Well, thank you to everyone who answered my question about where to send the care packages. I've got some good ideas now and dh is checking with his dad about sending them to the troops. I really want to do that, but wasn't sure how to. Also, just as an aside...
Don't know how many of you run into panhandlers on the street corners where you live, but it's pretty common here near me (I'm in the "upper middle class" area of town). Anyway, I'm always leary of giving money to them since you don't know where they will spend it and a friend gave me a great idea that I've been doing ever since. I purchase large packs of tuna, cracker packs, individual serving fruits and juice boxes at the local shopping club (SAMS or Costco) and a bunch of brown bags at the dollar store. Then, I make little "lunch kits" with a can of tuna, some crackers, a juice box and a fruit cup, a spoon, fork and napkin tied all together, 50c for a phone call and a note telling them I'll be praying for them as well as the addresses of the local shelters and churches that help "indigents". I put those in a box in my back seat and when I see someone down on his luck on the street corner, I hand him/her a bag. This way I know that they'll get a meal AND have the necessary information to get more if they need it. Anyway, just thought I'd share that in case anyone feels guilty like me that I have so much when others have so little... Just one of the ways I try and give back...
-CC