Team Updates

TLC Team

The purpose for the TLC Team is to provide additional and much-needed support to our heroes facing desperate circumstances (i.e., those who are wounded, distressed, or without family support or letters of encouragement). Team members are always on "alert", ready, willing and able to come through for our heroes.

The TLC Team consists of 15 Angels and works closely with our founder, Patti Bader, administrators, state managers and many other Angels, as well as outside sources, to see to the needs of those with special circumstances. When the team leader (Angel Eileen) is apprised of a "TLC" situation or learns of a particular situation through our daily reports, she will either place a post on the forum under "TLC Requests" or contact a team member with the necessary information, who will then write a post.

Here is just one example of the impact made by the TLC Team:

I am not sure if I am sending this message to the right person. My sister is Kristie XXXX stationed in Iraq. I wanted to thank you for spending time out of your life to talk to her. It really means a lot to all of her family. I couldn't imagine being in Iraq myself, but I am sure if I was, I would want to hear from anyone I could. You are a very special person to do what you are doing. Thank you again for what you do and may God bless you and yours.

Sincerely,Miranda

If you would like more information about the TLC Team, please contact Eileen at einch1 at hotmail.com.

Wounded TLC Team

The Wounded TLC Team is now almost 300 members strong! They send out approximately 1000 cards and letters per month and help with supplies to numerous hospitals and aid in special care to wounded soldiers and their families. Although they don't usually hear back from the recipients, it is so gratifying for these Angels to know that they have eased someone's burden in some small way!

For more information, please contact the WTLC coordinators, Elaine at bakerdzen at earthlink.net or Lynette at frascella4 at aol.com.

Letter Writing Team

The LWT had an outstanding 2nd quarter 2005 with over 27,000 letters/cards being sent to our deployed men and women (over 9,100 of those were sent during the month of June alone), thanks to 785 LWT writers. This team is always looking for more writers to ensure that no soldier is unloved and/or forgotten.

Besides letter writing, the month of June was a busy one for the LWT with the addition of 11 new LWT team leaders. Welcome new team leaders: Larisa AhMu, Amber Brickl, Dave Cunningham, Angela Taylor, Mel Mitchell, Vicki Mask, Lydia Stagg, Kelly Johnson, Lisa Martin, Mischelle Andrade, and Christina Webber.

The LWT is comprised of Soldiers' Angels that enjoy writing to ourheroes and know how important it is for them to hear their name at"mail call". Soldiers' who have submitted themselves and or beensubmitted through the SA website are distributed via the LWT "TeamLeaders" on a nightly basis. Though each Soldier is assigned to anAngel, the LWT provides additional support with extra cards andletters. The LWT writer is only ask to send each soldier that receiveone card/letter, but know they do more than one. Some even send mini care packages to some of the soldiers they correspond with.

If you are interested in joining the LWT as a writer, email Linda D. at lindom at cablelynx.com and she will provide you with full information about LWT and information she needs to get you started. General questions about the LWT can be directed to Sara at sje2555 at yahoo.com and/or Linda at lindom at cablelynx.com. They are always around to help and answer your questions about LWT.

Living Legends

Living Legends is a relatively new SA team. This courageous group of Angels perform one of the most emotionally challenging jobs of all: they compare SA’s list of registered heroes to the Department of Defense’s casualty list. When a match is found, the team researches for the family’s information and for general information about the fallen hero. The team then sends cards/letters to the families, asking if they need assistance and for permission to donate a living tree to honor their fallen hero. Families can then plant this tree in their yard or somewhere that they can visit, such as the cemetery or favorite park. If they do not have room for a tree, team members offer a wreath in remembrance. Team members also make follow up calls to make sure everything is okay, the tree is doing fine and to see if the family needs any assistance.

The Living Legends team is in need of donations to help with these trees and wreaths. The trees cost approximately $125.00 to $150.00 and have established a relationship with a wonderful nursery. TYTY from Georgia has been doing a great job; special thanks to J.W. for contacting the families and determining what tree is best for their area. For more information or to contribute, please contact Cathy at CWTreefrog at aol.com.

Christmas Team

Merry Christmas to all Angels! Debra Hicks is the team leader of the Christmas Team, which is gearing up for the holiday season by collecting trees and stockings for our deployed heroes.

There are several ways to get involved with this team. One group consists of Angels who can collect stuffers (such as socks, lip balm, small hand lotion, phone cards, hot chocolate, instant apple cider mix, coffee singles) and ornaments. Stocking makers are also needed: all you need is an average size stocking, and Debra will match you up with someone on the "stuffers" team. Stocking makers are asked to send completed stockings directly to the soldiers. (There is another dedicated group who is making stockings and filling them at their location. They will also ship straight to the APO when the time comes.)

Lastly, the Christmas Team is looking for Tree Collectors. If you have miniature artificial trees, please let Debra know. They need lots of them! Tee Collectors will also ship directly to the APO Address when the time comes--so please hold onto those trees! (If you can supply the ornaments, too, that would be wonderful.) Also, if any Angels have access to larger trees and are willing to ship directly to the APO when the time comes, please contact Cathy. Those are good for the larger meeting rooms.

If you would like to help but can't join a team now, PLEASE don't let that stop you from sending something to one of the members of any of these teams. Contact Debra and she will tell you where to ship your donation, whether it be stockings or stuffers. This team is collecting for 40,000 stockings and need every Angel’s help! For more information or to help, please contact Debra at dahicks at worldnet.att.net .

ESquad

The ESquad has received a few requests for acoustic guitars, flags that can be flown on one of the camps in Afghanistan to be signed and donated to children groups who support our troops, and sports equipment for troops. If you can help with any of these items, please contact Mel at mel.firestone at gmail.com.

The ESquad would like to share the following message of thanks with all Angels:

Hello from Iraq. Trust me when I tell you that we appreciate anyone that supports what we are doing over here. The few times we can catch the news, it seems that all they report is the negative. We are doing some great things over here and I wish those stories were being told as much as the violence and deaths that occur. I appreciate you and your organization, you are all true American Patriots.

Sincerely,
SFC Philip

Cards + Letters Team

Another new team is the Cards + Letters Team. This 188-member team takes all requests for cards (any occasion) and letters from anyone whose soldier or their family might need a little extra support. If you have a request, please email Debby at missouriangel at mindspring.com and put Cards + Letters Team in subject line.

The team will be sent all the names and addresses of those needing cards and letters on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of each week. If you would like to join this newly formed team, please email Debby.