Give Our Troops A Taste of Home

Author, Julie Coulter Bellon is doing a marvelous thing in conjunction with the release of her new book, All's Fair. So for everyone of my readers who live anywhere in the Wasatch Front, this is something I wholeheartedly support. When I asked Julie for more details this is what she sent me:

In case any of you aren't aware, in conjunction with the release of my new book, All's Fair, I'm doing a charity drive, "Skittles for Soldiers," all next week all across the Wasatch Front. I wanted to give a little taste of home to the troops serving overseas, especially after working so closely with one Marine and his unit while I did research for my new book. It just gave me a whole new perspective on the true sacrifice they make every day and how much even a little bag of Skittles means to the men and women serving in such places as Iraq and Afghanistan.

So, from July 14 to July 19th, you can drop off any of the items listed below at any Seagull location across the Wasatch Front, from Logan clear down to Spanish Fork. When you do, you will receive an entry to win a free autographed copy of All's Fair. I will be appearing on Good Things Utah on July 14th at 10:00 a.m. on Channel 4 to kick off the charity event and doing several booksignings that week as well. I think it would make this July truly patriotic to do something nice for our men and women in uniform. If you are interested, you can find more details on my website, www.juliebellon.com Please pass this along to anyone you might know who might be willing to help. I'd like to collect as much as possible and say a little thank you to our troops!

Suggested Care Package Items

• Individually wrapped hard candy
• Tootsie Rolls/Pops
• Skittles
• Lollipops
• Life Savers
• Sweet Tarts
• Chewing/Bubble gum
• Mints, breath strips
• Lunch box sized snacks
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Pretzels
• Cookies
• Chips (Pringle type containers best)
• Cracker Jacks
• Crackers
• Corn Nuts
• Fruit snacks/fruit leather
• Gardettos
• Microwave popcorn
• Trail mix
• Energy bars
• Protein bars
• Breakfast bars
• Granola bars
• Nut bars
• Beef jerky
• Fruit: cup/canned/dried
• Instant meals
• Instant oatmeal
• Kraft Easy Mac
• Ramen
• Cup of Noodles
• Non-refrigerated microwaveable meals
• Canned meats-no pork!
• Stews
• Chili
• Ravioli
• Soups

Hygiene

• Hotel/travel sized: gel, deodorant, shampoo, lotion, toothpaste, mouthwash
• Small hand sanitizer
• Toothbrushes
• Dental floss
• Sanitary pads /tampons
• Twin blade razors
• Eye drops
• Nose drops
• Unscented baby wipes/wet wipes
• Mach III Turbo Razor
• Blades
• Small Kleenex packets
• Q-Tips
• Anti-fungal creams
• Band Aids
• Medicated foot powder
• Sunscreen
• Beverages
• Hot chocolate
• Cider mix
• Sugar or sweetener packets
  

Entertainment and miscellaneous

• DVDs
• AAA and AA batteries
• Paperback books
• Pens/pencils
• Blank greeting cards and stationery
• Stickers
• Disposable cameras
• AT&T phone cards
• Condiment packets
• Sandwich, gallon, quart, and snack-sized Ziploc bags (to make care packages)

This is such a worthy cause and such a small to ask of people across Utah. Let's all get together and really inundate the Seagull Bookstores from Logan to Spanish Fork with these products for our soldiers overseas.

Much thanks to Kerry Lynn Blair who gave me this site for all of you who would like to help our soldiers but don't live in the Wasatch Front. America Supports You is the site you can go to find out how you can help.