While volunteering at Ground Zero in New York City in September 2001, I made a promise to a Marine that I would support our military the best I could from that day forward. Since that point in time I have sent care packages to over 150 service members & their units. None of this would have been possible without your financial support over the years or help writing words of encouragement & gratitude to those serving far away from home.
Our troops have expressed to me over and over again the importance of having their name called at “Mail Call”. It helps them cope with the distance between them & their loved ones and boosts morale. For that reason, I created “Mail Call for Our Heroes” in 2006. My goal is to have each service member have at least one piece of mail to open over the holidays (if not more).
WO1 Rachael Washburn O’Brien – Blackhawk Pilot
Over the years I have been blessed beyond measure to get to know and become friends with some of the soldiers I have supported. This year “Mail Call for Our Heroes” is for two of those soldiers. Last week I had the honor of attending Rachael’s mobilization ceremony in Oregon, which is when the above photo was taken. Telling her “until next time” was incredibly difficult for me. Her best friend, Erin has been in Afghanistan for a few months now. Care packages will go to these two service members, as well as the Wounded Warrior hospital in Landstuhl, Germany & a Marine family based in Japan.
If you could once again help me by writing cards & letters, or making cards with your kids; that would be amazing! Please feel free to get your children’s schools, boy/girl scouts & clubs, senior citizens homes, churches, social clubs, and families involved. Having you and your loved ones express your thoughts & appreciation to our service members will make such a difference for them this holiday season. The troops love receiving the cards gathered from across the globe for them!
If you would like to contribute monetarily towards contents of the care packages or postage to ship them; these are the two ways to donate.
PayPal to: supportourheroes@live.com
Or send a check/money order to the address below. Please keep in mind donations are NOT tax deductible as I do all this out of the kindness of my heart and do not want the hassle of becoming a non-profit. Please know I cannot possibly send any packages without your donations or cards/letters & I will post photos & videos on social media to provide proof I am doing with your money what I have promised I will do with it.
The deadline for me to receive your cards/letters or donations is Veterans Day, 11 November, 2017. This will give me time to bake, purchase items to go in the care packages (Christmas trees, ornaments, decorations, holiday cheer), and put everything together so I can mail the packages so they arrive to their destinations before Christmas. Donations received after that date will still be sent – just may be after the holidays. (I do all of this between work trips at my full time job as a flight attendant).
The generosity of your time and desire to assist me with this project each year is overwhelming. Thank you in advance for making “Mail Call for Our Heroes 2017” a success. My goal is to have none of our service members ever feel alone on the battlefield, or when they return home.
Always,
Robin
“The Sky Angel”
Robin Schmidt
PO Box 1494
Mercer Island, WA 98040