatures take away from the fact that I don’t have an artistic bone in my body!  haha)

The luggage is filled with toiletries that were collected from hotel rooms .. and so very much needed at Ramstein Air Field for the transportation teams who take such good care of our Wounded Warriors.  A special thank you to Charlene at Running Wild Spirit for the soap and chapstick she hand made to share with our valiant heroes. 

It really is an honor to be allowed to volunteer at the USO Wounded Warrior center!  This trip we will also be chaperoning Wounded Warriors on a day trip on a Rhine River Cruise (reminds me, I need to pack something warm to wear!).  We are planning on volunteering at the Chaplain’s Closet .. which is where your kind donations of t-shirts, sweats, athletic shoes, and flip flops are distributed to the troops when they come from the battlefield.  If you are not aware, most of the time a wounded service member will arrive at the hospital with only the clothing on their backs.  The Chaplain’s Closet offers items to the Wounded free of charge, and is run by donations.  That is why your donations are so greatly appreciated. 

We are able to give our valiant warriors hope, and remind them they are not alone in their recovery .. and for that, I am eternally grateful.  It is my strongest desire that NONE of our valiant heroes ever feel alone on the battlefield or when they return home.

Thank you so very much for your support .. and I promise to blog and share photos as I have time.  The trip begins the moment I finish training in Atlanta for my job .. and volcanic ash clears so I can get on a flight .. our Wounded Warrior mission is expected to be 21-26April.

On a side note .. I was asked to go to Haiti to assist with relief efforts 27April – 1May … please pray my schedule at work enables me to do so (my work schedule comes out tomorrow).  If any of my work buddies have a buddy pass you can spare, my friend Ruthie would really like to use it .. as she is the one who created the Peace Packs and paid for the shipping of them (the afternoon I spent at Fed Ex with her the other day) .. and I am going to help her distribute them.  Thanks so much, you have no idea how much this would mean .. and we will get to help Eric Klein at Can-Do.Org at the same time! 

Thank you to everyone  for reading my blog .. I know it is hard to keep up with where I am in the world .. and I am learning the more information I share online, the less any of  you worry about me!  It’s just really important to me to support our troops .. and make a difference … one person, one life at a time!

Thanks again, and stay tuned for updates! 

:o) Always, Robin

Robin Schmidt

PO Box 122037

Covington, KY 41012-2037

Special request from a unit in Afghanistan

Sunday, April 4th, 2010

Letter from Chaplain Andrew Lee of the 158th CSSB requested my support for a Battalion in Afghanistan.  If you can help with any of these items for care packages being monthly, please send items to address below .. or of course, go to my website & make an online donation.  http://alwayssupportourheroes.com/ (in case you can’t see the link on here).

286th CSSB

158th CSSB in Afghanistan
(UNCLASSIFIED)‏
From: Offline Lee, Andrew J 1LT USA USA 158th CSSB
 
Sent: Mon 3/15/10 12:35 PM
To: find_robin@hotmail.com
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: FOUO

Good Evening Ms. Schmidt,

I received your name through Major Adam Calderon who said you might be
interested in supporting our unit. Let me start off by saying thank you for
your patriotism and support of our troops. I know it means a lot to
Soldiers to receive this kind of love from back home. President George
Washington said, "The willingness with which our young people are likely to
serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional as
to how they perceive the veterans of earlier war were treated and
appreciated by the nation." I know our Soldier appreciate your support.

My name is Andrew Lee and I am the Battalion Chaplain for the 158th Combat
Sustainment Support Battalion of the Arizona Army National Guard out of
Tucson, Arizona currently deployed to Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. We
have about 80 soldiers that deployed from Arizona and we are the higher
headquarters for over 1000 Soldiers here in Afghanistan from ActiveDuty and
Reserve units. Our mission surrounds providing logistical support for
Southern Afghanistan, which includes running supplies to our front-line
fighters via convoy and air drops. 

Some items that have been highly requested have been:
-plastic soap dishes (to carry soap back and forth from the shower)
-shaving crème (for both male and female)
-magnetic baskets (all our rooms have metal walls, and is a way to maximize
space)
-movies
-deodorant (not highly requested now, but I'm sure will become an item once
it starts to heat up)
-Fruity Snacks (from Kellogg's)
-stress balls

Some items we have more than enough of:
-hot chocolate mix
-board games

Some items that I am requesting as a chaplain:
-anti-fatigue mats (like the ones cashiers stand on). We have
transportation companies with gunners that stand in turrets for hours at a
time across bumpy roads.
-copies of "Surviving an Affair" by Harley & Chalmers
-copies of "On Combat" by LTC Dave Grossman
-copies of "Three Cups of Tea" and "Stones into Schools" by Greg Mortenson
Please let me know if there are any other questions you have about our unit.
Thank you again for all of your support.

CH (1LT) Andrew Lee
158th CSSB, BN Chaplain
KAF, Afghanistan
Pro Deo Et Patria

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: FOUO

Mail items to :

Robin Schmidt

PO Box 122037

Covington, KY 41012-2037

Thanks a million …

Ways to donate …

Thursday, April 1st, 2010

Welcoming on of my heroes home on leave in 2006

After a long debate (with myself), conversations with accountants & someone who sets up non-profits, I am not going down that path. Donations towards my support of our troops & Wounded Warriors can be done via my website:  http://alwayssupportourheroes.com/

As long as everyone knows any donations they give me are not to a registered non profit, I am within the guidelines of the IRS (thank God!).

If someone wants to make a tax deductible donation towards what I do, they can do so through Airline Ambassadors at: http://airlineamb.org/TopLevel/3_Programs/Donate_To_A_Project_Template.htm  (please be sure to put “military” or “troops” or Wounded Warriors” or something like that in the donation comment field).

Any items you want me to deliver to the Wounded Warriors or include in my care packages can be sent to my mailing address :

Robin Schmidt
PO Box 122037
Covington, KY 41012-2037

Thank you all for your advice and support as I learn how to be more effective in supporting our valiant warriors.  Any effort I put forth is for them .. and is so very little in comparison to what they sacrifice to serve and protect each and every one of us.

My first ever web page!

Monday, February 15th, 2010

Hey everyone!  This is my blog for my website … please be patient as I figure out how it all works.  Thanks so much for your encouragement and support.

🙂 Always,

Robin