What if you could give to Packages From Home every time you searched the web, shopped online or even when you went out to eat?

We'd like to introduce you to our friends at GoodSearch.com, a website which makes raising money for our cause incredibly easy! GoodSearch.com is a Yahoo!-powered search engine which donates about a penny per search to Packages From Home.

GoodSearch.com and GoodShop.com, works with more than 2,500 stores (including Amazon, Apple, Target and Macy's) to donate a percentage of your purchase to our cause. And, GoodShop.com has coupons worth $2 million in savings so you can save money while giving back.

How can you get started?

1. Take two minutes to register here:
   https://www.goodsearch.com/Registration.aspx?WMode=MAIN
2. Encourage your community to start using GoodSearch. Get inspiration for ways to spread the word here:
   http://www.goodsearch.com/getinvolved.aspx
3. Make Goodsearch your homepage http://www.goodsearch.com/getinvolved.aspx#MakeHomepage and get the toolbar http://www.goodsearch.com/toolbar/packages-from-home/

Please join our community on GoodSearch.com and help us raise money for our mission. Get started by clicking the "Become a Supporter" button on our profile page!

Packages From Home would like to say thank you to the Sundt Foundation for their continued support and for choosing Packages From Home to receive a generous grant to support our mission! 

To date, Sundt has provided more than $4 million in aid to community organizations in Arizona, California and Texas. Packages From Home is honored that we were selected to be a recipient of their community giving!

Packages From Home would like to thank everyone who considered PFH their charity of choice in 2011! As we move forward to 2012 let's not forget the sacrifice of the men and women who have served this country. Let's all be thankful for those who arrived home safely from Iraq. It is important that we remain committed to the thousands of men and women still currently serving in our United States Armed Forces, in combat zones. Let's commit to continuing our mission and doing it well.

(This letter came to us from a base in Afghanistan after they had received their shipment from Packages From Home.)

Dear Packages from Home friends and supporters. I'm here at COP Garcia in Afghanistan as a DOD Civilian and my friend gave you guys some names of soldiers here. They couldn't release a full roster for OPSEC reasons, but I provided the names of a few I knew. You sent some great packages.

We often hear the question, “Now that the troops are coming home, what are you guys going to do?” The answer to that question is, “Continue to support our service men and women who are in harm’s way.”

The current government plan is to have all troops out of Iraq by the end of the year, but we still have nearly 100,000 troops in Afghanistan, with more arriving each month, so there is still plenty of support to be given. So long as the US has troops either in danger zones or in areas that support those in the danger zones, we’ll continue to show our support by sending packages. So long as the Middle East is in turmoil and our men and women are helping in the fight for freedom, Packages From Home will be here showing our nation cares about our fighting men and women. We will continue to show them support, and hope that you will too!

Packages From Home would like to thank Arizona American Water for their dedication to the community they serve. That dedication has helped Packages From Home in a huge way! We were excited to hear that Arizona American Water was looking for local charities to donate retired fleet vehicles to. When we heard we were being considered for such a generous contribution we were thrilled. Words cannot express the level of excitement and the buzz around Packages From Home when we heard we were chosen! Thank you Arizona American Water for your contribution to Packages From Home and for supporting those serving in the United States Armed Forces.

Front Desk & Administration Support (Currently Open) (Paid position) – Part-Time 20hrs a week Location: 1201 S. 7th Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85007.  Duties include: answering phones, clearing voice mail, return calls, taking messages, retrieve sort and deliver mail, assist walk-ins / drop-offs / tours, printing documents, office cleaning, take part in PFH sanctioned events, non-profit software data input, generate reports and supports admin staff.  

This position requires a self starter who does not require micro-management to complete tasks.  Strong organizational skills and office experience a plus, computer knowledge and experience with email, data input, spreadsheets and word processing a must. Will be trained on non-profit software by current assistant with a 90 day probationary period.

Must be available to work 4 days a week, 5hrs a day. Flexible work hours can be arranged to assist scheduling.  Office hours are 9am to 3pm Mon- Fri.  

If you are interested in applying for this position please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The sun is beating down on you and the wind is whipping at your face, what would you want at that moment? If you answered lip balm, then you are right! Lip balm is requested by our troops right up there with socks and foot powder. G.B. Proudfoot’s Natural Body Care found out about this need and sprang right into action. With the help of their online buyers they are aiming to supply Packages From Gome with 500+ lip balms by the beginning of December, right in time for the holidays.

G.B. Proudfoot’s Original Lip Balms are formulated to stand up to Arizona’s summer heat making them perfect for use in any desert! Starting September 9, 2011 they are starting a program where for every GBPROUDFOOTS.com online order they will donate a lip balm to Packages from Home. In addition to them sending us lip balm, you can also purchase other G.B. Proudfoot’s products online to have them donated. Just write “Packages from Home” in the comments field during checkout.

For more information on the program go to GBPROUDFOOTS.com

In the past few months, Chester's Harley Davidson of Mesa, AZ has been rallying for our United States Military. First as being an event sponsor and pit stop for our 2011 Hearts to Heroes Motorcycle Poker Run and now for hosting their Armed Forces Day on Saturday May 21, 2011.

Chester's Harley Davidson held their National Armed Forces Freedom Ride and Bikini Bike Wash and Party on the Patio in honor of our Armed Forces. With live music featuring Sludge's Build a Band and bikini-clad models washing the motorcycles, Chester's Harley Davidson helped PFH raise over $1,000 and collect boxes full of goodies for our troops.

The money raised will help ship approximately 100 boxes to our heroic troops overseas and will reach approximately 500 servicepersons.

We would like to THANK Chester's Harley Davidson for all that they have done! Your support is greatly appreciated!

To see pictures of the day, go to Chester's Harley Davidson's Facebook page HERE.

One of the most popular programs carried out by the chaplains and MWR (Morale, Welfare, and Recreation) Technicians in the Middle East is one that falls under the general heading of “Read to Your Kids.” It has many names on many bases, but the object is always the same – to keep those serving so far from home in touch with the small children they have left behind.

So how does this program work? Well, a video is made of the GI reading a children’s story to his/her child. Then the video, and sometimes the book, is sent home to the child. This allows the absent parent to “read” a story to his/her child any time the child wants to hear the story – and the videos often get worn out and have to be replaced!

Can you imagine the joy felt by the child? Can you imagine the pleasure of the absent parent returning home from war to a child who instantly recognizes them?

(If you’d like to help, we need donations of mini-DVDs and books appropriate for children ages 1-5).

Body: Many times the PFH packages get sent out and we don't know what happens to them unless the heroic recipient sends a thank you back. Not this time! USO Kandahar received 200 packages of the 600 packages DHL shipped for us in late December and have written about it on their blog. To read how the service members reacted to all the candy and to see pictures, check out their blog HERE.