Project Kandahar Outreach
Twitter @AnnOhio knit bear after bear for this project, so she should get first crack at describing it. I'm only the card designer and box-sending supporter. Anne's been in the trenches of producing what passes from hand to hand:
"A simple direct message sent to Twitter's @NewMediaJim by @BlondeByDesign 'Hey honey, can you find me a soldier in your travels?' That little message, and the e-mail address delivered in response began an inspired project that brought together a Twitter community to share the love with a group of soldiers in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Danny and his guys were *officially* adopted and the cards, letters and packages began to flow from the United States as a show of support for these soldiers.
This project of caring was not impacted by politics, political agendas or geography. This special Twitter community, scattered all of the US pulled together to send care and support to a very worthy group of men.
Go back in time to summer 2007 when Kandahar was hot and NewMediaJim, NBC's Jim Long was traveling with Secretary of defense Gates, and the tweeters grabbed hold of an idea, Read the whole story and meet Danny
100% of all profit from these cards will be used to continue our project of sending love (and food and fun and caring) to a group of men in difficult conditions in Kandahar Afghanistan. We're all in this together.
As another participant, @wickedstepmom says
"Jim and Blonde were connected by a virtual thread (Twitter). Eventually the thread wound it's way through the hearts and lives of others' who each wanted to make a real life connection with a small group of men in a far-away land.
The men eventually became Family. The thread eventually became an all-encompassing Net that bound these virtual friends together for one REAL goal."
A bit of this story is shared on the back of each card so that whoever receives one knows that they are part of something that goes beyond the two of you, and touches the lives of other people in a gesture of friendship and support during difficult times.
You and they can be part of the thread that continues to bind us and lets these men know that no matter our politics, we support them individually and every day as they continue their work.
See cards - and shirts even - here
Great card and great project! I know Danny and the guys/gals he's serving with will really appreciate this. They have been really responsive to everyone supporting them and I wouldn't be surprised at all if they sent you a personal thank you for doing such a wonderful thing. It's hard NOT to be inspired by such great people like you and them!
Posted by: Dayngr | 12/05/2007 at 10:01 AM