The Best Gift of All

posted Mar 15, 2018, 8:53 PM by Hearts in A Box [ updated Mar 15, 2018, 8:57 PM ]

The volunteers of Hearts in a Box really enjoy the ups and downs and hard work involved in getting ready to ship care packages to our troops each year. We know there's no expectation of a response because we have total faith in our shipments making it to their destinations.

The best gifts we get are those unexpected responses from the men and women who received our care packages. It's fun to read more about them ... whether it's a quick line to say "thanks!" ... or a longer missive that tells a story, we appreciate the time and effort they take from their busy and important work to let us know they enjoyed what we sent.

We received a lot of feedback this year. Here are some highlights, with many other letters still in reserve to show later, too.

"Thank you very much for taking the time and effort to send our Soldiers your lovely Christmas boxes while we are deployed to Kuwait and Iraq. We have received some boxes and are making sure they go to all our Soldiers. Our Soldiers deployed to Iraq are in some pretty remote locations and they will truly appreciate your kindness, again thank you very much for your support." CSM, 1st TSC OCP

"Good Day, I wanted to thank you for the care packages. We have been receiving so much support from so many great Americans. We have been really busy and getting into the Christmas Spirit. We have decorated throughout our work spaces and we're planning on having Christmas party. A photo of most of us. The Marines are doing great and we hope to hear from on you soon." Marines in Kuwait

Marines in Kuwait who received our packages.

" The other day our Division of Sailors onboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt (based out of North IA) received your care package's. Our Sailors of men and

women were very excited opening the package's especially the ones that do not get a lot of m

ail. They loved all the goodies inside. We shared everything and are very grateful. We are ITs sland, C(Information Systems Technicians), we basically control the Computer Network and help the sailors set up their email and what not. A big Thank you from the Sailors in Combat Division onboard the Air Craft Carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt! We mailed you a letter but not sure when it would get there so we d

ecided to send you an email as well.
Personally I am from Los Angeles, CA I am married and have 4 kids. 2 boys ages 11 and 8, and boy/girl twins age 4. When I am not at work or deployed I love spending time with my children and try to do as much as I can with them to make up for lost time from being away. I am actually 4.5 years away from retirement and looking forward to being home a lot more. Once again thank you for all your support!" Sailors of the USS Theodore Roosevelt

"Thank you so much for your holiday box to the Head and Neck Trauma team at the Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad!! We appreciate your generosity and thoughts!"