Shoeboxes @ Home

Earlier this year, the phenomenal fans of Marty Casey & Lovehammers contributed 974 shoeboxes for our men and women fighting overseas. These shoeboxes contained everything from toothpaste to beef jerkey, Q-tips to socks, and of course, a Marty Casey & Lovehammers CD in each one of these boxes. We are calling upon the fans again, to help contribute to another great cause. The campaign is a continuation of our previous one with the goal of helping the great men and women that put their lives on the line for us daily. Simply put, this is a campaign for our veterans here at home, hence the name Shoeboxes @ Home. We have all watched the evening news showing a heroes welcome when the soldiers return, but soon that attention passes. These soldiers come home to a place that they have been away from for months or years at a time. Even a healthy soldier can struggle with the transition of coming home to this great free country that is a stark contrast from the world they have been experiencing overseas. Acclimating themselves takes time and can be difficult. For the veterans that suffer from physical injuries, mental issues, or both, the reacclimation can be even more difficult.
* As of January of 2007, more than 1.6 million U.S. Servicemen and women have served in Afghanistan and Iraq. There are more than 26 million veterans in the United States.
* According to the USDVA, more than 200,000 veterans are homeless on any given night, and more than 500,000 will experience homelessness over the course of a year.
* More than 300,000 veterans diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder received treatment from a VA facility.
* Of the more than 250,000 Americans with spinal cord injuries, 42,000 are veterans.
* A recent study of inpatients at VA facilities indicates that nearly 85% have annual incomes of less than $15,000.
* The Miles Foundation reports that calls to their Domestic Violence Hotline for Military Spouses has increased from 50 to 500 per month since the start of the Iraq War.
Seeing those numbers makes it hard to turn a blind eye and ignore the NEED for us to take a part in helping our veterans. As before with our previous Shoebox of Love campaign, we have outlined a step by step process for you to follow. Please follow the steps and guidelines we have formatted. As always, we will be here to help assist and answer any questions that may arise. Please spread the word of this great new campaign and of course, help SPREAD THE LOVE!

Lovehammers Present Shoeboxes @ Home Campaign Here are the Simple, Easy to Follow Steps to Contribute to this Campaign. PLEASE Register at the Forum before beginning STEP ONE 1. Get a box. Any size box will work, the bigger the better! 2. Decorate the box if you wish, not required! Below are some suggestions. Putting Lovehammers Stickers on the box. Cut-outs of your favorite Lovehammers photos would be cool. Put some song lyrics on the box. Be creative or not, either way the contents of the Shoebox is what is important here! STEP TWO Other Suggested Items to put into your Shoebox: Have your kids color pictures to send Make a beaded necklace or bracelet Go buy a gift bag of cologne or perfume Have your kids class at school make special presents to send Use your imagination CANDY: 1. Candy: (Heat resistant) 2. Fruit Breezes: (Throat Lozenges) 3. Twizzlers CORRESPONDENCE: 1. Writing Paper and Envelopes 2. Pens/Pencils Post Cards are also great to send in the packages. You can pre-address the postcards to yourself or your organization (THE LOVEHAMMERS) with a note asking the service member to please let you know if they received the package. DENTAL: 1. Floss 2. Mouthwash 3. Toothbrushes 4. Toothpaste FOOD (including dry good, snacks) 1. Sugar packets 2. Bars (Clif or Balance) 3. Beef Jerky 4. Canned Fruit (Pop top cans) 5. Cereal (in small boxes) 6. Condiments Packages (ketchup, etc...) 7. Girl Scout Cookies 8. Granola Bars 9. Gum (No sticks) 10. Oatmeal (instant) 11. Pop-Tarts 12. Ravioli (Pop Top cans) 13. Tuna Kits or Tuna in Foil Pouches GAMES: 1. Board Games 2. Checkers (Travel Size) 3. Chess (Travel Size) 4. Crossword Puzzles 5. Playing Cards or UNO Cards MUSIC 1. CD Fanny Pack 2. CD's- (Marty Casey & Lovehammers CD) Can order this CD here at the store, Target, or Wal-Mart, or a Best Buy. 3. Tapes 4. Marty Casey & Lovehammers CD or Lovehammers Murder on My Mind CD - REQUIREMENT FOR THE BOXES PRINTED MATERIAL 1. Books (novels, short stories) 2. Newspapers (locals) 3. Magazines (Current One's Only) TOILETRIES/HYGIENE 1. Baby Wipes 2. Nose Spray 3. Cold Water Wash (Woolite) 4. Eye Drops 5. Deodorant 6. Feminine Hygiene Products (for female soldiers) 7. Foot Powder 8. Hairbrushes 9. Hand Lotion 10. Hand Sanitizers (waterless) 11. Nail Clippers 12. Q-Tips 13. Razors (disposable) 14. Shampoo 15. Soap or Shower Gel 16. Sunscreen 17. Tissues (Heavy Duty-i.e. Puffs) 18. Tylenol (Individual Packages) 19. Wash Rags OTHER 1. Plastic Spoons 2. American Flags (small) 3. Baggies (with zip lock) 4. Batteries (AA, D,....) 5. Disposable Cameras 6. Flashlights (mini/mag lite, extra bulbs, lots of batteries) 7. Fans (Battery Powered - small - with extra batteries) 8. Pre-Paid Phone Cards 9. Shoe Insole Cushions 10. Socks (Cushioned) **** 11. Sunglasses (Black - no name brands) 12. Sweatbands 13. Harmonicas 14. Kazoos **Do NOT, for any reason, or in ANY amount, include food items in a care package with ANY hygiene items or chemicals of any type. If you want to send a Gift, make it only food items or only non-food items.** Thanks for the Support STEP THREE Make your Shoebox now. REQUIREMENT: Specify on the OUTSIDE and on the INSIDE of the box, this GIFT is for Veterans aged 18 - 45. No exceptions to this age range. FIRST SUGGESTION 1. Put your Marty Casey & Lovehammers CD or Murder on My Mind CD in it. 2. Put your Street Teaming items in it. 3. Put ANY other Gifts you are giving in it. 4. Pack it secure. 5. Decorate it if you wish SECOND SUGGESTION 1. Put your Marty Casey & Lovehammers CD or Murder on My Mind CD in it. 2. Put your Street Teaming items in it. 3. Put TWO seperate gift bags, in your ONE box. Filling each gift bag with the CD's and separating the Gift Items. Thought here is giving 2 Veterans at the same facility a GIFT OF LOVE. 4. Pack it secure. 5. Decorate it if you wish. THIRD SUGGESTION 1. Put your Marty Casey & Lovehammers CD or Murder on My Mind CD in it. 2. Put your Street Teaming items in it. 3. Buy a pack of knee high SOCKS. Fill each SOCK with a MCLH CD and Gift Items. 4. Pack it secure. 6. Decorate it if you wish. With EVERY gift that you can fit into that box, please INCLUDE one Marty Casey & Lovehammer CD or Murder on My Mind into EACH Gift within your Box! Fill the boxes as you wish, SPREAD THE LOVE to our HEROES @ HOME. Thanks for the Support STEP FOUR 1. Claim or Pledge your name to any V.A. Facility listed here. You MUST Register at the Forum to do this LAST step. Claim two, three, four, as many as you possibly can! 2. Send ONE box to each VA Hospital or Facility that you pledge. Several GIFTS BAGS can be put into each box if chosen. 3. Mail it. 4. Report here with any correspondences that you get. Please leave comments/questions in ANY step within this campaign. Thanks for the Support