Burwash, Burwash Common and Burwash Weald
Shoeboxes for Afghanistan
Our troops in Afghanistan are very grateful for any items which we send as it reassures them that we are thinking of them, but they are especially grateful for anything to help ease dry or sore lips and skin, and dry mouths and throats. Each box I send has to weigh less than 2kg and must not contain any aerosols. I am currently including:
A tube or pot of E45 cream: to ease sore shoulders where their heavy kit cuts in
Lipsyl
Shower gel [wrapped in a freezer-type bag in case of leakage]
Cup-a-soups
Tea bags [I split the large boxes into smaller plastic bags]
Biscuits
Chewy sweets, Mints and Chewing gum
Crisps, Mini Cheddars or other savoury snacks
If there is enough space I also include any combination of face wipes, playing cards, toothpaste and toothbrush, Butterkist popcorn or peanuts. As the weather is much warmer in Afghanistan now, I am including fly papers in nearly all of the boxes. They catch baby locusts, flies and mosquitoes so make life a little easier for our soldiers. I wrap the papers in a sealed plastic bag [a sandwich size bag is ideal] so the smell does not taint any food in the box.
Once I have packed a box, I include a letter from me, put the lid on and weigh it again to make sure that it weighs less than 2kg. I sellotape the lid firmly and wrap the box in strong brown paper, using plenty of sellotape again. [I have become proficient at wrapping parcels!] The boxes can receive some rough treatment on their way to Afghanistan and I try to ensure that they will arrive intact. The final stage is to attach a customs label and a label showing my name and address as the sender and to address the box to a particular soldier in Afghanistan. I deliver the parcels to Ian in Burwash Post Office and he sends them on their way. Meanwhile,Mum claims back the dining table for her jigsaws until the next time!
I am including this extract from one of the thank you letters again because I think it gives an indication of 
what the troops’ day-to-day life is like. ‘This is just a short note to say how grateful we were to receive your box and the nice letter that went with it. A big thank you to yourself and the parishioners of St Bartholomew’s. It is very touching to know that people back home, who we have never met, are thinking of us all. We are currently based in a small checkpoint: there are 20 marines here, an interpreter and our adopted Afghan puppy which is affectionately known as Claymore. She is white with a black spot on her back and has a very lovable, cheeky personality. She often steals our socks off the washing line and hides them in a corner of the compound! We have been trying to train her but she is a law unto herself. Day to day, life is hard. We push out on average 2 or 3 patrols per day which range in length from 1 to 4 hours. It is hot work with all the kit on: yesterday the temperature was 46 degC and we are all weighed down with equipment, weapons, ammo and water. On patrol, I carry the machine gun and I reckon my kit must weigh over 60kgs on a good day. However, we all work hard keeping each other’s morale high, telling jokes, spinning stories and making all kinds of stupid games to help pass the time. It is also rewarding to see that we are making some progress. Although from our checkpoint we are having to fight the Taliban on a near daily basis, it is comforting to see the local population support and assist us.’ 42 CDO RM
I continue to be very grateful for all your donations.
Shirley Viney