A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to charities benefiting wounded veterans:
ReMIND.org, a Bob Woodruff Foundation initiative for injured service members and their families.
The Semper Fi Fund will also receive donations.
The authors will personally donate 20% of their earnings from book sales to the two charities.
Gray & Company will donate a matching amount.
Love You More Than You Know 
Janie, my name is Michelle Shutler. My husband, Ssg. Rob Shutler was with your son, Joe in the 216th now the 1192nd. They unit is redeploying to Iraq June 12th. I was trying to reach you about coming to a FRG meeting and speaking to the families. We have many young soldiers who have never deployed and their families are having a hard time. Please contact me at 330-628-8437.
I have been touched by your story and thought you’d like to share mine:
Early this year, a family friend began a year’s deployment leaving behind his two young children.
After his departure, I became aware of the many organizations that send
items to our troops, but found little that deployed parents can have readily
available to easily communicate with their young children.
In an effort to help my friend keep in touch with his children -a difficult
task under the best of circumstances, I designed interactive postcards for
him to mail home. The cards are viewed as little gifts both by him and the
kids, with space for a note from him and drawings the children enjoy
coloring, connecting the dots and working out mazes.
When completed, the art is mailed back to him, sharing the children’s
creativity and accomplishments and maintaining ongoing communication. He
says that the cards are especially helpful as an easy, economical way to
keep in touch with his children and give them an equally easy -and fun– way to send a little of themselves to him.
Thus began the birth of the “Troops In Touch” . I have become so energized that I’ve designed over 50 cards –some gender specific, others general in nature, including military, sports, seasonal and holiday themes. The next step of making them available to others seemed natural.
These cards perfect for young children who cannot write on their own and for busy spouses with too much to do to supervise letter writing — the
activities on the cards require little or no supervision.
They’re especially easy for the deployed parent since he/she doesn’t have to come up with new things to say required by a letter -and when the postcard is returned, the soldier has the new “art” to comment about.
But most importantly, unlike an e-mail or phone call, the postcard has been
touched by loved ones. Children can hold the cards, carry them around, sleep with them under their pillows and know that they’re receiving and sending their very own mail.
Realizing how important it is for parents and children to stay in touch, I
had hoped to provide the cards at no cost but I simply cannot afford to.
Ideally, organizations that support military families will order in quantities
to help keep the fee modest or will partner with me by underwriting costs
or “adopt” Troops in Touch” as a sister project.
Individuals may also order cards from my website for service people they
know -and those sales enable me to have a small income stream so that I
can donate them when needed.
I hope you will consider partnering with me and/or help spread the word
about this new resource You can see a few samples on my website at
http://www.troopsintouch.com. I’d be happy to send you samples
of the postcards to you as well as answer any questions you may have.
You can also read what one parent says about these cards via this link:
http://herwarhervoice.com/blog/?cat=20
Sincerely,
Beth Allen
Beth,
What a wonderful idea. I know the long hours our troops work everyday! This makes it simple and fun to stay in touch! This is my favorite part about your cards:
“the postcard has been touched by loved ones. Children can hold the cards, carry them around, sleep with them under their pillows and know that they’re receiving and sending their very own mail.
Keep up the good work. I will be sure to pass this on.
Love Janie
Janie & Mary Anne-
Well done on this venture. A tale from the heart and stories that needed shared.
Mary Anne- I know your husband Stan. We were members of a group called IRN/NPI in Fairlawn. I’m a now retired Navy LTJG. My family and I have weathered storms through more than a few recalls to active duty and preparations for combat zone time.
I now own/run a Liberty Tax franchise office in Wadsworth. I’d welcome having a discussion with you two about a Book Signing event. It could be this year or for a future time. Please reach me at the email above or by phone at 330-777-0092.
Regards,
Tom
Tom,
Thank you for your kind words and for your service. I sent you an email.
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