Lincoln Laboratory Community Outreach
Support Our Troops Program

Through its "Support Our Troops" Program, Lincoln Laboratory Community Outreach sends packages to soldiers every week. There are many people who consistently donate items for the troops. Without them, this program wouldn't exist. Boxes are packed every Friday with the help of Laboratory volunteers Ai-Hoa Sanh, Dave Myers, Carla LeBlanc, Kathy Irwin, Johanna Murphy, Theresa Muse, and Sue Kosmal-Rooker. In return, LLCO receives thank-you letters and emails on an almost daily basis. These letters, a few of which are shown below, illustrate how much the packages and letters are appreciated, and how important such a morale boost can be to any soldier.

Between October 2008 and March 2009, 162 care packages were sent to the 26 troops we support, and 49 care packages were sent to Iraq and Afghanistan children through military programs.

About the Support Our Troops Program

LLCO packed 81 boxes of donations to soldiers as part of the Support Our Troops ProgramThe "Support Our Troops" program accepts a variety of donated items (PDF) which are packaged and sent each Friday to military personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Names and APO addresses of soldiers associated with the Laboratory community or Hanscom AFB are given to the program coordinator by Lincoln Laboratory personnel, many of whom have family members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Care packages are also sent to Lincoln Laboratory employees who are serving an active duty commitment as part of a guard or reserve unit. There are currently over 50 military personnel on the care package list. Packages are sent on a rotating basis so that everyone receives a care package every few weeks. If you would like to provide addresses of military service members to receive packages, please send the information to troopsupport@ll.mit.edu.

Each care package contains a letter from MIT Lincoln Laboratory, a variety of donated items, and a note from the person who put together the package. Military personnel new to the program's address list receive a note explaining how we received their address, and we always tell them how proud we are of them for serving our country.

Donations Needed

Donation boxes are located in the Main Cafeteria. Recently requested items for care packages are:

  • Entertainment
    • movies, music, books, newspapers, and magazines
    • pictures and letters from supporters
    • phone cards, blank note cards w/envelopes to send letters home
    • games, sport balls, board games, electronic games, batteries
  • Edibles
    • coffee, coffee filters, mugs or cups, creamer packs, sugar packs
    • cheese and pepperoni (no refrigeration needed)
    • healthy snacks (chips, nuts, cereal)
    • beef jerky
    • powdered drink mixes
    • gum
  • Toiletries
    • razors, shaving cream, deodorants
    • shampoo, hand cream, hand sanitizer
    • travel size toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash
    • liquid soap, body wash, moisturizing lotions
    • baby wipes, hygiene products
    • chapstick, lip gloss, sunblock
    • air freshener, lysol, mosquito repellent
  • Apparel and gear
    • sunglasses with black lenses
    • socks (white and olive drab) (for sizes 8 and above)
    • gym shorts/tops (all cotton)
    • black work gloves

    Lincoln Laboratory Troop Support recently received 10 new troops to its military APO mailing list. An email request dated March 2009 includes a request for certain items, as well as a description of the living conditions at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.

    Thank You Letters from Soldiers

    Thank You from Military Clinic

    Support Our Troops Care Packages at clinicHeather Bassett CPT, SP, was one of the military personnel who received care packages from LLCO's "Support Our Troops" Drive. She has completed her tour of duty and has safely returned to the United States.

    "Thank you so very much for the care packages that you sent to me for my unit!  My name is Heather Bassett and I am a physical therapist working for the 134 BCT (brigade combat team) out of MN. I am attached to this unit from the Army Reserve. I am working in a troop medical clinic in Tallil, Iraq. This base has over 9000 soldiers and you helped to support them through your generous donations!  I set up a table in our clinic so that when soldiers came in to the clinic, they take what they needed or wanted.  Thank you so very much for all of your support! Your kindness touched a lot of soldiers!"

     

    Hello MIT LL Troop Support:
    Thanks for the package, the baby wipes are amazing…now that it is getting really hot and sticky over here. They will come in handy for long missions. My unit is out at least 12 hours a day. The socks are great too. You never can go wrong with socks. Changing socks at least twice a day…a soldier’s feet means everything; if his feet are not taken care of, well basically, he cannot perform at his peak. Thank you again.
    Joey Ricci, US ARMY

    *Joey is stationed in Iraq and is the nephew of Laboratory custodian Allen Dickinson.

    To MIT/LL,
    Hi, my name is YNC (SW) Isom currently with the 25th Naval Construction Regiment. We recently relieved 1st Naval Construction Regiment with whom MC1 Hannon is currently serving with. We received the package that was sent to MC1 and unfortunately she has been gone for a week or so now. We did not have a forwarding address for her because she is with another unit. After reading the address label again we realized you wanted Any Soldier to receive the items if she was not available. I would like to say Thank You, my guys and girls absolutely LOVED the items in the box and have put them to use so they were definitely utilized. We appreciate the support from people like you from back home—it really keeps
    us going here, so again on behalf of 25NCR, Thank You for taking time out of your schedule to do this.
    YNC(SW) Melvin L. Isom
    R1C 25th Naval Construction Regiment
    Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan

    *We have removed MC1 Hannon and added YNC Melvin Isom to our care package list. (This is one of the biggest problems we have with the military—they are constantly relocating.)The problem was solved by fixing the custom form to state that package should be delivered to “Any Soldier” if it can’t be delivered.

    To Troop Support:
    Thank you for taking out time to do this for us! It makes me feel good to know that our families aren't the only ones out there pulling for us. We appreciate the time and effort you put into doing these packages. I know it's not an easy task.
    Thank you,
    MAIA S. BAILEY, TSgt, USAF
    Maintenance Supply Liaison
    455 ELRS/MSL
    APO AE 09354

    Hi MIT/LL,
    I wanted to let you know that we have received 3 packages from troop support. The troops have already utilized the laundry detergent, softener sheets, & razors. The movies will be located at our Company Operations Center for the soldiers to check out for viewing. Your support is greatly appreciated.
    Thank you.
    CPT Barth

    Soldiers' Thank You—November 17, 2008

    We would like to extend our deepest gratitude for the Christmas decorations that we recently received from you. With Christmas coming up and so many Marines and Sailors away from home, any type of holiday decorations help us remember home and the spirit of the season. With our mission of winning the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people still going strong, we can only ask for your continued support and love from back home. Thank you again and God Bless.
    RP3 Green Peter A
    1st BN 3rd MAR

    Certificate of Appreciation—November 13, 2008

    The 332d Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron based in Balad, Iraq sent two certificates to Lincoln Laboratory. One certifcate thanked Lincoln Laboratory for sending contributions. The second certificate was sent to Shawn Daley in appreciation of his patience and support while Security Service's own Julie Novak is deployed in Iraq.

    Certificate of Appreciation

    MIT Lincoln Laboratory received a certificate of appreciation from the U.S. military's "Operation Iraqi Children," "Operation Iraqi School Supplies," and "Operation Help a Village" programs. In addition to the certificate, this 15-page PDF includes photos from an Iraqi village and the children there who have benefitted from donations through this program.

     

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