Adopting a soldier?

[fluffyduckie]

Has anyone heard about groups / websites to do this?

An American friend of mine has adopted a US soldier who signed up for support and sends her letters and emails and cards. Apparently there are a lot of soldiers who never get any mail.

I quite like the idea but I don't know if the websites are real or not or if it would be a bit weird to write to a stranger who could turn up at your door in 9 to 12 months.

There are loads of pen pal (not adoption!) organisations for this sort of thing.

If I remember rightly, the use of a PO Box is advised...or the letter goes to the organisation, who send it on to you.

Oh she was talking about a site where you "adopt" a soldier for the duration of their tour and the US site is called Adopt a US Soldier so I thought it was just the term for it!

Sounds like a wanky new phrase for writing to someone?

You know how normal, everyday phrases get changed from time to time...like 'play date' instead of 'having a friend round to play'?

have you considered maybe supporting actual people in need if youre wanting to help?

I think it is probably just a new phrase! Not keen on it tbh.

Branleuse - do you have some suggestions? I do want to help actual people in need but as I work full time and do at least 30 hours on top of that as a carer I need something that I can do from home.

God no.

Forces Pen Pals.

Keep off the dating bit though!

Oh I will be avoiding the dating bit!

I just looked at www.adoptabritishsquaddie.org/ and it looks like you just get matched to a soldier rather than picking one out.

I don't know if I would worry about writing to someone who could be local. At least with someone from another country I can ramble like at total weirdo and it isn't like I would ever bump into them.