Packages From Home wants to recruit you to take part in “Operation: I Give a Shirt!" It's a fun, easy way to send a troop some love in the form of a cool PFH t-shirt (while keeping one for yourself to commemorate your kind act). To become part of this “Special Op.” you simply purchase a t-shirt and we send an identical one to a much deserving military person overseas. Your personal message will accompany the t-shirt and will be shipped overseas in one of our famous Packages as a special gift from you! By donating this t-shirt, you’re not only literally putting a shirt on a troop’s back, but also continuing to support our wonderful cause.

You will wear your t-shirt with pride knowing another just like it is clothing a hero overseas. This operation elevates spirits and boosts morale; and the t-shirt you donate along with your personal note shows the troops just how much you think about them every single day! You even may become pen pals – it is entirely possible.

Please help Packages From Home make “Operation: I Give a Shirt!" a success! Our goal is to send over 3,000 t-shirts with personal messages this summer. With your help, we can do it!!!

***T-shirts from “Operation: I Give a Shirt!” will be sent to random military people overseas. If you would like your t-shirt to go to a specific person, please sign them up to receive our packages and indicate you participated in the “Operation: Give a Shirt!” in the “Information to Packages From Home” section and we will match your t-shirt donation with our list of recipients.

***To participate in “Operation: I Give A Shirt!” please (Click Here).
Please contact Jennifer with questions This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Some of our “men in uniform” have decided they’d like to learn to play Cricket (maybe it’s exposure to the British units in their area). There’s just one problem – no Cricket bats! It’s just not something the military provides. So-o-o-o, they’ve asked if there’s anyone out there who might have some Cricket bats they might donate. I told them I’d ask and see what happens. If you happen to have some bats gathering dust in your garage, dust them off and drop them off. If you’d like to buy a bat to be sent over, you can either order them (Amazon.com) and I can give you the address for direct shipping to a military facility in Iraq, or you can make a donation to purchase bats by sending a check to my attention at Packages From Home – 1201 S. 7th Ave., Ste. 50 – Phoenix, AZ 85007. Be sure to make the check out to Packages From Home – and remember that donations are tax deductible.

While heaven is now blessed with a new angel, we will miss our friend and fellow volunteer, "SUGAR" aka Jimmy Smith. Our journey began one Saturday when Jimmy Smith walked through the doors of Packages From Home (PFH) with his wife, Ann and granddaughter Jessica in tow, to pack some boxes for a friend. From that day forward he and his family were regular Saturday PFH volunteers.

He passionately became “Sugar” because on a certain rainy Saturday, he didn’t go out for his regular cigarette break. When asked why, he quipped, “cause I’ll melt.” To which we responded, “Oh you mean like sugar.” And from that day forward, he was introduced to everyone as “Sugar.” A name he secretly wore with pride.

Sugar was a man of character with a willingness to do anything required, our “muscles”, extremely dependable and had a great sense of humor. He had a big heart and cared deeply for others and loved his family. He could be content just “finding a corner” and sorting decks of playing cards for hours for our soldiers..He worked hard and found himself taking “orders” from women while at PFH and was quick to give out his own nickname of “Boss Lady” to a particular one.

Amongst other things, Sugar (Jimmy) will always be remembered for his overalls and Big Cowboy Hat …. A hat that was unable to cover up the twinkle in his eye and his big smile. A smile that could quickly turn into a mischievous grin with a laugh to match leaving one to wonder…. what exactly is he up to?

I saw you at the funeral today, did not have time to come over and say hi though (lunch engagement). What a moving ceremony! One of the most touching I have ever attended. I just got this e-mail today....... maybe you could have PFH flood this guy with letters? Perhaps something on your website? Just a thought. I hope all is well.

I got an email yesterday with the info below. He's a Prescott kid. His Aunt, Karen Moeller, is here in Flagstaff and I've known for 13 years. She has worked for FUSD and her husband, Mark, I believe is with Doney Park Water. Their kids all went to CHS. Please forward and hopefully he will receive 1000's of cards and letters.

I know that the entire family will be grateful for the support towards their son/nephew! Sharon & Karen are sisters.

I am writing to my friends and family to ask you to consider sending a note of thanks to the son of my friend Sharon Martinez. This past Fri. 3/12/10, Michael and 5 of his comrades were in a firefight in Afghanistan. As they walked a footpath on a mission, 4 got through without incident but an IED exploded as Michael passed through. Sharon and her husband Larry received the terrible news that their son was critically wounded and might not make it. On Sat. 3/13, they received a call from a military hospital in Germany and were told he had been stablized and transported for surgery. He lost both legs below his knees. The Corpsman behind him was also injured, but Michael took the brunt of it. Yesterday both young men were flown to Bethesda Naval Hospital. Michael is in good spirits and remembers everything. He has shrapnel in his left arm, but his mind is clear. He has to have surgery every 2-3 days to clean out his leg wounds. His main concern today was thanking the others who saved his life. He and his buddy visited today and recounted the tragic event. Sharon arrived in Bethesda yesterday and Larry and their older son Josh arrived today. The road ahead is a long one, for all of them. Sharon will stay with Michael until he is able to come home to Prescott, AZ. It will be 3 mos. or more before they can come home. They are thankful Michael's life was spared and believe there is a purpose. My request is simple. If you have the time and are so inclined, please send Michael a note of encouragement and thanks for his sacrifice for our freedom. This 19-year-old has certainly earned the Purple Heart he will be receiving. He has a wonderful attitude and is already looking forward to going to college when he's well enough to attend. If you believe in prayer, as I do, I'm sure the family would appreciate being held up in prayer. Feel free to share this with others.

PFH's New Secure On-line Donation Page

By now I'm sure you've seen the changes to the PFH website front page. One of these changes is our new donation method. The old method used to take you to another site we called the PFH store and the whole look and feel of the site was completely different. Now you can make a donation right from any of the PFH site's pages. Our system is secured by Godaddy.com and ensures that you're donation experience is safe and your information is secure. Additionally you have the option to donate in any amount over ten dollars you wish and you can even chose to make your donation recurring. Packages From Home accepts Pay Pal, Visa, American Express and Master Card forms of payment for your convenience.

On November 18th, I received the following request from one of the units in Iraq:

"Above is an MP unit who has some special needs and I was wondering if there is any way you can assist them. You are the only person I know who could help us out! They are in desperate need of some bicycles, 10 speed or mountain bicycles. They need 3 of them. If at all possible could you maybe assist them?"

If you have a bicycle that meets their needs, is in good condition, and you’d like to donate it, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Packages From Home is getting a nice donation boost from anumber of Walgreens stores. For the next two months, participating Walgreens stores will be collecting treats for the troops. During September the treat is Oreo brownies, and after a summer without chocolate, the guys and gals serving in the Middle East are really excited about all things chocolate. So, next time you get the chance, stop by one of the Walgreens listed below and buy a "treat for the troops."

Participating Locations:

• 19th Ave & Union Hills
• 3rd Street & Bell
• 27th Ave & Thunderbird
• Cave Creek & Greenway Rd.
• Thunderbird & 7th St.

Shea Homes Arizona Family Division announced today their annual Troop Donation Program. This is their third year collecting items for the Troops overseas, and this year they are reaching out to the Valley. From October 1st through November 22nd Shea Homes Arizona Family Division will be conducting a drive to collect food, hygiene, recreational and other much-needed items to send to our military personnel overseas. Anyone wishing to donate from the list of much-needed items can drop them off at any of the 17 Shea Homes Family community model home offices across the Valley.

They say an army travels on its stomach, but in Afghanistan our troops are finding that a lack of socks makes traveling difficult. In fact, they don’t have much of anything in the way of hygiene products (anyone have an old Sears Catalog we could send for toilet paper?). We’re doing what we can, and you can help. Here’s a short list of much-needed items: