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To All Patriotic Citizens: Give2TheTroops needs your help! 
Give2TheTroops® is a 501 (c) 3, tax-exempt, non-profit organization that sends care packages
and letters to our deployed and
wounded
military troops in combat zones. They are non-political and support all branches of the service.
Founded in December
of
2002, by a
U.S. Marine wife, the organization has grown to many branches in several states. Since 2002, G2TT has sent more
than
70,000 large boxes
(averaging 65 lbs. each) to approximately one million American military troops deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan,
Kosovo and other combat zones.
We're asking you to join our special campaign to support our troops through our:
“ BEAT THE HEAT ™ " CAMPAIGN!
Give2TheTroops® is requesting the following items for our "Beat the Heat" Care Packages:
Plastic Water Bottles or Camelbacks and Elixir Electrolytes Tablets
Water Bottles
Camelbak and Camelbak Supplies
Some recommended links to buy the Camelbak items are:
www.rei.com
www.camelback.com
All black sunglasess (no tinted or mirror types allowed)
Drink Mixes in their original packaging.
(The singles type are best for the troops as they can add it to their water bottles)
We recommend Gatorade powder, Crystal Light and ones not made with sugar.
Sunblock, Sun lotion and Aloe Vera gels and Burn creams
Ice Freezie Pops
Chapstick & Lip Balm
Bug wipes and spray in plastic spray bottles (NOT in cans) and Fly Paper
Portable small fans (you can donate the clip-on types, too)
Cool Neck ties
You can buy these at: Sparkling Earth.com (They cost $5.99 each) or you can sew your own!
To Make Your Own Cool Ties: There are several ways to make Cool Ties. Here's one set of directions we were given. Cotton fabric will work best, as it has superior wicking properties. Let your imagination be your guide. One method is to take an ordinary bandana and make a Cool Tie by simply folding over the wide edge about an inch or an inch and a half and stitching the “hem” down to create a tube. Use camoflauge, tan, beige and olive green colors only, please. Complete the cool ties according to the following instructions for the ties:
What you'll need: Scissors, Tape Measure, Sewing Machine, 4" strips of 45"long bandana fabric, one Tablespon of medium Watersorg polymer granules.
DIRECTIONS TO MAKE THE COOL TIES
Cut one strip of fabric 4" wide from a fabric that is at least 45" wide. If you want to have a bow to tie use a 60" wide fabric.
Fold the fabric strip in half lengthwise (the piece should be 4" by 22 1/2"). Mark the fold. This is the center back of the neck band. Open up the fabric and measure and mark 7" on each side of the center back.
Fold the fabric right sides together the width of the strip (the piece should now be 2" by 45".) Using a 5/8" seam, stitch between the marks. (There should be 14" stitched--7" on either side of center back.)
The tail ends may be rounded or slanted to give a more finished look. Finish the edges and ends of the rest of the band by serging or turning and stitching. Press.
Turn tube right side out and press. At one end of the tube, stitch to close, then double stitch for strength. At this point you should have one end of the tube open.
5. Carefully pour the polymer granules into the tube (1-3 teaspoons). Stitch the tube closed. Reinforce with another row of stitching.
To use the cool neck band, soak in water for a 15-20 minutes (hot water speeds the hydration process). As the polymer granules soak up the water "mush" them around so the polymer spreads out equally along the tube. Tie around your neck for a "Cool Band."
TIPS: The polymer granules are used in gardening soil for water retention. (Use Watersorb Medium 1-3 tsp) Each pound of polymer has about 115 tsp.
The cool band can be refrigerated so it is more refreshing on a hot day. It can be soaked in cold water and used over and over. If too many polymer granules are used in the tube, the polymer will ooze through the fabric tube. Generally two teaspoons is all that is needed. Store in a zip lock bag in the refrigerator, or hang dry. The polymer will rehydrate again using instructions in step 6.
DONATIONS FOR THIS DRIVE MAY BE SENT February - September Only!
Financial donations are also greatly appreciated and will help pay for the overseas shipping costs of our very large boxes.
Checks should be made payable to: "Give2TheTroops, Inc."
DONATIONS may be dropped off or mailed to any of our branches. Click Here to see our branch locations.
Questions?
Please contact any of the following:
Andi Grant
Barbara Whitehead
Rick Collins
Pete Cassell or
Christine Golder
Thank you for your support!
Love,
The Give2TheTroops “family”