June 2011
This site was conceived shortly after 9/11 and exists for two reasons: The first is to offer support to our folks who are serving this country in our War on Terror. The second is as a way to acknowledge publicly the contributions of those people helping us supply "CARE" packages to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those generous persons or companies are listed under “Contributors” on this site.
Let me explain that this is NOT a non-profit arrangement that would allow us or anyone else to make money while doing for the troops. Unfortunately, that means that most big corporations will not contribute because they cannot make money or even get a write off from doing so. We exist because of the great folks we've listed on the contributors page and people like you who help so much by sending paperback books, CDs and DVDs when you finish with them. Individuals have contributed between 35,000 and 40,000 paperbacks and many CDs and DVDs.
In the first several years of the program, we sent thousands of our K93 pocketknives directly to units in Iraq and Afghanistan, until the cost made it impossible.
I learned from writing back and forth with those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan that a major problem is boredom. They all want reading material. For over seven years we have been sending a paperback book, two magazines, a pair of field tweezers, a copy of the Constitution/Declaration of Independence and a few band-aids. We have added to these items as good people have donated things like moist towelettes, mosquito towelettes, hotel soap and shampoo and other personal items.
Has this impacted our profits? Of course it has, you cannot mail over 20,000 packages, paying all the cost of the postage as well as including tweezers and knives, which you pay for yourself, and not have it cut deeply into your profits.
How long will we continue? As long as we possibly can and keep our business in good shape. We do this because we believe in the American Fighting Man and Woman and never again want them to feel that they are not fully supported by at least some of those who are safe at home because they are fighting for us overseas.
A. G., Goldie and Staff