Your Help Needed: Christmas Care Packages For Troops In Iraq

December 9, 2009

carepkg13.jpg

A Molino woman is asking the North Escambia community to help her send Christmas care packages to American troops serving in Iraq.

Katie Hilburn’s fiancee, Spc. Ben Piatt, also of Molino, is two months into his tour of duty as a combat engineer in northern Iraq. He is schedule to be in Iraq until October of next year.

carepkg12.jpgAfter hearing about the soldiers’ needs, Hilburn decided to send the care packges to Piatt’s unit in Iraq during the Christmas season.

“There are a lot of soldiers who don’t have family or have anyone to send them stuff, and I want to make sure that they do get stuff this year,” Hilburn, 20, said. “I am asking the community to go to Cole’s Barbershop and donate supplies.”

The supplies will be collected at Cole’s until Monday, December 14. They will then be shipped to Piatt, 21, and his unit in Iraq. Cole’s Barbershop is located next to Fran’s Country Grill on Highway 29.

Items being collected include:

Body Care
Mens liquid body soap
Shampoo
Baby wipes
Q-tips
Shaving cream
Razors
Foot powder
Chap stick

Food
Ramen noodles (in the cup)
Beef jerky
Cereal bars
Peanuts
Cookies
Candy bars
Crystal Light (peach tea, lemon tea)
Popcorn (microwavable)
Saltine crackers
Peanut butter
Fruit cups
Macaroni and cheese (in a cup)

Miscellaneous
Playing cards
DVD’s
Magazine’s (hunting, fishing, guns, sports)
Games
International phone cards

Pictured top: Katie Hilburn and her fiancee Spc. Ben Piatt prior to his deployment to northern Iraq. Pictured inset: Spc. Piatt in Iraq. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

12 Responses to “Your Help Needed: Christmas Care Packages For Troops In Iraq”

  1. char on December 13th, 2009 8:17 am

    katie
    There is also a site http://www.anysoldier.com
    There you can pick your soldier, male or female and send what they
    request ,as it is listed.

    I sent boxes for about 7 years to soldiers I don’t know.
    I have gotten letters and even some of sadoms money with
    his pictures on it. They love to write back some of them, and others
    you never hear from. Try to remeber they are busy over there,
    and have a job to do!
    I have heard from some of them in e-mails after they got back in
    the states also. They tell you how much your boxes meant to them.
    I also include a letter from my husband and I with a picture, jokes pulled
    off the internet, and ok yes most of the time I send some pin up pictures
    like a picture of a girl in the red, white, and blue bikini !
    One guy sent me a picture of it posted on the wall of his humvee, hope
    it didn’t distract him too much!

    hugs to you
    char

  2. Katie on December 11th, 2009 9:06 am

    Hey Deni,
    Thankyou so much! =)

  3. Deni on December 10th, 2009 10:29 pm

    Hey Katie. I heard Marty (WXBM) talking about you this morning on the radio. I was like, “I know her”. It’s great what you are doing!! I’m gonna help this weekend. Keep up the good work. Deni, (Beni Joe’s mom).

  4. Katie on December 9th, 2009 7:54 pm

    To: (IN IRAQ)
    I would like to send you letters and Care Pkgs. if you don’t mind, e-mail me your address so I can send you stuff please. also, if there are any men and women who aren’t getting stuff or need anything over there, please let me know.
    katie_hilburn@yahoo.com
    Thankyou =) Be safe and come home soon!!!

  5. In Iraq on December 9th, 2009 7:43 pm

    I have to say, this is a great thing to be doing. I am currently deployed in Iraq, and i know how nice it is to get things from time to time, and also, to feel the support from back home (seeing as how i am from century myself). Ya’ll are doing a great job. Keep up the good work, and may god bless you all!!!!!!

  6. Wild Bill on December 9th, 2009 4:39 pm

    For those who may be a little cash strapped this year but still want to do somethig nice for the troops can go to this webite:

    http://www.letssaythanks.com/Home1280.html

    Pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq. You can’t pick out who gets it, but it will go to a member of the armed services.

  7. Katie on December 9th, 2009 12:06 pm

    Hey EMD,
    Yes, please e-mail me at katie_hilburn@yahoo.com
    I would love to send stuff to the guys who aren’t getting Care pkg’s! if you know his address please e-mail it to me. I have alot of stuff I would love to send to them! along with anyone else, who may know anyone like what EMD is talking about! also, I know Judy was talking about the women getting stuff and I have stuff for them, so if anyone knows any girls who needs stuff, PLEASE e-mail me the address!!! thankyou

  8. Darlene on December 9th, 2009 11:55 am

    I think this is a wonderful thing for us to do, these men are serving us and our country. I will do my part in helping send them supplies. This is for EMD how would I go about adopting one of your friends tent mates? Please leave me a message on here and I will help in any way I can. Thanks and God Bless!!!

  9. EMD on December 9th, 2009 10:45 am

    That is great. I am already sending stuff to my life long friend’s son in Afghanistan. I am looking for someone to adopt one of his tent mates who has contact with no on in the states. There are others there like that too. They are in a tent city in a desert place surrounded by mountains. I know it must get lonely and very cold. They need warm clothing too.

  10. Lynda on December 9th, 2009 10:23 am

    We are so proud of Katie and Ben. What a really nice couple they are. Our Prayers are with Ben and we thank him and all of our troops for helping to keep our country free and safe. May they all have a Blessed Christmas and keep those care packages going to them. Ryan, Dave and Lynda

  11. Katie on December 9th, 2009 9:14 am

    Hey Judy,
    I had asked my fiancee if there were any girls there and since he is in combat, there is no girls even by is unit. I was planning on sending stuff for the girls and I still have stuff, I just have to find someone there. thankyou for telling me about the sight.. CHOCOLATE will be find to send where he’s at for right now. once summer hits, the candy will have to change. thankyou to everyone who’s reading this. =)

  12. JUDY C. MASEK on December 9th, 2009 6:16 am

    “SOLDIERSANGELS” is a group that i use, also, to send care boxes for the troops…they asked that we avoid pork products and chocolate (it melts)….dont know if SPC. PIATT has females in his unit, but, if so..they need female items, as well…katies project is fantastic! its a great opportunity to give to our men/women who sacrificing to make our country safe….