4 February 2010: A charity launched by a group of mums of British soldiers killed in Afghanistan is appealing to supermarkets, manufacturers and suppliers to help them fill boxes of home comforts for troops serving on the front line.
The Afghan Heroes registered charity is looking for companies to donate specific goods that will then be sent to the 10,000 troops on Armed Forces Day in June as part of its ‘Thank The Troops’ initiative.
Launched last September the charity has grown to become one of the country’s most high profile military support groups.
Its initial objectives were to set up a network of support groups for people who have also lost loved ones and to send a box of home comforts to every front line serving troop in Afghanistan.
The boxes are to include items such as socks, deodorant, toothpaste, puzzle books, sweets and lip balm. The charity is now nearing its packing date where specially made boxes will be filled with items that the mum’s sons said they missed when on the front line.
Prince Harry praised the mums’ courage when he met them at an award ceremony in December. He said: “As far as what you are doing with this courage – sending parcels to every single serviceman and woman in Afghanistan – I can tell you first hand what a difference it makes. It’s not just what’s inside that counts, it’s also the knowledge people are thinking of you back home.”
On the weekend of 6 and 7 March a team of 70 volunteers will help fill the boxes with the assorted goods which will then be shipped to Afghanistan for distribution to the troops later in June.
Denise Harris, founder and trustee of the charity said: “Since we launched the charity the response has been quite phenomenal and I’d like to thank everyone who has so far raised funds by doing events and everybody who has donated money.
“We’re now focusing our efforts towards the Thank The Troops initiative and want companies to come forward to help us achieve our objective. The boxes have been ordered and will arrive the day before we do the packing.
“The items the boxes will include are things we just take for granted. If by sending these boxes brings a small amount of comfort to the troops I’m sure this will go a long way to help them get through their time in Afghanistan.
“We shall be buying some goods with money donated by supporters so far but if any businesses have goods they can donate then we would like to hear from them.”
Therefore if people can help with either any donations of funds or know of a supplier who would be able to donate – as a job lot of 10,000 – one or more of the items required then please get in touch with us. We would please ask however NOT to send us individual donations of items in the post.
Needing 10,000 of each item the charity is appealing for:
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To help please call 01749 830 100 or e-mail: Info@afghanheroes.org.uk
For further information on the charity please visit www.afghanheroes.org.uk
Follow on Twitter www.twitter.com/afghanheroesUK
Connect on Facebook www.facebook.com/afghanheroes
6 Comments
This is the old WW2 homefront spirit …its good to see the support after years of oprational service in those areas, the ame was done in those far of war years to the troops overseas, hen read the book by Ross kemp the toiletries are a must as the conditions are not good in this are because of the desert and water conditions I know the wipes are a must..for personel reasons ordinary paper is no good,,read the book then you see why too graphic to mention..and the proceeds goes towards the heroes as well….hope the supermakets can do thier bit after the negative response by refusing service poeple in uniform..who were refused service…let us take a leaf from Canada and the US let us suppoert our las and lasses over there yes a girl lost her life doing her duty…now have a lift down there…taking my army flag and wearing my old combat jacket with insignia on it along with beret if can take helmet off for the short ride into Wooton, yes its genuine as issued to me al those years go in the Royal Signals…1961-1970 complete with rank badges so if you see me say hullo…
i think all the soldiers at afganstan are brave and couragous i applaud all there efferts and there bravery for doing there job i also feel for all the moms and girlfriends and dads who have lost there sons and daughters in afganstan im so proud of them all my son will be going over there soon its my worst moms nightmare i wish them all well
Just a thought, maybe you could ask Boots plc in Nottingham, as they are a well known company I’m pretty sure they’ll be more than happy to help as it will be good for their publicity, due to the nature of their business they would also be a good source for many of the items required.
I work for Tesco and we had an armed forces day a few months back i am sure they would love to help, I think this is a fantastic thing myu mum is knitting scarfs as we speak to send over to keep our troops warm at night, also try matalan for the socks
i want to send a box of goodies to someone but i do not have anyone to send one to please help me
Please contact the main office using the details on this contact page – http://www.afghanheroes.org.uk/contact.asp