The countdown begins!

Well, here we are!  February snuck up on us pretty quickly.  The house is filled with shirts, boxes, markers, and so much more.  Haven't seen the floor for a few months now.  It's a mess ... but it's a good one, because it means we are meeting our 5,000 shirt requirement for this year's adoption list!

Today responses started coming in from the Firehouse.com article http://cms.firehouse.com/content/article/article.jsp?sectionId=46&id=47304 

Need to make sure that everyone knows, the shirts are NOT just for the Army, but for all military branches with troops deployed to the desert and beyond. 

If you've ever done a long-distance interview, you know there are always some things that get lost in translation.  The fact that the interview took place while I was in bed recovering from pneumonia, didn't help!  But the heart of the article is intact.

One important thing that needs to be stressed, is that while we do accept items other than shirts, such as hats, sweats, shorts, tank tops, etc ... we DO NOT want you sending any badges!!!  The only badges we have, are those that were pinned on to our mascot by personnel across the country.  EVERY thing placed on our mascots, remain on our mascots!!!  At the end of their service run - a 1 year tour 1 - the mascot is placed in a sealed case for display.  the intent is that each year the retiring mascot will be shared among different agencies, then donated to a military installtion for permanent display of how their troops were supported all across North America.

We would like to thank Firehouse.com for allowing us to spread the word via such a reputable organization.  And thank you Eric for your time doing the interview.

Let's see, most important info right now is that the shirt deadline is drawing close.  Weset Valentine's Day as our deadline to receive the shirts here in time for Pack-Out '06.  We hope to have as many shirts as possible by this date so that we can get them processed early. 

Being real, as the Firehouse.com article just posted, and some of you may think you can't make that date.  Soooo ... here's the deal.  Yes, we want the shirts by Valentine's Day.  If you just cannot make that deadline, do everything you can to get them to us before Feb 23rd.  Pack-Out '06 is February 25th, at Camp Murray National Guard Base, in Washington State. 

Remember, if you are coming to the Pack-Out, the deadline does not apply, as you can simply bring them with you!

To increase the possibility of a response from the troop receiving your donation, add your business/contact card to the shirt.  This is a great place to extend a personal visit invite, etc.  You may make a new friend out of it!

Important: Staple card securely to the INSIDE, front, left of the neckline.  Or inside the waist band, etc.  We have found stapling them INSIDE the donated items, ensures the card staying on through processing, shipping and receiving.

We would love to have a photo of your department holding up the shirts, or signing them.  Some of your cities are on the National Tour this year ... we may get to meet!

NO sealed items may be sent, for security purposes.

Send shirts to:

HeroToHero.us

PO Box 98954

Lakewood, WA 98498

**If you are shipping via UPS, please contact us for a street address, as they will not ship to a PO Box.

We encourage any department who can send reps, to do so.  This is a fun-filled day, and family friendly.  Lots of photo ops, drawings, refreshments, and activities.

At the Pack-Out, we will be "processing" and packing shirts.  Processing means that we have to make sure that every shirt has messages, and contact info on them, and that the messages on the shirts are appropriate.

This event is open to Fire, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Troops, and their loved ones.  You will be on a military installation, and must have 2 forms of government issued ID, registration and proof of vehicle insurance to enter the post.  We ask for RSVP's at HeroShirts@aol.com  Subject: RSVP.

Shirts are coming in from everywhere!  Obviously for geographical reasons, most of you will not attend the Pack-Out ...Though we have gotten positive RSVP's from as far away as Southern California! 

We don't want any of our out-of-state donators to feel left out, so ....  we are having an "Out-Of-State" Hero drawing during the Pack-Out.  Every member of a department donating items to the cause this year, is eligible to enter.

To enter, send the following, to HeroShirts@aol.com Subject: DRAWING

YOUR NAME & RANK:

AGENCY/STATION & SHIFT:

DEPARTMENT ADDRESS:

PHONE NUMBER:

*This info is kept on our private contact list, and may be used to advise you of upcoming H2H events, National Tour visits, troop responses, etc.

Tacoma Fire Dept Local 31 is hosting to Post Pack-Out Party, later in the evening.  You must attend the Pack-Out to attend this event.  No minors at this event.  Attendees are encouraged to bring a dish to help offset costs for the party.

We have been asked what we need beside shirts, for the Pack-Out.  So ...

We go through an amazing number of Silver Sharpies, as these work best on the majority of the blue/black shirts.  We need them bad enough, that for people attending the Pack-Out, for every 2 unopened Silver Sharpies they donate, we will give them an extra drawing ticket.

REEEEEALLLLLY IMPORTANT:  We are still trying to find a shipper to get the shirts to the East Coast.  If any of you have a good national shipper contact, we would love to talk to you.  If we do not get a shipper, we are preparing for the full shipment.  This means about 95 cents per shirts for us to ship from here to the desert addresses.  (OUCH!)  We have a good portion of this donated already, but still need help.

We also self-fund the National Tour in May, so any funds we can keep on hand, helps us greatly ... and might mean one less weekend car wash!

If you would like to donate, we have an account set up through Wells Fargo for HeroToHero.us, you can also send donations via Paypal.  Contact us for specifics.  All checks should be made out to Hero To Hero 

**Be advised that we are NOT a 501c, yet.  So all donations are truly a gift from the heart.  Our goal is non-profit status this year.

lj

Have NO doubt ... this is not a solo effort!  There are people all over North America helping to make this a success.

But right here at home, we have a Core Team of "Angels" who have worked tirelessly, side by side with me, and I would like them to be recognized, and honored! 

Too often, it is my goofy face, and my name that is front and center.  Were it not for the Angels, I would be a mom at home who sent out some shirts one year, got burned out from the effort, and gave up troop support.

Ladies & Gentlemen, the "Angels of the H2H" ...

Aris & Ron Caron -- These two have been with HeroToHero.us, since it was just HeroTo Hero.  They have done so much to ensure the success of this effort, and I am eternally grateful!  Aris does just about all of the sewing for us ... and if you have ever sewn around patches, knowing how many we get ... that's huge!  She makes the banners and quilts, and even costumes our mascots!  Ron is our "go to" guy.  He coordinates our "Stomps" (mini versions of the National Tour, throughout Washington)  If something has to be finessed, designed, or created ... Ron is our guy!  Their son Josh, and his wife Mandy, are both USAF desert-deployed ... again!

Kathy Green -- My companion in crime, lol.  Kathy has made most of the phone contacts, arranging all of our National Tour visits, doing all of our secretarial duties, and sooooo much more!  She came on board while her husband was still deployed, and she was at home with 4 kids!  She is Co-Pilot and Navigator on the National .. and has greatly improved her map reading skills, and our efforts!!!  Can't imagine doing a national without her ... hope I never have to.  Love ya, Kath!

Chani & Larry Kaibetoney -- You can't help but love these two!  Chani volunteered with me, helping with our other effort  "Operation HeartStone".  Larry is in the US Army, and was one of the seriously wounded Mosul Dining Hall troops.  Chani has been a rock during his recovery.  They have done so many things for HeroToHero.us!  Chani designs for us, her National Tour logo was emblazoned on all of our work last year.  She is the Volunteer Coordinator for the Pack-Out, and I don't envy her the work that involves!  Larry continues to recover, all the while being an amazing crusader for the cause.  He has volunteered himself for every project we have ... recently, he even threw caution to the wind, and has been doing the intensive duty needed making our Hooter's contacts!

Leta Kaibetony -- Larry's sister, came on board after Larry was wounded.  She is always quick with a smile, and is one of our "Chuckanuttier" members!  (Sorry, it's a Washington thang!)  You can always find her working behind the scenes, usually giggling next to Chani.  Leta picks up the pieces that fall between the cracks and keeps us on track.  Just when I think we've covered everything, she reminds me ...

JeeNee Caron -- Our newest member.  Is our "Expedition Photographer" ... and we take a LOT of pictures!   But no one has just one job in this group.  JeeNee is fastly becoming invaluable to the Core Team.  She will be working even harder after the Pack-Out, as we begin our 501c efforts.  She brings with her, her daughter Dominique ... photog apprent with a great smile, she won't share unless she's behind the lens ... but, one day! 

Thank you all!  You have become my personal Heroes.  Were it not for you, there would be no HeroToHero.us ... and no one would be reading this anyway.  Hmmm ...