HeroBox Supports Our Troops

November 2011

George Dillard (left), Senior Pastor of Peachtree City Christian Church and a board member for HeroBox, is pictured with church member and HeroBox Executive Director Ryan Housely. The church is a major local supporter of HeroBox. Photo: Lee Dodds.

A package from home.

You probably remember what a lift it gave you when you were away at camp or college. Now take a few moments to really magnify that feeling, and you can begin to imagine what it means to get such a package when you’re in the military and serving overseas.

A Good Idea Made Better

When Evan Housley, an alumnus of McIntosh High in Peachtree City who had become a US Army Scout, was posted to Iraq in 2007, he was fortunate to have multiple family members sending packages. He was deeply grateful. Especially so, when he noticed that some service members never got packages at all, while others got packages that were clearly well-intentioned, but revealed contents like chocolate that had melted in the heat.

He discussed this with his brother, Tyrone resident Ryan Housley. They began brainstorming, looking for ways to effectively connect service members with volunteers eager to show support through packages from stateside. Ryan launched a smallish, somewhat informal website. The scope of the response soon made it clear that something more was needed.

The result, in 2008, was HeroBox, a fast-growing national non-profit based in Peachtree City. The organization taps into the efficiency of high tech while preserving the warmth of the personal touch. HeroBox now has volunteers in all 50 states. They help send out more than 10,000 packages annually — packages with carefully customized contents. At present, the vast majority of boxes are headed to Afghanistan and Iraq. But some go to other spots around the globe, like Africa and Korea.

Ryan Housley is Executive Director of HeroBox. Evan, now in the reserves in California, is a Director Emeritus.

How HeroBox Works

HeroBox offers two main programs. An individual (or family, school class, or other small group) can use the website to sign up for a sponsorship to send boxes to a specific service member who’s requested them. On a larger scale, there’s the “HeroDay” plan for organizations like churches, civic groups, and businesses. It’s a one-time event when boxes are prepared in quantity for an entire unit.

An important aspect of HeroBox’s success is customizing contents for the packages. In preparing a box, an individual sponsor can work from a service member’s actual “wish list,” rather than relying on guesswork. Similarly, for HeroDays information is provided on the needs of recipient units, reflecting considerations like ratios for gender-specific toiletries and the demands of different locations.

For example, in many areas a prized item is fruit-flavored drink mix, which helps offset the poor taste of local water supplies. (Nostalgia from the sight of a cheerful, brightly-colored Kool-Aid or Fizzies package can be a nice bonus.) Sometimes service members ask for Band-Aids and aspirin to share with local people as a gesture of goodwill — such simple medical supplies can be rare and valuable in remote areas. Another request that’s probably a surprise to civilians is flea collars. They can be a big help when roughing it in forced proximity to infested wildlife.

Typically, supporters top off the boxes’ contents with notes, cards, or letters, and perhaps a few surprise items.

Corey Malmer of Peachtree City was serving in the Navy and posted to Afghanistan when he became a HeroBox recipient. His enthusiasm for the program is typical. “You guys provide a valuable service to all service members. Thanks for the support while I was over there. It truly makes a difference receiving the packages, cards, pictures, and the letters written by children. It makes what we do that much more important to know that we have the support.”

“We have some kids out here that don’t have anyone else to send anything to them,” notes Jennifer Janzen, “so we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making this time away from home better and easier.”

As CPT Larson put it, “HeroBox made me feel the love of my fellow Americans, which allowed me to complete my mission.”

Sharing and More Sharing

The typical HeroBox has a ripple effect. Service members are noted for their generosity, and their handling of HeroBoxes is no exception. They’re quick to share.

“I have received your package and appreciate your kindness,” writes Frederick Collard. “I handed most of the items to the soldiers I work with, and they thank you for sending them.”

One of SFC Ryan Kohles’ packages “was full of Starbucks instant coffee. I walked around with the box, and I felt like Santa as I asked ‘Do you drink coffee?’ If they responded with yes, I tossed them a package of the Starbucks. Everyone was so excited. If you ever had coffee at a military chow hall, you would understand why.”

For SSG Jenkins, the big treat was a favorite condiment, which he appropriately spread around: “I shared the Texas Pete with others in the unit. They loved it and were excited to have a taste of Texas.”

Her proud mom reports that “my daughter, A1C Whitny Woolverton, is the recipient of HeroBox packages. She is an aircrew member and hands many of the items she receives to soldiers deploying to forward posts with no exchange or services. She especially enjoys the cards and letters from the children and would like to say thank you so very much.”

A timely HeroBox has brightened holidays for many service members. “The packages came just in time for Christmas, and none of my guys could wait to dig in!” reported SSG William Godwin. “You have changed sad faces to happy faces. Happy Holidays and thanks.” CH (1LT) Jeremy Pickens wrote, “I’ve shared your package with the soldiers. You would not believe how excited people were to find that the Christmas spirit of giving reaches so far from home.”

Support Is Deep and Broad

On the other side of the equation, HeroBox volunteers welcome the chance to participate in the program. “We are so excited and honored to be able to show our support,” says Michelle Snow Parker. Monique Alder Roop agrees: “HeroBox gives us a way to connect with our heroes overseas so we can let them know how much they mean to us.”

Once a sponsor starts the program, they often get family or friends (or both) involved, or add recipients. Pamala Armstrong proclaimed, “I sponsor three soldiers already and my goal is to sponsor an entire unit by Christmas.”

Predictably, many HeroBox volunteers are veterans or members of military families. Says local Girl Scout Nora Wilfong, “My grandfather, father, and sister were/are all in the military, so supporting our servicemen and women has always been very important to me.” When the time came to develop a service project for her Gold Award, she knew she wanted it to benefit them in some way. When she learned about HeroBox, it was a perfect match. She did a sponsor recruiting drive this summer.

“But it’s been a pleasant surprise,” observes Ryan Housley, “how many people who get involved with HeroBox don’t have any kind of connection to the military. No history of service themselves, no one in their family. Just people who want to support our troops. HeroBox gives them an easy way to do something meaningful on a personal level.”

And recipients like Adam Slider respond, “It means a lot to us that there are people willing to support us that don’t even know who we are. It really makes us proud to do what we do.”

On the local scene, a strong institutional supporter of HeroBox is Peachtree City Christian Church. Ryan Housley is a member there, and Dr. George Dillard, Senior Minister, is on the HeroBox Board of Directors. In addition to holding its own HeroDays, the church often provides a staging area for other groups’ HeroDays and offers overflow storage space for HeroBox supplies and equipment.

Other Ways to Help

HeroBox welcomes financial donations and sells fundraising merchandise like t-shirts via its website. Groups can help spread the word by requesting a speaker to give a presentation, or by organizing a fundraiser. And HeroBox uses social networking to generate support for the troops. “It helps us all stay connected,” says Ryan Housley.

Looking Ahead

In 2012, HeroBox will introduce some tweaks to make its programs even more effective. And a major HeroDay is planned for early November. Check the website for details.

Its inaugural Fairways of Freedom Golf Tournament will be held in the spring at Flat Creek Country Club in Peachtree City. There will also be a dinner afterwards, open to non-golfers as well as entrants. See the website for details and updates.

In Closing

In 2009, all five living American presidents did a special salute to HeroBox at an AllStars game. But un-doubtedly they would be the first to say that this and HeroBox’s other honors and awards are dwarfed by “everyday” accolades like these, prompted by the packages:

From distant outposts:

“Awesome!”

“It’s like a little piece of home”

“Thanks for looking out for us”

And from stateside in reply:

“A pleasure”

“Honored to do it”

“Thank YOU.”