I enjoyed my Thanksgiving holiday (and Black Friday) with family. Only in America do we wait in line for hours on end and run through stores like bulls in a china shop to buy new things mere hours after celebrating and being thankful for the things that we already have. The time spent with my family is certainly worth way more than any amount of money I would or could save. These days, Black Friday and Cyber Monday have most folks covered – or do they? Children, husband, wife, parents, in-laws, siblings, nieces and nephews, grandparents… forget anyone? Now, don’t get me wrong, the shopping and saving are great but the holidays are so much more than that. One particular group of people that oftentimes gets left off of our shopping lists is the one that should be atop that very list – our service members. If it weren’t for them, we would not have the freedom to celebrate the holidays.
Luckily, thanks to them, we can and we do. Now shouldn’t that, at the very least, grant them the right to make it onto your precious gift list? Our service members go without so that we don’t have to. What if you could change that? What if you could bring home and the holidays to them? Would you?
“Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we’re gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.”
-Unknown
It is the simplest things – the things that we take for granted – that mean the most to them. They deserve so much more thanks and gratitude than they’re ever given. That is why I am honored to be able to share this with all of you.
MissYourVoice is a company that was started by the wife of a service member. Growing up as an Army brat, Amanda was brought up with a heightened sense of respect and admiration for our troops, as we all should have. After marrying into the military life and being on the front lines here at home she launched MissYourVoice as a way to help bring joy to those stationed overseas. I know firsthand that mail call is one of the most looked forward to parts of the day for a deployed service member. Letters are lovely to receive but being handed a care package is equivalent to a child opening a holiday gift. Many donation care packages are sent out in bulk, but MissYourVoice goes above and beyond. These packages are gifts. Every single package is hand crafted and personalized for its recipient from you. Photographs of loved ones, favorite snacks, letters – it is all designed specifically with your service member in mind. It may not seem like much, but a little creativity goes a long way.
Over the past three years, Amanda has single-handedly designed, put together, and shipped over 1,200 care packages to deployed service members all over the world. That being a remarkable feat on its own, she still makes sure to cater to your needs and to make each and every package unique for its recipient. Having fun with the packaging and the décor allows the service members to have fun with it as well. I believe that the presentation of a gift is a gift in itself. MissYourVoice offers a fun, innovative way to get people involved in supporting our troops. By adding an aspect of excitement to what is, otherwise, just a normal piece of mail, it is easy to get people interested and involved. MissYourVoice has made quite an impact on social media (Facebook and Twitter) as well as military support pages where Amanda educates others on fun and unique ways to support our service members.
“Not only does it help mend the gap between families separated by duty; it also allows supporters to help support other service members in the same fashion.”
– Amanda Farrell, MissYourVoice
Aside from helping to reach our loved ones overseas, MissYourVoice offers their Sponsorship Program for those that do not have any deployed service members in their lives. This allows civilians to thank and help brighten the day of service members in need. As a child, I remember writing many letters addressed to “Any Soldier” and the MissYourVoice Sponsorship Program is basically the same idea but on a grander scale. The contents usually don’t seem to matter. All that really matters is that they are getting something, anything, to make them feel a little closer to home.
I have been a huge fan of MissYourVoice for quite some time but was recently granted the opportunity to have a deployed friend of mine review these wonderful care packages. Offering a wide range of designs, MissYourVoice has something for everyone. Matthew, a U.S. service member, received the Thanksgiving package, and in perfect timing might I add! He is scheduled to be deployed for quite some time so this gift, filled with tons of goodies, has definitely put a smile on his face.
MissYourVoice is currently offering Christmas, winter, and New Year themed packages along with numerous designs for special occasions and “just because” moments. The “Thank You” package is a favorite that can be sent year round.
Whether it is a loved one, a friend, or simply a stranger, all of our service members need to know that we are thinking about them, that we care about them, and that we are here for them. They are the backbone of our country. So for all of you that thought your holiday shopping lists were complete, I’ll ask you again. Have you forgotten anyone?
MissYourVoice is, once again, helping to spread the joy by giving one Son-kissed reader the chance to brighten the day of a service member. One of you will win a large MissYourVoice package just in time for the winter holidays!
Enter here! –> a Rafflecopter giveaway
*Dedicated to every single service member that I have had the honor to meet, know, and love. United States Marine Corps, Air Force, Navy, Army, and Coast Guard – this is for you. Thank you. My sincerest gratitude always, because freedom isn’t free.
son-kissed 