lovely

the letter about brownies and a laugh

I’ve referenced Operation Baking GALS in the past… an Internet organization that helps organize and send baked goodies to troops serving abroad… and told you about how wonderful it is and just how absolutely easy it is to get involved.

But today I want to mention it again in light of an email that was sent to me just the other day about a package of brownies and candy I shipped over to Afghanistan on July 14, 2011 with a “thank you” note to the soldiers. It’s the kind of email that makes you stop and think and remember why you want to spread smiles in the world. I won’t lie and say that it didn’t make me cry, because it did.

And it’s one that will have me signing up for Round 38 as soon as I’m done writing this entry… maybe you’ll join me now or later as well.

[all names have been changed – locales have been deleted]

 

operationbakinggals

p.s. via a Google search, I can share that “Lt. Marks” has recovered from his injuries and is back in active duty stateside.

15 Comments

  • Jess G

    Kim, this just made my heart ache a little. I am so proud of the amazing things that Baking Gals has accomplished, and couldn’t be happier that I’m able to be part of it! Also, just a friendly reminder that people can nominate a soldier even if they are not interested in leading a team!

  • Melinda

    Love and support from home goes a LONG way with our troops. Thanks for your contributions! (As a former military gf/wife, it warms my heart to see the community caring for its service men/women!)

  • abi

    That’s awesome! Love that he took the time to send you a letter like that and love that you have been so faithful to volunteer. I am going to check out the site and hopefully join up!

  • kelsey@mintedlife

    Wow, that’s so amazing. Thanks so much for sharing the letter with us. It’s easy to lose sight of just how much something like this can mean to them so thanks for the reminder.

  • Eve

    Thanks for sharing this with us! I just signed up :) Quick question– the site tells you how to keep cookies fresh by using apple peels, but did you use the same trick for shipping brownies?

    • Kim

      I did use the apple peel trick… and also sealed everything in plastic wrap. I can only hope that the brownies weren’t rocks when they got them, and hope that the apple peel trick worked!

  • TwoWishes Tara

    What a wonderful story.

    Since I rarely (ever?) blog these days, will subject you to my own: I send through AnySoldier.com, which is general care packages. Last time I sent a box, I got an email a few weeks later saying that they received it, and asking whether I had meant to include a silver-and-sapphire ring that was just sort of lying in the bottom of the box. Frankly, I couldn’t remember. So I emailed back and said “don’t know whether I meant to send it and forgot or it fell in accidentally, but either way just find it a new owner.” My contact wrote back and said that a woman in her unit had lost her wedding band the day the package arrived. And the care package ring? Just her size!