Honoring A Fallen Soldier

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Between my husband's role in the military and us living in one of the largest military towns in the US, it's impossible not to be influenced and effected by the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Our local news is full of stories about local troops coming home and being shipped off. When I go on base, I see handmade signs welcoming someone home or announcing a birth. The situation with our troops is something I feel all the time. But this past week the war hit even closer to home. My friend, Christine of Everyday Mama, lost someone in her family. A husband, father, brother-in-law and uncle.

Christine is channeling her grief into something productive. She's working with WitKids, a local organization, to host a Day of Service and Remembrance event this coming Friday, 9/11. WitKids will be collecting items to create Care Packages for our soldiers serving overseas.
In celebration of 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, WitKids will be hosting a family-friendly volunteer event on Saturday, September 11, 2010 in [San Diego's] Little Italy's Amici Park from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. to collect items for military care packages. The event will be held in honor of Staff Sgt. Casey J. Grochowiak; a local Special Forces Army Ranger who was recently killed in-the-line of duty in Afghanistan.

At the event, Witkids will have on hand art supplies for kids and their parents to make “Thank You” cards for military men and women serving overseas to include in the packages. WitKids will also be hosting a donation bin where people are encouraged to bring items to donate to the military care packages. The most requested items include sunflower seeds, beef jerky, instant or ground coffee, travel-size baby wipes, liquid hand sanitizer, pre-paid phone cards and small flashlights.
Please help Christine and her family honor Staff Sgt. Casey Grochowiak. Take a moment to look over the rest of the soldiers' wish list. When I sent packages to my adopted soldier, powdered drink mixes (like Gatorade, Crystal Light and Propel) and summer sausage were huge hits. If you're not able to donate here in San Diego, there are plenty of organizations putting together care packages for our troops.

Please think of our men and women serving overseas today and every day. My thoughts and prayers are with Christine and her family.

Hot Shutterfly Deal Alert for Today's Groupon 9/6

Monday, September 6, 2010

I've been getting more and more deal and savings offers in my email. I'm guessing it's because of the grocery savings posts I've done. I've been hesitant to pass these on to you because I don't know if that's what you want. I'd only share the really good deals, like the one I got today, but don't want to go overboard if you all aren't into it. 

I got an email from the folks at Groupon about a today-only national offer (their offers are generally regional). Shutterfly has posted their 8x8, 20-page photo book for only $10. It's usually $30. My neighbor always shows me the ones her grandkids make for her. They're really cute and the quality is great.
These are the type of things I'd be sharing. Since the holidays are so close some of these will be great to take advantage of. (Christmas countdown = 109 days!) Can you please let me know in the comments if stuff like this is useful for you? Maybe I can make it a weekend thing? 

*Photo from Shutterfly, contains an affiliate link.
 
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