# Soccer Balls, Pens, and Treats - The Afghanistan Edition. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 22, 2009, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soccer-balls-pens-and-treats-the-afghanistan-edition/522207 "2009-12-22T16:55:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soccer-balls-pens-and-treats-the-afghanistan-edition/522207/21 "2009-12-29T15:21:03Z")
**Snowcarpet, Antigen, Baker** PM’s sent. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soccer-balls-pens-and-treats-the-afghanistan-edition/522207/22 "2009-12-29T17:01:55Z")
Can I sneak in one for the Brits? > [@](#): > > An appeal for help from the chaplain with the Royal Marines in Afghanistan > > "Hi everyone. Hello from a rather cold Afghanistan. Could I make a request from the Chaplaincy here for the Royal Marines? > > We are asking for books and sweeties for the lads from supporters at home. There is a lack of books and sweets always go down well. > > If you feel able, could you please ask among your friends if anyone has old paperbacks that the lads might like to read - anything really except Mills and Boon romances… Also sweeties - the sort that come individually wrapped - like boiled sweets." > > Packets under 2kg are posted free from any UK post office. If you can help, please ask folk to post any of the above to, Rev Peter Scott, Chaplain, Cdo Log Regt Royal Marines, Bastion, BFPO792. (Tell them not to write Afghanistan anywhere on the address) ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soccer-balls-pens-and-treats-the-afghanistan-edition/522207/23 "2010-01-05T02:33:55Z")
The first box of mine is on it’s way! Soccer balls, crayons and colored chalk. (Thanks Reepicheep!) I also am recruiting some promotional merchandisers, and one of my pen suppliers I know to donate pens to send over. Supposedly there are some other items coming as well, we’ll see. People are very generous and helpful in my experience. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soccer-balls-pens-and-treats-the-afghanistan-edition/522207/24 "2010-01-06T11:20:30Z")
Can’t wait to get the boxes and start handing stuff out. To hold you guys over, here’s a couple pictures from a recent patrol through a typical Afghanistan village. > **[ImageShack - Best place for all of your image hosting and image sharing needs](https://imageshack.com/)** > > Unlimited space to host images, easy to use image uploader, albums, photo hosting, sharing, dynamic image resizing on web and mobile. The pictures are not really that good. They’re pretty shitty, actually, but I didn’t take these, so don’t blame me. I promise my pictures will be better. Plus, these kids didn’t seem to like the camera at all. As soon as one of my guys pointed a camera at them, they’d scatter. I don’t think it’s a Muslim thing, so much as it’s an unfamiliarity thing. After all, the grown-ups love being in pictures: > **[ImageShack - Best place for all of your image hosting and image sharing needs](https://imageshack.com/)** > > Unlimited space to host images, easy to use image uploader, albums, photo hosting, sharing, dynamic image resizing on web and mobile. (That’s my new buddy with the RPG…) Some of the kids were simply indifferent. Like this one here in front of a shop: [http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/8638/p1000139.jpg](http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/8638/p1000139.jpg) I tried to stay positive, though. Here I am waving at some cars as they pass. > **[ImageShack - Best place for all of your image hosting and image sharing needs](https://imageshack.com/)** > > Unlimited space to host images, easy to use image uploader, albums, photo hosting, sharing, dynamic image resizing on web and mobile. More pics of the kids hanging out in the market: > **[ImageShack - Best place for all of your image hosting and image sharing needs](https://imageshack.com/)** > > Unlimited space to host images, easy to use image uploader, albums, photo hosting, sharing, dynamic image resizing on web and mobile. > **[ImageShack - Best place for all of your image hosting and image sharing needs](https://imageshack.com/)** > > Unlimited space to host images, easy to use image uploader, albums, photo hosting, sharing, dynamic image resizing on web and mobile. > **[ImageShack - Best place for all of your image hosting and image sharing needs](https://imageshack.com/)** > > Unlimited space to host images, easy to use image uploader, albums, photo hosting, sharing, dynamic image resizing on web and mobile. > **[ImageShack - Best place for all of your image hosting and image sharing needs](https://imageshack.com/)** > > Unlimited space to host images, easy to use image uploader, albums, photo hosting, sharing, dynamic image resizing on web and mobile. > **[ImageShack - Best place for all of your image hosting and image sharing needs](https://imageshack.com/)** > > Unlimited space to host images, easy to use image uploader, albums, photo hosting, sharing, dynamic image resizing on web and mobile. > **[ImageShack - Best place for all of your image hosting and image sharing needs](https://imageshack.com/)** > > Unlimited space to host images, easy to use image uploader, albums, photo hosting, sharing, dynamic image resizing on web and mobile. I’ll post more pictures (and better ones) as soon as I can! ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soccer-balls-pens-and-treats-the-afghanistan-edition/522207/25 "2010-01-06T14:26:30Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Can I sneak in one for the Brits? I have some books here that were going to get put out for “take 'em if you want 'em,” I’ll send them over instead! ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soccer-balls-pens-and-treats-the-afghanistan-edition/522207/26 "2010-01-06T15:51:34Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > I have some books here that were going to get put out for “take 'em if you want 'em,” I’ll send them over instead! I know they’ll be grateful. ---
**Author:** ![Snowcarpet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowcarpet/32/257_2.png) [@Snowcarpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowcarpet)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soccer-balls-pens-and-treats-the-afghanistan-edition/522207/27 "2010-01-06T16:18:19Z")
I just mailed my package! It’s a big heavy one! I put pens, pencils, notebooks, etc into cheap backpacks. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soccer-balls-pens-and-treats-the-afghanistan-edition/522207/28 "2010-01-06T17:20:36Z")
**fisha** , I’d like\*\* Bear\*\*'s address, please. PM me. **Bear\_Nenno** , stay safe, you. ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2010, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soccer-balls-pens-and-treats-the-afghanistan-edition/522207/29 "2010-01-07T00:52:28Z")
**Snickers, Surly** , PM sent. Glad to see everything is going well, \*\*Bear.\*\*Great pictures. ---
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2010, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soccer-balls-pens-and-treats-the-afghanistan-edition/522207/30 "2010-01-07T01:07:47Z")
Nice to see you posting, **Bear**. The differences between your Iraqi and Afghan pictures are striking. **fisha** , are you still accepting Paypal donations? If so, could you send me your address? Otherwise, please PM me Bear\_Nenno’s address and I’ll see if I can get a package together. Thanks for organizing, **fisha** and thanks for making the effort **Bear**. Stay safe. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2010, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soccer-balls-pens-and-treats-the-afghanistan-edition/522207/31 "2010-01-07T12:08:50Z")
> [@fisha](#): > > I also am recruiting some promotional merchandisers, and one of my pen suppliers I know to donate pens to send over. Supposedly there are some other items coming as well, we’ll see. That’s great. If I get some packages that have huge quantities of stuff, I will take them straight to the schools to hand out. There is an all boys school and an all girls school really close by. It would be good to swing by there and hand out school type stuff. ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2010, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soccer-balls-pens-and-treats-the-afghanistan-edition/522207/32 "2010-01-07T18:52:46Z")
Bear, you want pens, you’ll get pens. When they ask “How many can you take?” it makes me a little scared. Another package sent out today. [http://www.flickr.com/photos/41983136@N00/4254706130/](http://www.flickr.com/photos/41983136@N00/4254706130/) ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soccer-balls-pens-and-treats-the-afghanistan-edition/522207/33 "2010-01-22T19:52:54Z")
Greetings everyone! I’ve been away from my base for 17 days, so I finally came home to a room packed with boxes and packages. I finally got to open my Christmas presents! lol. There must have been a dozen packaged waiting for me. 4 of the boxes were from you guys. I got three from **KayT** stuffed with pencils and school supplies and (WOW!) the box of backpacks from **snowcarpet**. I am really excited about handing this stuff out. This is going to be fun! I’ll post some pics soon. Thanks everyone!! ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soccer-balls-pens-and-treats-the-afghanistan-edition/522207/34 "2010-01-27T00:15:46Z")
Packing boxes tonight. I had one poster donate enough for 10 soccer balls. (Isn’t that amazing?) I have 3 boxes filled with 6 balls and pens addressed and ready to go out tomorrow. I’ll send the other two boxes out late this week, so Bear doesn’t get overwhelmed at one time. [http://www.flickr.com/photos/41983136@N00/4307956896/](http://www.flickr.com/photos/41983136@N00/4307956896/) ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soccer-balls-pens-and-treats-the-afghanistan-edition/522207/35 "2010-01-28T20:45:57Z")
From Bear- " Here are two pictures to hold you guys over. I had to shrink them to ensure I’d be able to upload them. I’ll post more pictures and narratives soon, promise. For now, maybe you can recognize your Beanie Baby or Jolly Ranchers? Thanks for participating everyone!" [![](https://i224.photobucket.com/albums/d.../P1020067a.jpg) ](https://i224.photobucket.com/albums/d.../P1020067a.jpg) [![](https://i224.photobucket.com/albums/d.../P1020054a.jpg) ](https://i224.photobucket.com/albums/d.../P1020054a.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soccer-balls-pens-and-treats-the-afghanistan-edition/522207/36 "2010-01-28T21:55:40Z")
> [@fisha](#): > > From Bear- > > " Here are two pictures to hold you guys over. I had to shrink them to ensure I’d be able to upload them. I’ll post more pictures and narratives soon, promise. For now, maybe you can recognize your Beanie Baby or Jolly Ranchers? > > Thanks for participating everyone!" > > [http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/d.../P1020067a.jpg](http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/d.../P1020067a.jpg) > [http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/d.../P1020054a.jpg](http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/d.../P1020054a.jpg) Link isn’t working for me. ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2010, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soccer-balls-pens-and-treats-the-afghanistan-edition/522207/37 "2010-01-29T01:16:21Z")
Sorry. [![](https://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd259/bear_nenno/P1020067a.jpg) ](https://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd259/bear_nenno/P1020067a.jpg) [![](https://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd259/bear_nenno/P1020054a.jpg) ](https://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd259/bear_nenno/P1020054a.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2010, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soccer-balls-pens-and-treats-the-afghanistan-edition/522207/38 "2010-01-29T18:19:05Z")
I’m a horrible slacker, and for that I apologize. I’ll be getting on this toot-sweet, for certain. One question, though: what about stickers? Are stickers OK? If so, are there some I should shoot for over others? (As in, yay for sunshine and nature and balloon stickers, nay for Hello Kitty or whatever.) ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soccer-balls-pens-and-treats-the-afghanistan-edition/522207/39 "2010-01-30T10:32:59Z")
> **[Photo and Video Storage | Photobucket](https://s224.photobucket.com/albums/dd259/bear_nenno/Afghanistan/)** > > Store your photos and videos online with Photobucket's secure storage. Available on iOS, Android and desktop. Securely backup your memories and sign up today! Made an album. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soccer-balls-pens-and-treats-the-afghanistan-edition/522207/40 "2010-01-30T23:12:06Z")
**Bear\_Nenno** , you are such an awesome guy! My sons’ classmates and teachers STILL talk about the toys, games, etc, that they put together for you to hand out, and the pictures you sent of the kids. Good work. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soccer-balls-pens-and-treats-the-afghanistan-edition/522207.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soccer-balls-pens-and-treats-the-afghanistan-edition/522207.md?page=3)