Shaving Stuff for the troops

[sensei_kyle]

A friend of mine is in the Oklahoma National Guard. His unit was recently deployed to Afghanistan on a one year tour to support Operation Phoenix.

I received e-mail from him for the first time since he arrived in country. Seems that several items are in extremely short supply there, and shaving supplies (believe it or not) are near the top of the list. Their operating base doesn't even have a PX, and the closest PX frequently runs out of things.

I am rounding up items to send over in a care package. If you guys and gals have any soaps, creams, regular razors, disposable razors, DE handles and/or blades, brushes, mugs, etc. that you'd like to donate, please PM me for my address. I'm waiting to hear back if straight razors are cool or not. E-mail is a little hard to come by right now, but I'll post more when I get it.

Thanks

[canerunner]

Sounds interesting, kyle. Post when you have some more details, and I should be able to come up with a box of stuff to send along. I just need to know what's legal, and what ain't.

Anyone in the Atlanta area want to join up with me on putting a box together?

[sensei_kyle]

I'll post more as info as I get it. From the way it sounds there are a few computers with a slow Internet connection, and a whole platoon of guys trying to use them.

[sensei_kyle]

Just got word back from Afghanistan. Straight Razors weren't on the expressly forbidden items list. If it came in a box with other shaving goodies it would be even less suspect.

[sensei_kyle]

OK gang. I'm going to set Saturday, July 22nd as the date I'd like to have any donations to me. If this presents a problem for you please PM me.

[pitbulls20]

Will you take money donations? If I can dig up the extra money I will help out. I am sure I will be sent over there at some point soonish so I know these things really help out there to make them comforable.

[sensei_kyle]

Heck yeah I'll take money for the cause. Once I see what all is donated product-wise any money will be used to fill in the holes.

[wassomeoneelse]

To Kyle and all whom contributed;

I want to give out a big thanks to all who contributed to Shaving Stuff for the troops. I received 6 boxes of assorted shaving supplies four days ago. It ranges from homemade bath soaps, Mama Bears shaving soap, DE razors, DE Blades, Colonel Conk soap (a whole lot of it, Lol), brushes, baby powder, toothpaste, a feather straight razor, and other items too numerous to list. I have wanted to write before now to tell you all how grateful we are to have received such an abundance of shaving materials. It truly is a blessing to see such generosity. I just did not know how to say the words. Everytime I would start to type out a message, I just did not think that what I was about to type could truly explain how we all feel here. So, today, I finally decided to TRY! I think the best approach is to explain that those 6 boxes are a lot of shaving supplies.
The first evening that I received the boxes, Frasier and I went thru them and sorted everything out in the Operations Center. We then divided everything up into kits for troops that have shown an interest in wetshaving. The razors we made sure were clean by going over each of them with swabs and alcohol. We buffed them up and using the containers that Kyle gave us, we made up the kits and handed them out at formation the next morning. I had been buying up several razors on ebay until about the 5th of this month, so I had razors to make up for the number of guys here that needed one. We included a DE razor, brush, soap (several for each), DE Blades (again, several packs for each), and we spread out the body soap, powder, toothpaste, etc thruout the packages. IT has been very well received by all the guys in the company. I now have orders for straight razors and DEs. Thanks to you all, we are spreading the joy of wetshaving. I can tell you, I think I may have bitten off more than I can chew. I will more than likely have to give classes to some of these guys.
Thanks to you all for supporting your troops,
Bryan Arnold

[ucliker]

Wow thats amazing speaking as a former marine myself, this is a noble cause!
I spent the last four years in the marine corps and me being fortunate enough not to go to Iraq or Afghanistan. but have had countless friends and my own brother go multiple times. they are always in need of supplies, especially shaving stuff. the funny part is the marine corps expects every marine to have a clean shave every day, but the catch is how can that be possible when theres nothing to shave with? well keep up the good work guys! remember you may not support the war but always support your troups

[sensei_kyle]

Glad you received all of the boxes Brian! I learned something new this time around. USPS insurance covers the shipment to the APO and no further. So, with the customs forms & such on the boxes I was a little worried.

The thanks goes to all the guys who kicked in on this shipment (and all the other prior shipments). Without the generosity of the community here, this project would not exist.