We went to help at Give 2 the Troops a few days ago. It is an organization that sends care packages to the soldiers who request one. They can email their requests for particular items, and then Give 2 the Troops sends it out. They are a non-profit and all of their items are donated to them. One of the unique things they do is send personal cards from children. All this year in 4-H the kids have made cards to be put in the care packages. This was our culminating event to that project. The kids were able to sort some of the donations and to pack boxes for Christmas. While the kids did that, the moms got a tour of the place and an explanation of how it works. Here are some surprising things I learned: Men are assured one shower a month, women are assured of two. More men request pads and tampons than women. They use pads to soak up sweat under their helmets or to put in their boots to protect their feet. Most soldiers lose their toenails from marching in the boots. Tampons are used in their guns to keep out sand. They are also great for bullet wounds. Toilet paper is at a premium since you may be 500 miles from a PX where you can get some. I was able to read some of the requests. They were very humble and sincere. The soldiers would tell you what their circumstances are and then ask for something little like toothpaste. If they had good living arrangements they told you so. How different it is for citizens here, at times. I thought about times when there is a flood or disaster and people try to take advantage of your generosity. Driving home the boys were asking about serving in the military and do you have to? It was then that I realized my oldest will have to register in 8 years! It wasn't something I had thought about for them before. They also picked up ont he discrepancies between men and women, perhaps that is why I had not thought about them registering.