Support the troops!

[Paco]

From Michael Dzmura, one of our long-time sponsors and supporter of AirsoftArizona:

Last month I was contacted by Joe Mazur in North Carolina asking for our help with a fund raiser they were holding for members of the 82nd Airborne Division serving in Iraq.  Donations were going to be used to purchase International Phone Cards for the troops so they could stay in touch with their families back home.  Joe was involved because his son Jake, was currently serving with 1/504th Parachute Infantry Regiment in Baghdad.  Joe ask for a D-53 contribution because, prior to joining the Army, Jake was an avid airsofter and Depot 53 customer.
 
For our part we initially donated a modest $320 (enough to buy 2 - $10 Phone Cards for each member of Jake's Platoon), a Tokyo Marui SR-16 AEG as a raffle prize, and published an article in the News Section of our website, http://www.depot53.com/News/#2414 (feel free to use any material from the article).  As a result of Joe and Dixie Mazur's efforts, they sent almost $4,500 worth of phone cards in their first shipment.  To put it another way, they received enough contributions to buy cards for each member of 2nd Battalion's 1st, 2nd, 3rd, & 4th Platoons, as well as a platoon of support Engineers. They also sent cards to another platoon of the 82nd stationed in Afghanistan (by special request of a soldier's dad who had come to their fund raising dinner).  According to Joe the response has been overwhelming and donations are still coming in from all over the country.
 
Late last week, I learned from Joe that the 82nd's tour had been extended until early 2008.  As such we at D-53 intend to continue to contribute to the Mazur's Phone Card Drive until the unit returns from combat.  While there are many organizations that ask for donations for a myriad of causes, I can think of few more worthy than giving troops in harms way a chance to talk directly to their families back home while stationed in Iraq.  There is also a certain symmetry between this effort and the airsoft industry. Based on our sales history I'm confident many airsofters who buy Depot 53 products have joined the military, or are currently serving in the armed forces.
 
If Airsoft Arizona visitors would like to join us in giving a little to those who are sacrificing so much, it would mean a lot.  Contribution can be sent directly to:


D.A.V. - La Strada Phone Card Drive
2693 Memorial Highway
P.O. Box 356
Lake Lure, NC 28746

I will also be publishing a follow-up article on our website outlining the campaign results and thanking key contributors in our industry.  Let me know if you have any questions [or] need additional information...  Take care!

If you have a few dollars to spare, I strongly urge you to donate, and mention that you're from AirsoftArizona.  If you donate to the troops through other means, that's fine as well, the important thing is to do what you can to support our troops!

[Paco]

Update:  http://www.depot53.com/News/#2424

[Doc Hollywood]

I buy phone cards for deplyed troops every month on AAFES.com

[Vince]

I did something like this through one of my friends on campus last month. Really important that those paying the price for our freedom can keep a link to their families. From the servicemen I've actually asked about this, phone cards and air conditioners are the best charity type things.

Thanks for posting this, Paco.

[woody]

Vince, I'll talk to you first of next week about contributing. There's really something wrong with the system when these soldiers have to pay for their own phone cards to phone home. What am I missing?