You probably know the feeling: All of a sudden, you crave chocolate. Doesn't matter what kind - even baking chocolate in the cupboard will do in a pinch.
Senior Master Sgt. Kimberlee Keller had one of those cravings in mid-October. But it's not always easy to find chocolate at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan.
And if Keller, an Air Force paralegal at the massive airfield 25 miles outside of Kabul, couldn't find a single M&M at the base exchange, she wondered how military members in remote provinces get their fix.
So Keller, president of Bagram's Top 3 - a mentoring and service organization open to senior enlisted personnel - decided to ask veterans groups in the United States to send chocolate to Afghanistan. The goods will be distributed to far-flung outposts as a holiday pick-me-up.
Call the operation what you will: Edible Freedom. Enduring Fudge. Energizing Feast. Whatever you do, mail the goods by Nov. 20 to ensure arrival by Dec. 10.
"Being away from home is very difficult, even more so for the holidays," Keller wrote in a letter to VFW chapters. "This small token would mean so much to everyone."
"We will package and hand out every bit of chocolate we receive," Keller said. "I don't think we could ever receive too much chocolate!"
She recommends using the U.S. Postal Service's priority mail option, which costs $11.95 to ship a box weighing up to 70 pounds.
Keller, from Jennings, Fla., arrived in Afghanistan in August. She said she generally turns to Hershey's chocolate when she needs a fix, but splurges occasionally on white chocolate truffles from Lindt.
Bagram, with 21,000 personnel, won't get first dibs on the shipments - smaller, isolated outposts take priority, she said. The logistics are still being worked out. One contact at a far-flung outpost told her they might rely on mules to transport the candy.
"Don't know if we can reach everyone, but we will do our best," she said.
Kate Wiltrout, (757) 446-2629, kate.wiltrout@pilotonline.com
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P.S.
Sorry this article didn't stay on the front page LONGER.....
Maybe the VP can put it back up front again and put the address in the body of the article?
Lots of generous people here!
This will be our favorite Christmas gift this year!
Temps?
I think we're fine with the temperatures in Afghanistan.........High today 61, Low 39 ! Hopefully, whatever locations they go pass in transit will also be cool!
I copy & pasted the article AND ADDRESS and emailed to myself THEN forwarded to about 50 friends!
Hubby's boss and my Mom said that they will also "fill a box"......
What a great subsitution for buying eachother "stuff" that we don't need!
I can just picture our brave troops with CHOCOLATE smeared on their happy faces.
Maybe the VB can follow up with SMSgt. Keller and get us some pictures after Christmas?
Start packing, y'all!
melting
Any suggestions on how to keep it from melting during shipment? I posted this info on facebook to reach many more people.
Sending chocolate overseas
The address to send chocolate is up at the top left of the article.
Address
It was in the paper this morning....
SMSgt Kimberlee Keller
455 AEW/JA
APO AE 09354
chocolate to Afghanistan
I'd love to participate in this but unfortunately there is no address/drop off point listed....
I’d…
…be in for M&Ms if I had an address.
Opps…
My screw up. I see it. Never mind.
See ya at Walgreen's, pLamastra….
Umm????
I agree. An address would be helpful! This story is pointless if you can't provide an address.
Address
It looks like you might have overlooked it. Under the headline of the story on the left side you can find the address.
Thanks,
Olivia Hubert-Allen
- the moderation team
Something to Consider
Something anyone considering sending packages over to the desert may want to take into account a few things:
~1. Chocolate melts in heat and shipments can sit in heat over there for an undetermined aount of time, even simply while being loaded from plane to truck. Pack in ziplock baggies, not saranwrap.
~2. Cookies and other easy to crumble items your special guy or girl loves can be better packaged for transit to any military base using old tennis ball tubes or even pringles chip tubes. Both have lids and if the goodies are packaged in clear plastic wrap first, they line up and have little room to move during shipping. So there's less a chance the service member will open their package to a container of crmubs.
~3. Another great thing to send are babywipes. Sand gets everywhere and since there's not a shower at every camel post, the refreshment from a simple wipe over the face is amazing.
~~Happy Sending!! The care packages -really- do boost morale.
What a Great idea!
I'm on my way to Walgreen's..........