RESIDENTS in the Okehampton area are being given the opportunity to take part in a morale boosting scheme for soldiers in Afghanistan, to show them that they are being thought of at Christmas time. The scheme, Parcels for Soldiers, is a free postage scheme providing the parcel does not weigh more than two kilograms. A shoe box, for instance, or a padded envelope, are often ideal. Suggestions for items to put in the parcels include playing cards, sweets, chocolate, magazines, Marmite, sauces ?brown sauce and Tabasco are reported to be the favourites! ? Frisbees, books, tennis balls and anything that will be fun, useful and entertaining. The parcels are asked to be sent to one of the following camps, FOB Delhi, FOB Inkerman, FOB Sanguin or FOB Dwyer. The parcels should be addressed to ?A British Soldier (or Royal Marine)? followed by the selected camp name, then OP Herrick, Afghanistan, BFPO 792. These four camps are ones that are far away from civilization, where soldiers live on dry rations in a hostile environment. As men and women are both serving in Afghanistan the parcels can be marked with a specific gender if wished. Parcels arriving at the camps cause a great deal of excitement and boost morale. Parcels should be sent as soon as possible so they reach the soldiers before Christmas.
