Currently the site states down for maintenance with no date as when to resume. I need to check status of 2 military personnel to be sure not to send packages if they are no longer there. The site advises to always check status prior to mailing in case the service person has a change of command. it would be helpful if the administrator could have those requesting items that they in sizes would specify what sizes and how many needed ie: socks, thermal undergarments etc.
To bad I was going to send packages. My father did 20 on an aircraft carrier so i know what these guys go through. The reason I decided against doing it through this website is because of the owner Marty. Reading everything he wrote it's ignorant and makes a person feel like it's very easy to mess up and get in trouble. The way he says things and the way he wrote it tells me he may as well be yelling at you. To bad I wonder how many decide not to donate because of MARTY. on top of everything else I don't agree with his salary from this nonprofit. To bad
After I was blocked from requesting addresses from the website, after giving a donation for each address requested, I emailed Marty, the founder, to ask the issue and see if it could be rectified as the website directed. Marty did not respond until the third email and, and after telling me to "talk to your wife", I explained I am a female and not sure what that means. I explained I had read the rules prior to requesting addresses and it stated 10 requests/per family/month. Three members of my family had requested and we were not given addresses even after a donation was made for each one. I apologized for any misunderstanding of the rules and asked if this could be rectified. The last email I received from Marty, the founder, stated, "Sometimes you get what you pay for." Disappointed in the interaction with this organization. The focus and mission should be on our heroes.
Review from Guidestar
If you want to your care packages/letters to go to the person intended sign up for Soldier's Angels out of San Antonio. You have no idea who the soldier is that you're writing to or if that person is still active duty. The plus is that hopefully that person will "pass on" whatever mail package was sent if it was meant for the group. Any Soldier pushes mailing care packages. Not everyone can afford to mail care packages.
Any Soldier offers the opportunity for everyone to support our military personnel by sending care packages or simply writing letters or sending a card to service members deployed all around the globe. Their website (warning: HIGHLY addictive!) gives you the chance to choose the service branch, the number of servicemen and women represented by their volunteer contacts, the country in which they are deployed, and by reading the contact's posted information, know what items they need. If you are on a tight budget (and who isn't these days?) you can request an address just to send a note of support. The same family has run this website since its inception; donations are requested and appreciated, but not required; and the website offers a forum where supporters can share ideas and ask questions. This charity gives the most variety in levels of support for our military. I've made many lasting friendships over the years, both with other supporters and with military members who have benefited from the Any Soldier community.
Previous Stories
I have been a dedicated supporter of AnySoldier.com for several years now. This organization allows us to choose a unit based on size, military branch, home state, and/or ratio of men to women. The postings from the volunteer contacts vary in the depth of information as to what they do and what they need, but they allow us as supporters to choose the units we feel we can best help based on our own resources. Marty Horn runs the site with, um, dare I say, military precision? He is always quick to answer questions and guards his contacts' security like the MP he was. The site provides many extra features to help both the military contacts and the people who choose to help them, including a Forum where the supporters can talk to each other, offer suggestions, pass on tips on what to send, how to send, and where to find good deals on items the units want or need. While I am aware there are other sites that allow us to adopt a single service member, AnySoldier is the only one that allows us to adopt a unit of our choice (of over thousands of volunteers). I label myself a Donor since I do occasionally donate funds to keep the website running, although the most important donations are the items sent to the service members I choose to support during their deployment. As soon as "my" unit rotates back home, I'm right back on AnySoldier to pick out a new unit to adopt.
We discovered anysoldier.com in 2005 in our search to actively support our troops serving in OIF/OEF. From the design of the website (super easy to use!) to all of the up-to-date and accurate information, this site rocks. We have supported numerous units over the years and, even 7 years later, remain in contact w/many of them. With anysoldier.com supplying the names and mailing addresses, we can ensure 100% of our time, money and effort goes directly to the troops. Doesn't get any better than that. I coordinate 'donation drives' at work, local businesses and among friends. This organization definitely is life-changing - not only to us but to the troops. How do we know? Because they've told us... repeatedly.
I became a user almost at the onset of AnySoldier.com back in 2003..
To me there is no greater program in my estimation for sending packages, cards & letters to any of our military in harms way.. I have made many a good friend of Airmen, Marines, Sailors and Soldiers and members of there families over the years... Having a contact name to choose from the large list makes it so much easier and fun to find someone you want to be in contact with and in many cases a forever friend.. Marty and Sue Horn picked up the baton and ran with it when their son Brian was in Iraq in 2003... He kept asking for packages to be sent for him to share with his buddies who hardly ever received mail of any kind... It became apparent they, family and close friends were unable to supply all of Brian's Company... The light bulb came on for a bright idea..... Thus, AnySoldier.com was sborn... As I remember??? in those days it was first called AnySoldier.US... Later all branches had their own pages to list contacts.. The first was AnyMarine.com..... Since those days so very many of our service members have been on the receiving end of some super packages from great Americans all over the US and also many from other countries have hopped on to add to their pleasure...
To me, there is no better organization for those in harms way to sign on than AnySoldier.com and any branch of the military... It's the only program I use... I have no kids, no family of my own in the military...
But I SURE DO NOW..... Thanks Sue and Marty for making my life so very special.... You are the very BEST! Peggy Kane, Fountain Valley, CA
Thanks to AnySoldier I'm able to support Our Troops when and where they Need it!
The sad fact is that most civilians believe that Our Troops are well provided for and they never go without.
While my son was deployed for his first tour in Iraq, he told me that three other Marines NEVER got ANY mail at all! So I started to send them carepacs when I sent them to my son but once my son got back I knew that there were others in need of support and then I found this site were I'm able to pick Troops that need support. Some people are happy with the yellow magnet on their car but do nothing to support Our Troops! Not Me! Thanks to AnySoldier I can send support to Our Troops where they needed the most. God Bless You! God Bless Our Troops!
Sincerely, Audrey Sharp
been using this site to send packages since 2007 . I love being able to chhose the group I send support to. I have made many cyber friends through the forum and have saved every letter, card and email from the service members who have responded back.
I have been supporting Maines with care packages since the war started. If you do not personally know a Marine, it is very difficult to send care packages for security reasons. This website has bridged that huge gap between combat servicepeople and the general public without sacrificing the security of our warriors
AnySoldier.com is TOPS!! One of the greatest ways to show your support of our troops - select a group from the database and start sending your letters and packages. It's my favorite organization, and so professionally organized. These guys are real pros at getting you connected with any size, any branch of the military, any state !
Began sending packages overseas as a girl scout project, we have now sent over 20 packages as a family, we developed contacts and friendships to last forever!
Of all the organizations dedicated to supporting to our deployed troops, AnySoldier.Com is nothing less than OUTSTANDING. Their website is easy to understand and navigate. Assistance is always available. And I love that I can personally select who I want to support. I can pick a group from my home town, my state, a specific branch of the military, a speciific location in the world, the size of the group, and if there are males/females/ or both in the group. Their search engine is so powerful, you can search for specific items that are needed or requested. They stress that packages are not necessary, and encourage letters. But for those of us that cannot resist sending packages, the suggestions, information and assistance, is terrific. I can't say enough good things about them!
When my nephew deployed to Afghanistan, I had no clue what to send to him. When I started researching, I found anysoldier.com. That site helped me learn what and how to ship to him and also gave me a new purpose in life. I now ship to many Soldiers and have been connected to most of them through Any Soldier. It is an amazing resource for anyone who wants to support our Troops.
Any soldier connects the people with soldiers. We are able to get addressses to send care packages or lettters deployes soldiers.
Anysoldier.com is an AMAZING company! They provide addresses of soldiers that are deployed and give us the opportunity to send encouragement, letters and packages to the men and women fighting to keep us safe. What I love is that I get to choose who I want to send my letters/packages too and I do all the mailing myself. I know that all the work I put into my boxes and letters will actually reach someone and I don't have to worry about if my donation was actually delivered. I'm addicted... I will continue to do this for many many years to come!
This site provides a wealth of real-world resources, advice, tips, and opportunities for us, the general public, to support our troops overseas with care packages and letters. Anysoldier.com takes the safety of the troops seriously, and the Facebook community group is actively read and monitored by the Admin of Anysoldier.com. Active participation is a plus, as members get sound advice, answers to questions, and real-time support. A fine organization, with active involvement in the community, with clear purpose and strong resolve to be good at what they do.
This is what makes this organization a GREAT non-profit....
I`ve been using AnySoldier since 2006, and i`ve loved it from the beginning, reading the posts from the contact Soldiers letting us know what they need, want, how they live while on deployment, I cry when they say how much they miss their friends and familes.
Nancy
This website is phenomenal! It is easy to navigate, has a great Facebook page to help answer questions and share stories, and it is addicting! Once you send a box, you just want to send more and more!
This is an absolutely wonderful organization started and run by some amazing people. I like the professional way things are handled, their willingness to explain and help people understand the shipping process. They do not spam you. I had tried other organizations before and was put off after a day or too. I tried Any Soldier several years ago and have been with them ever since. I like the fact that you can pick your own contacts and that the warriors can post about themselves and post pictures as well. The site inspires patriotism. I cannot say enough good about them and I never, ever miss a chance to tell family, friends, acquaintances, people I bump into while shopping about this organizaiton and the good it does both for the warriors and those who support the troops.
AnySoldier is a wonderful place to be able to support our military that are deployed. We are able to choose a contact to support and through email, letters and sending care packages, let them know that they are not forgotten. Marty and his crew do a magnificent job of helping the American public and even other countries know what they can do to provide support for those serving far from home. This site provides valuable information not only for supporting the troops but to get a glimpse of what the boots on the ground encounter on a daily basis. I have been a supporter of AnySoldier for years and have sent many packages to the contacts. I sincerely hope that they are recognized for their valiant effort.
Sincerely,
Vicki Chism
Corona, CA
My son and I stumbled upon Anysoldier.com when we googled items to send in a care package to our friend, LCpl David Hill. My son was moved to send care packages to soldiers. He started a lemonade stand to raise money to send care packages to as many soldiers as he can. To date he raised over $1500 and sent almost 60 care packages and will be sending more! This all started because of anysoldier.com. Without them we would not have anyone to send care packages too. Yes, we have been given some address from people, but without any soldier we would have ran out of addresses along time ago.