From Our Hearts

We Do What We Do...!

You guys are awesome.  I’ve been able to find cards for all occasions at our local USO on Bagram Air Field.  They are great quality and it’s nice to be able to send a little something to loved ones especially when we’re not there to celebrate.  Keep doing what you do.

V/R

NATHAN C, TSgt, USAF

Going Home, Keep Cards Coming

Please send my thanks to all of the wonderful volunteers that create your cards for all of us that are serving overseas.  I grabbed several Halloween cards during my last visit to Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan.  I just finished writing them all out and will be sending them to my kids and nieces and nephews.  Although I am currently on my way home to Texas, I encourage you to continue making the cards and sending them to Afghanistan.  All those that are serving appreciate them!

Thanks again!

Tim N, CPT, EN

P.S.  Special thanks to Cynthia K. from Norco, CA and Classy Red Hatters of Riverside, CA who labeled their cards.

Christmas/Holiday Card Donations

A quick update: From Our Hearts has 44 boxes of Christmas and holiday cards, waiting to be packed up and shipped over!  Our heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who has sent us cards.  We are still accepting them - our projected box-up date is on Halloween, but we will be shipping more boxes over as the cards come in. 

We have 42 contacts that are on our list, waiting for these cards - and with what is on hand right now, every contact will receive one box - and we need MORE!!!  Your cards, even 10 or 20, will help us to reach our goal of sending 2 boxes to each contact.

Thank you, thank you, from our hearts!

(from the board members and local volunteers of From Our Hearts)

From Our Hearts' Cards Used In 3 Main Ways - A Chaplain's Experience

This is an awesome email received this week:

Just a quick note to thank you and all your volunteers for the wonderful handmade cards you have been sending our way -- to send back to our loved ones at home!

I have been making use of them in three main ways:

1. To send to my own loved ones.   My son and daughter will soon receive to very fun and wonderful Halloween Cards.   Never could have found anything like that out here without you!

2. As the Navy Central Command Chaplain for Afghanistan, my task is to travel throughout the Area of Operation seeking out not only Sailors....but along the way having strong interaction with Soldiers, Airmen, Marines...and believe it or not...even a small number of Coast Guardsmen.   As I go...my pant cargo pockets almost always have a number of your cards in them.  As I meet service members I often ask...have you written home lately?   Then I laugh..pull out some cards and say...pick one and send it home today!   To your wife...to your mom...to your dad...to your kids...to your sweetheart. 

3. In giving people a hard time about writing home, while handing them the gift of your cards...I am also able to engage them about their families back home...their concerns and worries both about things on the home front...and at time...about things they are experiencing here but could never share back home.

So, thanks for all you do to help us keep our home fires burning...and to care for all our service men and women here in Afghanistan.

V/r

Frank R

LCDR CHC (FMF) USN

Salerno Chapel Sends Thanks And Another Thank you/Request

Greetings From Afghanistan,

On behalf of the Chapel Staff here and soldiers in the surrounding areas, thank you!

Very Respectfully,

SGT Martha J

Chaplain Assistant

Salerno Chapel

And another:

Thank you so much for sending us these amazing cards!  They are so special!  My family loves receiving these cards from me and I can’t tell you how much it means to me to be able to send them home.

This rotation of Medics arrived 2 months ago and we have depleted the stash of cards that was left for us by the outgoing Medics.  How do we sign up to receive some more cards?

I also volunteer at the Chapel sponsored facility called Jack’s Place where all members of any branch of service can go for a cup of coffee, free internet, snacks, toiletries and I would like to sign us up to receive cards as well.  Is that possible and if so what do I need to do?

Thank you again! You are making a huge difference to the lives of American men and women who are away from their families!

God Bless you!

Jamie O, TSgt, USAF

Thanks, And Another Couple of Requests!

I just wanted to thank you for providing cards to deployed service members. They have really been appreciated by everyone that I've sent them to and have made it very easy for me to keep in touch with family and friends. Take care.

MICHAEL M

And another thanks, plus a request!

Greetings,

How are you?! My name is Angela. I currently serve in the Army as a Chaplain Assistant. I recently received one of your cards from one of the ladies that come to our Women’s Group here in Afghanistan. It was just so beautiful! You all have so much talent! Thank you so much for all you do for us. My friend heard about you and wanted to share your mission with us during our meeting time in the hope that may be we too can benefit from your mission. Is it possible for us to receive some of your beautiful cards? I do not know how the program works, please let me know what is the procedure in order to get the Servicemembers here receive your cards, so they can write to their family back home.

Thank you so much in advance.

Very respectfully,

SSG Angela V

More thanks and another request:

Good Morning,

I am deployed and came across a few cards that had your information on it, I just wanted to see if you would be able to send some cards out my way.  If not, it’s not a problem, but I just thought I would ask!

Thanks for all you do.  I have loved the cards that I have come across before!

v/r

MARY H Captain, USAF

A Request From Another Redeployed Soldier

Good afternoon (Afghanistan time, that is...)

I'm currently deployed to Kabul for the next 12 months and I remember the beautiful cards your organization sent to us while we were stationed in Iraq.  I'm not sure who received the cards but there were so many wonderful cards for everyone to keep in touch with friends and family back home.  I kept some of the info sheets from the cards in case I ever deployed again and here I am~

I was hoping to get in on your mailing list to get some cards for our shop here.  Those of us in the Army have 12 month tours, Navy 9 months and Air Force are on 6 months.  So, we have a need for any all types of cards - birthdays, holidays, new baby... Anything you can think of would be wonderful~

Much appreciated and please pass along my thanks to everyone who makes these cards - they are beautiful.  And a God-send when the PX only has postcards (and they are all Christmas themed....) Thank you~

V/R,

MELISSA C

Chris S (Mira Loma, CA) and The Classy Red Hatters (Riverside, CA) Get Kudos!

I wanted to thank-you for your card donations! I just recently mailed one to my husband/daughter and then my mother and they were BEAUTIFUL!!

They were made by Chris S. from Mira Loma, CA and The Classy Red Hatters of Riverside, CA.

Sometimes it seems that writing a note home is a lost art, but your cards that you all make and donate are so beautiful, I can’t help but share them with my family and friends! The highlight of my day is when I can put pen to paper in one of your creations.

Thank-you for making a lost art irresistible & fun!

Very Respectfully,

Samantha D, TSgt, USAF

Boxes Depleted in 2 Days!

Note from the home office at From Our Hearts:  This is a "repeat" contact - in country for a second deployment and she requested our cards... Her note to us when receiving her first boxes (From Our Hearts shipped 2):

Our second box came today and as always--the cards are beautiful.  We will put them in a public location in the hospital--last month they were GONE in 2 days....thanks you again.

And a followup e-mail a couple of days later:

We weren't sure of the best place to do this on this particular rotation--so we opted for the front information like desk where IDS are checked etc--and everyone sees it when they come for medical care and like I said--the first box was depleted in 2 days--we thought someone just took it but low and behold it was there w just 3 little cards left.......:)

v/r,

ALICIA W

And More Supplies And Pens Arrive - and Cards, Too!

And we are so thankful! These supplies were mailed to us by Carol C from Woodstown, NJ -

2 cuttlebug folders and 40 SU! ink pads and reinkers!  Thank you, Carol!
And from Rochester, MN, yet another frequent contributor, Jean G sent 165 cards and 60 pens -

Many Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Valentines (they will be mailed out the first of the year), we thank Jean!

Jean sent cards of all occasions, too.

Even some "blank" cards - those without a sentiment - and we have received requests for this type of card -

Our thanks to Jean and Carol for their donations.