It's been a long year...

...and we've been diggin' in your pockets a lot. Believe me, I know. I sit on the board of a large charity (no, not United Way) and we're seeing the impact of donor fatigue this year.

That said, here's one more. Give up a sixpack. C'mon.

Please forgive the mass e-mail. I've never done it before but this is for our deployed troops. For the last 3 months, volunteers all over the country are making sure that our Marines receive a touch of home for Christmas. We've sent over 12,000 hand sewn Christmas stockings filled with food, games, socks, handwarmers, and other useful items. In addition, we've sent boxes filled with candy, beefsticks, cheese, DVDs, board games, and other things for the guys to share. For troops stationed on the Syrian border and who have been eating MREs for 7 months, we sent pancake mix, syrup and griddles, so that the Battalion Commanders could throw a pancake feed for their Marines. Little things, compared to what they're doing for us. We have no corporate sponsors and we are funded through the donations of parents and military supporters.

On Friday, I got an emergency request from an Army contact who has been in contact with the 1107th AVCRAD, a company of 250 soldiers deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Their MWR dollars didn't come through and they are facing a bleak holiday. If I priority mail packages tomorrow, there is a high probability that they will get them by Christmas. I've received $500 in funding from a couple of parents, and that might be enough to mail part of the packages. But, I still need to buy the stuff to put in the packages. While I won't have individual Christmas stockings, I do have holiday decorated Ziploc baggies and am trying to fill 250 today. If you could put out an appeal to your readers to help fund this final request, it would be so appreciated. If folks want a tax deduction, they can hit the Paypal button at the Marine Corps Family Foundation site.

[The Armorer recommends you skip that one (unless you're going large) and choose the next option.]

If they don't need a receipt, they can use the Paypal button on my site: Marine Corps Moms. Those funds would be immediately available to me instead of waiting. (Connie holds the checkbook for our foundation and she's out of town until next week.) I've been using my own money, thinking that I can fundraise later, but I think filling this request is going to exceed what I can do personally. Each of you have readerships on your websites that I will never achieve. If you could link to the following post on my site:

Click right here.

or just mention it on your site, I would so appreciate it. And, I'll let you know how it turns out.

Deb Conrad
Proud Marine Mom
www.marinecorpsmoms.com

Yer forgiven, Deb.

Cmon - help a Marine Mom help a Dogface soljer. I guess the emphasis there is on... Mom.

And don't forget - despite hurricanes, Voice-activated laptops, tsunamis, tornadoes, floods, and the war... the needs that exist day-to-day in your community are still there. Locally, the Salvation Army is at 1/3 the level they were last year for Bell Ringing. The charity I work with spent our reserves to meet this years needs (hey, that what it's for!)

Remember one advantage of giving over letting the government handle it via taxation... the money you give to local agencies stays local. Just sayin'.

C'mon, a sixpack-equivalent of brew or soda ain't gonna kill ya. In fact, if you truly sacrifice and pass on it... it *might* do ya some good!

Me? I'm giving at least a 12-pack of Newcastle Equivalent.

Update: I put my money where my blog is. So did SWWBO (two separate donations, too). How about you? And as far as I can tell- the receipt here should stand up to an IRS question.

C'mon Denizens. Pony up. Shame me for being cheap. But prove it. Like this.

Dear John Donovan,

This email confirms that you have paid donations@marinecorpsmoms.com (donations@marinecorpsmoms.com) $25.00 USD using PayPal.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Payment Details

Transaction ID: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sales Tax: $0.00 USD
Total: $25.00 USD
Item/Product Name: Marine Corps Moms
Buyer: John Donovan
Message: Here ya go, Deb.

Cheers,

John

And Deb Insta-Responds:

Thank you so much. I'll use the $25 to buy more handwarmers - the guys love them and your donation will buy about 550 hours of heat. In the mountains of Afghanistan, that's one of the best gifts you can give. :-) Have a wonderful Christmas.

Deb Conrad
Proud Marine Mom
www.marinecorpsmoms.com