"Caring Beyond the Box"
SPC Bell
I just wanted to thank everyone for their support. It really means a lot to all of us who are overseas serving. I’ve been volunteering with SOS for nearly 8 years now and I’ve seen both sides, the giving and receiving. I didn’t really know how much care packages meant until I started receiving them. The food that was donated will help out tremendously. We pretty much eat the same food everyday so it’s nice to have something different from back home. When I’m on shift working and I pull out a pack of beef jerky or a package of crackers, I know it came from someone back home who appreciates and supports our military.
Sgt Eric Morgan
When I was deployed in 2011-2012 Teresa Nelson reached out to us and adopted us. The times that we needed something SOS was there. June 1, 2012 hit us hard. Our chow hall and Px were hit by a suicide bomber and it made it harder for us to get the things we needed. SOS heard about it and all of a sudden we were receiving packages of things we needed.
After deployment Teresa and SOS always kept in touch. I decided to get out and try the civilian world. This transition is commonly known to be very hard to do. With the continued support of SOS I achieved my goal of becoming a police officer in my local community and proceeded into the National Guard. I’m very thankful to the people who support SOS because they help us overseas a lot.
SGT Lori Cespedes, Army National Guard
Support Our Soldiers helped me through my 9 month tour tremendously. Being away from family, loved ones and the normal comforts of life SOS definitely provided the little things that made me feel like I was not forgotten and that what I was doing mattered. Many times soldiers would receive care packages from different organizations that would be tailored to anyone in general but there was something different that SOS did for their adopted soldiers. With SOS I was asked specifically what I needed and what I wanted. It was as if I had a choice and I did! I was like a kid who was asked to make a Christmas List for Santa Claus. They wanted to know about me. I wasn’t just a number. I was a person that they really wanted to know and who they wanted to Bless.
With a box specifically made for me, Support our Soldiers helped me look forward to my day without worrying about not needing things that I wish I had from home. I definitely feel like SOS contributed to helping me complete my unit’s mission by boosting my morale and allowing me to enjoy each day because I knew someone cared about how I was doing. I was very humbled by the care, love and details that went into each box I received.
I hope every soldier who goes overseas gets to experience what I was able to experience. Support our Soldiers makes every military service member feel like they are important and what they are doing has significant meaning. Even after coming back from my tour SOS welcomed me back in their own way. They don’t forget about you. You are officially family. Thank you Support Our Soldiers for doing what you do!
Mary H. Army Captain / Medevac pilot
Thank you for everything you did for me while I was deployed. I don’t think people realize how tremendous an impact you have on others and now that I am recovering at Walter Reed, I realize just how blessed I was to know I could ask you for anything know you were there. Even if just to be able to vent some frustrations sometimes — People need to understand just how nice it is to have people who care for you. I remember getting sheet music, devotional books, and MY FAVORITE fruity pebbles and cup o noodles from you as examples blew me away every time. You know I personally baked birthday cakes for each of my Soldiers so they felt appreciated and I could NOT have done so without you and your awesome contributors. Everyone deserves to know how much you mean to me, my Soldiers, and others you impact on a daily basis
GYSGT J.M.- Marines – Afghanistan
The Support Our Soldiers family, headed up by Teresa Nelson, has contributed more than anyone could ever ask for during my unit’s current deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. They have been so generous to provide us with hygiene items, food, snacks, letters, cards, and even pillows to make a night’s rest a little better. I can assure you that with this generosity, many of my Marines felt the support, carried smiles on their faces, and knew in their hearts why we were over here. It is all for our fellow Americans, like the ones from Texas, which drive us to do this job that we do. Though our conversations, I feel like I have known you forever and that I have gained a friend for life. I sincerely thank you for all that you have done. God bless you!
SGT Sibley- Army
I was Teresa’s first adopted soldier. I was deployed to Iraq/Kuwait for ten months. Receiving her care packages was not the same as any care package. Each box contained a little piece of home. Every box had something personal and with meaning. When my days were long and things back home weren’t going good, I could always count on her because I knew when I got mail that day her care package came from the heart and it would put a smile on my face.
SPC A.K.- Army, Airborne – Afghanistan
While I was in Afghanistan I received countless boxes of goodies from SOS. The boxes were not just any generic box, they meant a lot because I knew they were made with love. The boxes from SOS always show up when I really needed the food and supplies and the cards of inspiration. I was and am still grateful for all I received from SOS. Thanks!
SSG A.C. Army Medic – Afghanistan
Getting care packages from home is always nice and appreciated, but when they’re personalized to you, it makes it feel like the packages are coming from a family member, not someone who’s doing charity work. I felt such a connection to my sponsor and I know that if/when I deploy again, she will be still be there for me. I still keep in touch with her to this day. Thank you so much SOS!
LTC Weeks – Army
I was deployed to Afghanistan for a one year tour in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. I contacted my hometown Mayor’s office to see if the city sent care packages for it’s deployed soldiers. I was given the contact info for Teresa Nelson and the Support Our Soldiers organization. I sent
Teresa an email and she responded immediately inquiring what my units needs were. She advised me that if I had specific item requests let her know and if she had it or could get it, she would send it. I put the word out in my unit for specific items that we could not get on base and sent the list to Teresa.
Every item I requested she sent us and the packages came often. She would include homemade cookies in some of the packages and this made her packages the ones that my staff would look forward to getting. A lot of the units were able to get sports equipment sent to them. We had several golfers and I asked Teresa if she happened to have any spare clubs she didn’t need we could use them as most units didn’t like to loan their clubs out. I really didn’t expect the club request to be fulfilled…. I was wrong! Teresa sent me an email one day stating we have clubs! I was surprised and excited and put the word out that we would soon have some clubs. They proved to be a big morale booster. All of my staff had care packages thanks to Support Our Soldiers. Many thanks and kudos to Teresa and Support Our Soldiers organization that provide support and care packages to our servicemen and women deployed in combat… it is much appreciated.
CPL Mena, Army – Kuwait
First, thank you Teresa for giving me a feeling of home away from home. Your hard work and dedication has brought many smiles to many faces while being miles away. I admire you for having a warm and kind heart. Throughout my deployment your boxes of my favorite snacks, cards, and toiletries were so appreciated and you never ceased to amaze me every time I opened a box or card. Teresa you bring a whole new meaning to “support the troops”, you do more than send boxes you managed to help me personally with the advice you have given me. You make it your duty to be sure the soldiers are happy and taken care of so from me and the other soldiers serving in the military, thank you. God bless you and Support Our Soldiers!
SGT Johannes, Army – Afghanistan
I want to thank everyone for their support. The small things that you do for my troops and I make a big difference. The smiles of gratitude every time a box or a letter comes in could never be replaced. Sometimes it feels like an unappreciated job, but with everyone’s support we are able to make it another day and return home to our families and loved ones. From myself and the soldiers in Afghanistan, I want to thank Teresa and Support Our Soldiers!!
SGT Quentin Davis, Army National Guard
It was very hard to find and keep supply’s in our resiliency center in Kuwait. Because we where scattered around the global on this deployment. So one day I went on facebook looking for non profits who supported soldiers. I left message and and I liked each paged but one instantly replied. It was SOS Mrs Nelson introduce her self and ask me a bout my self and told me about her program. After I explain our mission SOS went Above and beyond to support us while we were deployed. Not only send ing us care packages she took the time to check on us every other day, which touch a lot of people hearts from afar its nice to know people still care and have a loving heart. A soldiers life is not an easy one but it helps when people care. This by far is the best non profit for the military. I never seen anyone or group take the time to detail each box for each soldier. Now that’s class from top to bottom.
SPC Robert Wood, Army National Guard
I want to thank everyone who has been a part of the Support Our Soldiers community. I was given the group’s contact information through another soldier and I was amazed at the response I was given from the organization. No matter what time of day it was, they were very quick to respond. It was a big help in staying motivated knowing that people were always ready and willing to support me. No matter the request, SOS was able to fulfill the needs of the soldiers helping us to feel like home was even closer than we knew. Even when I returned, they continued lending a hand of support. Ms. Teresa made sure that I was readjusting appropriately and never failed to offer any help. In my opinion, I believe more programs should be modeled around what SOS has created. Thank you again.
SPC Wilson- Army
All I can say about the SOS is it’s a slice of home away from home. I love being able to talk to Teresa as though she were my own mother and best friend, even the idea of someone sending you things that you need and or want, not some random drop-ship or useless items. I love Support Our Soldiers and the people that help take care of me while I’m on deployment. Thank you for all your help. It is much appreciated.
SFC J. C. O’LEARY- Army National Guard- Afghanistan
Over the past several months, Teresa and the folks from SOS have been showing their support of the troops by communicating with the Soldiers of my unit and me, sending us chips and snacks that we can’t get here in Afghanistan, sending us Christmas gifts and decorations to make our time away more festive, and have sent other daily use items that have been nice to receive since the PX facilities and our base are quite limited. The folks at SOS take a personal interest in the Soldiers whom they support and that means a lot to us. They send cards and emails to keep in touch, and for some of the Soldiers who do not have large families to keep in touch with, it is a very nice thing for them. Their support is genuine and sincere and that means a lot to us.
CPT E.R. – Army – Afghanistan
Teresa and Support our Soldiers made a tremendous positive impact on my deployment to Afghanistan. I still remember the first time I opened a package from Teresa. At the time she was a stranger, but little did I know she would become a lifelong friend. I responded to her first package with a short thank you note. Little did I know I would receive multiple letters, emails, and packages thereafter. At no time did I ask for anything from Teresa, yet she continued to give based solely on the kindness of her heart. Each time a package arrived it lifted my spirits and made my day so much better. I shared her food and gifts with other Soldiers in my section and she soon became famous around our offices. Every time a package from Teresa arrived it was like Christmas. Thank you to Teresa and the Support our Soldiers organization for making the lives of myself and my fellow Soldiers so much better. May God bless you for your selfless service.
CPL Aaron M. – Marines- Afghanistan
Support Our Soldiers was one of the most helpful services I had in Afghanistan. The packages I received were phenomenal. I always got to pick and choose anything I really wanted and if I ever needed anything I got it. I love and appreciate everything they did. Thank you so much SOS. I love what you do!!
1LT A. Duchak – N.C. National Guard – Afghanistan and Egypt
My name is Adam Duchak, I am a 1st LT in the North Carolina National Guard. I volunteered to deploy to Afghanistan in December of 2011, I was what was call an individual MOB soldier. This is someone who goes through the training process alone and joins the unit they will be attached to in country. This unit was light infantry, we were stationed in northern Afghanistan running security operations, going out on more than 220 combat missions covering more than 19,000 miles across the northern sector. I was also stationed at a very small post that did not always get shipments to restock the PX or the dining facility.
The reason I mention all of this is that being an individual MOB and not being from the unit originally, my name was not on any of the list’s to receive care packages from any of the groups that take care of soldiers. The other thing about these originations is that because they take care of so many soldiers and so many units, they will send out the care packages once every three or four months. This is what makes SOS so much different, I was given Mrs. Teresa Nelson’s name and e-mail from a Captain I met passing through an airport getting ready to leave the country. He told me “contact Mrs. Nelson, let her know what you need and she will make sure you have it.” Well I began to e-mail Mrs. Nelson once I reached Kuwait and she wanted to know all about me, why I joined the military as well as telling me all about herself. She took the time to learn about the person, this is very important because Mrs. Nelson and SOS would send me more personalized care packages. She knew I was originally from Pittsburgh, Pa and my favorite college football team was Pen State, so from Texas SOS found a Pittsburgh Steelers “terrible towel” and Pen State merchandise so I could feel closer to home. I spoke to Mrs. Nelson as often as time would permit based on my mission load and all she ever wanted to know was how where me and my men doing and what did we need. No matter how big or small the order was Mrs. Nelson and SOS made sure we got whatever we wanted or needed, never once asking for anything in return. I can tell you that there was never anything that I felt I couldn’t ask SOS for.
The one constant that I know, without a doubt is that anything I want or need for my men I can ask Mrs. Nelson and through Support Our Soldiers I will have it. I could not have asked for a better organization than SOS, where supporting soldiers and doing it in a very personal way is their number one priority. I will always fully endorse and recommend the use of Support Our Soldiers to any soldier deploying to any region of the world.
SGT Caldera – Army- Afghanistan
Teresa is a selfless, driven and highly inspirational woman dedicated to touching not just the lives of the soldiers she helps overseas, but those of their friends and family as well. She provides items and letters that boost the morale of soldiers significantly and boost the soldiers’ families’ morale with such deeds. Making soldiers feel appreciated is very important and valuable and she shows how much she cares! In my case, her packages have boosted my morale and been a form of subsistence providing items unavailable overseas & items of personal preference to help me feel at home. I can’t thank her & SOS enough.
PFC Damore, Army – Afghanistan
This is my first deployment and honestly, Teresa has made it very easy on me. She is an ear when I need to vent and a support when I’m down. I know I can count on her every week for goodies and my favorite snacks. My mother is also very grateful for her, because she knows that I have a warm hearted person other than her giving me the support I need to get through this. I thank her every chance I get and am very thankful for her and those Patriots out there with SOS that are supporting the American Troops.
SPC J. Delgado, Army – Afghanistan
You reinforce our beliefs that people care that we are out here keeping America’s enemies as far away as possible from our loved ones.
SSG Shipley, Joseph – OKARNG
We have started to receive the packages that you have been putting together and sending. We cannot thank you enough for the love and support that you provide to the
Troops. Some of them have reminded me of a kid at Christmas when your boxes arrive. Its nice to see the smiles that you have brought to their faces.
Thank You again for the wonder things that you do.