Laurie,

Thank you for all of your support and kindness. You made a bigger
difference than you think. Many of the guys loved a lot of the stuff you
sent in the packages i shared. I know that when those new soldiers
recieve those packeages it will brighten their day just as you did mine.
I really hope that you have a full and healthy life! Feel free any time
you want to drop me an e-mail and just say hi.Please tell your other
supporters and family that we all appreciate them a lot.
     Well the wind is up this morning quite a  bit. It must be at least
15mph.Everyone is happy about our approaching date to leave this place.
We are still doing missions but it won't be much longer until they stop.
I don't know what else besides thanks again and i hope to hear from you
and your family some time.

God bless you as well

Your friend,

Mike

I have seen many things in my life and done a few good deeds through out
my journey and one of the things I learned is that the good out weighs
the bad and even tough there is a constant battle between good and bad sometimes it feels that everything we do is wasted away, but there are people that never give up, never complain, never seem to mind about how much time they spent to help others. To you and your group I say you have earned here on earth a place in our hearts, the goodness and the joy you bring it might seem for only a few minutes but are impressions you put in our souls. My friend never change and let no one tell you different you are beautiful and you are making a difference in a lot of people 's lives.
I wish a merry Christmas and you stay safe too.

  Ms. Jorgensen,
This is the second deployment I have had the pleasure of seeing packages from your organization grace the hands of my fellow Soldiers.  The first time, we all were in Iraq.  We didn't know what OMN was at the time, it was due to a couple Soldiers in the battalion and their hard work that we started seeing that wonderful yellow sticker on the side of the postal boxes.  This time, it was because the quick thinking of an NCO that got these packages rolling out here to us in Afghanistan.  The mission is alot different, the faces have changed as well, but the spirit is still the same.  These troops are out here to do what they must, do it professionally, and coming back to see that blessed sticker. 

I was not aware that my NCO had put my name in the hat again at OMN, and so I was shocked to see my name on a package this time around.  However, the package had a familiar name on it.  I have already written and thanked Jorgen and Karla Nelsen, but I wanted to point out the attention these folks put into what they are doing.  They are a wonderful representation of your operation and credit to all of you fine folks there in MN.  If these two people can look through a list of hundreds of names and recognize a name from over a year prior, wow! 

The Nelsens are simply a representation of what I know is common with OMN.  Whether the names are familiar or not, it is in the smiles, the laughter that your organization truly gets the credit.  I only wish you all could see first hand what I see every time mail comes in.  We generally recieve mail about once a week, sometimes less, sometimes more.  Regardless of how often we actually get mail here, the representation from your "troops" there in MN is unbelievable.  At any given time, your packages account for nearly half of what was recieved.  This is an unbelievable amount which can only be attributed to your organizations dedication.

So from the Maintenance Section of the HHC 70th Engineer Battalion, and most assuredly from many others out here, thank you so much for what you wonderful folks do.

David Kerr
SSG, US Army
Viking 8

If you have ever wondered if there is a Santa Clause, take a look in the eyes of a Service Member who is the beneficiary of a random care package.  I assure you, the Spirit of Santa Clause lay in each and every one of these packages, year round.

To whom it may concern,

I just wanted send a note of thanks to all of you at Minnesota Nice.

I grew up in Brooklyn Park, MN and lived there for my first nineteen years before I joined the Army.

I have now been away from Minnesota as many years as I was there. I have lived all over the country and all over the world.

I am very proud to be from Minnesota and I have often described the state as one of the greatest places to live.
I plan to come back to Minnesota when I finish my military service.

I am part of the 70th Engineer Battalion currently stationed in Afghanistan and I see that many of my Soldiers receive packages from Minnesota Nice.
I had never heard of the project as my deployments to Iraq I was a military member in a mostly civillian organization, but it's great to see it at work now.
I send my heartfelt thanks on behalf of our outstanding American Soldiers for all of your support.

Sincerely,

Christopher J. Grose
MAJ, EN
Operations Officer

  Good morning (time in Iraq), how are you Diane?
My soldiers and I are doing good today, we are receiving packages from all kinds of families and organizations that have adopted us from MN, and for that I am grateful that we get to see and feel the support from our fellow citizens.
One of the things that I notice is when my soldiers get a letter or package I see how the rest of the day they are all smiles, I hope you understand that for us soldiers its not the package or the mail that lights up our day its just knowing that somebody somewhere in this world there is support for what we are trying to accomplish. Its not hard to be a soldier, as soldiers we are just doing our job but,there are heros out there that are not being recognized, as you probably heard this before the greatest sacrifice that is not recognized in this war is not us, its our families, the spouses, girlfriends, boyfriends, sons, daughters, fathers and mothers that are willing to wait and have the patience and the endurance to hear the negative comments from other fellow citizens or the news yet they hang in there with good spirits just for us, and people like you that spend the time and the money to make somebody happy across the world. You people are the ones that are our heros and the ones that everyday make our lives happy regardless of the things we see here. I am going to send you a list of my company with names so you and your group can send what ever your heart desires, the letters or packages can be address to an individual.
God bless you Diane you have a beautiful heart.
You have a good day.

 THANK YOU    FOR  THE  GIFTS  . I   GUESS  I  NEVER  HAD  ANYONE   SENT   ME  GIFT S  HERE.  I  DONT  EVEN  GET  LETTERS  FROM    MY OWN  FAMILY  SENT  TO ME . I   DONT   CARE   THOUGH.. I  KNOW  GOD  IS  TAKING   CARE  OF  THE   VERY   WELL.   I  HAVE NT   SPOKE  TO  THEM  SINCE  LAST  WEEK  AND  MY   MOM  LIKE  TWO  OR  THREE  WEEKS  . SHE  IS  BUSY  MOVING. I  WORRY   ABOUT  THEM   ABOUT  HOW  I  COULD'VE    DONE  SOMETHING  BUT   I KNOW  THINGS  ARE   REALLY  TUFF   SOMETIMES   ON  MY  FAMILY  SO I DON T   EXPECT  THEM  TO  SEND   ME  GIFTS.  LIKE  I  SAID  I  WORRY  ABOUT  ME   AND  THEY  WORRY  ABOUT   THEMSELF.   I  THANK YOU  THOUGH   IT  REALLY  FELT  HEART   WARMING   AND  I  HOPE  TO GET  PICS  OF  YOU  AND  THE   FAMILY.  THE  KIDS  ARE  LUCKY  TO  HAVE   A GREAT   MOM A ND  DAD  LIKE  YA. 

"I  got the care package in the mail today. Thank you so much, i adored it.  I felt like u guys went the extra mile for me and i appreciate that, especially since u aren't obligated to.  You guys have touched me and given me back my faith in humanity when i almost gave up. Thank you again, you made Iraq almost bareable." 

"I can’t tell you how wonderful your boxes are for morale!  Oh my Gosh!  We are like little kids at Christmas attacking your box!!  Everyone says – “I love that – oh I love this!”  About 12 people all received joy from your gift of love -  Thank you so much!"

"I am so appreciative of your grattitude.  People undereestimate the way voicing  their feelings and opinions could affect our morale. But when i see support from people like you it means the world to me and the soldiers that i know and work with.

" Thank you again , your care packages help keep us plugging along!!"

"Just wanted to say Thank You again for the effort that you put into our Christmas here. It was almost like we weren't soldiers for a little bit. It was a feeling we all enjoyed and apreciated thank you."

"On behalf of the entire unit, THANK YOU!!!  We are truly blessed to have caring citizens like you to organize Operation Minnesota Nice, and so many kind people who donate to strangers through OMN.  I wish you continued success with your outreach program, and may you be encouraged to know that there are many grateful people returning home this month."

"I just received a box from you and thank you so much. It is really nice to see ppl back home doing something for the troops in the holiday season. Please let your husband know that I would like to thank him for his service in Vietnam not enough people say thank you to the soldiers in that war. YOUR COOKIES KICK WELL I THINK U KNOW. WOW they where good I ate all of them the first day. haha u found my weekness and you are a good baker."

"Happy Thanksgiving by the way....i have a lot to be thankful for...and one of them is you...thank you soo much for helping me through my time in iraq....you will probably never know how much i appreciated that....you are really an amazing person jill.....i cant get over what youve did so selflessly..."

"Thank you so much for what you do through Operation Minnesota Nice. You and your fellow Minnesotans are really making a difference in the morale of our soldiers. The knowledge that someone, particularly a stranger, is investing time and money in each of us really makes the soldiers feel appreciated. Particularly in these times when the war is unpopular with many people and the objective is unclear to some, kind gestures from others to acknowledge the year's sacrifices have made even our biggest frowners smile upon receiving a box."

In the darkness shines the light of an angel.

"Hello my name is Daniel XXXXX, I am currently stationed in Iraq at Camp Taji. You do not know me but I believe that you know my commander, CPT XXXX. I want to take a little time to tell you THANK YOU for everything that you have done for us while we are out here. It is because of people like you that we know how much our work and sacrifices in Iraq are appreciated. I would also like to take a few more minutes of your time to let you know how some of the items that you have sent are being put to use. I know that you have sent us many packages that have been children focused with great items located inside them. We were working in a town in our sector named IJ, in this town there are lots of children that bring smiles to our faces. They are currently working on the school there and the kids welcome everything that you have sent. To be able to see the smile on a child’s face when you give them the opportunity to go back to school with paper and pencils is priceless, I wouldn’t trade that moment for anything in the world. I would also like to take a minute to Thank Operation Minnesota Nice the people there are truly the hero’s in this matter. To be able to give you a soldier’s name that is feeling a little down on our job and allow this soldier to receive some care packages from people at home that care is truly a great sight to see. With that I am going to close this letter and just remember everything that you do is very much appreciated and once again, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!"

Spc Daniel
"I would also like give you a special THANK YOU for the recent present of the gloves that you sent to us. Steve gave me the second pair and they are great THANK YOU VERY MUCH!"

"We are coming home safe because of you. Not me.....YOU! I can only train and mentor them to fight in combat. You provided them with hope. You gave us the presence of mind to know that someone back home cares. It has been a long year for us. We are fatigued mentally and physically. But I wish you could see the joy in my men's faces. As they talk of how someone from OMN mailed them a card or box of goodies. I can't give them that; only you can, and you did. You are, truly, a great American. Please express to everyone on your team and staff how grateful I am for your contributions. I can't begin to imagine what life would have been like without OMN, nor do I want to know."

"First of all I just want to thank you for the packages. The cookies and brownies were great. I would have wrote sooner but I have been really busy. I was gone from base for 2 weeks and when I got back we just kept going on mission...For the most part the people seemed to like us here. The kids run up to our trucks waving and beg for food. They just want what we have.The Iraqi army is coming along. I see more of them on the roads lately. I will see you hopefully when I get home. Thanks."

"My name is Matthew *****and I am writing you to thank you for your care packages. my soldiers and I love receiving them. they brighten up our days,  I encourage you to continue to do your work for the soldiers that will be taking my place... take care and God Bless"

"Thank you so much for what you are doing. I am having soldiers coming up to me all the time and thanking me for what you are doing. It is like Christmas every time that they get a package. This really means a lot to these Soldiers.

Thanks again"

"Hello! I would first like to apologize that it has taken me this long to reply to you. I am so glad that you sent me your email address so that I could thank you for the care packages that you have sent. I am the world's worst about sitting down and writing letters. This is a lot easier for me. 

We are on the backside of our second deployment to Iraq, and hopefully we will be home before the Super Bowl this year. It has been a long 8 months so far in Iraq, but at the same time it has went by quickly because of the operation tempo that we have had. A lot of what people see in the media doesn't show the good things that go on around here. They never mention the Blackhawk helicopters that fly over and drop soccer balls to the awaiting children below. I very rarely see on the news American soldiers shaking hands with locals as we do often, and you only occasionly hear about the schools and hospitals that we have help to build so that the Iraqi population can get back on their feet. So rest assured that our mission here is not in vain. Yes we have an enemy here, and we take the fight to the enemy when we have to. But that is only part of our mission in winning the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people.

You have asked what I would like to receive in the packages that you have sent. Well I am not a very picky person, so anything that you send will be great. I enjoy the Conservation Volunteer magazines that you have sent, and love the fruit punches that have come with the packages. If I had only one request it would be more reading material. Anything such as Popular Mechanics or Popular Science that you see laying around other peoples home would be wonderful.

Once again thank you for what you are doing in supporting this fight on terrorism. I look forward to hearing from you very soon."

"Hi I just wanted to write and tell you how much it means to know that people out there care about what my husband does. It has meet the world to him to receive the packages from your group. Tim has been in the army for 18 years this is his 2ND deployment to Iraq it has been really hard on him to be away from all of his family. His day just gets better when you receives a gift from you and he knows that people are thinking about what he has to do and they care. I just wanted to tell you Thank you again for your support and to keep up all the wonderful work you are doing. It makes a big impact on all the lives of all the soldiers who receive your gifts it tells them that they matter and someone cares about them. Thank you.

Jennifer."

"Hi this is Emily. I would like to tell you what my husband said, my husband is the 1sg with the HHC, and he said thanks to you and the program, the soilders morale is deffinitly boosted and they are constantly recieving mail and boxes with words of encouragement and ww would basically like to say thanks.~Emily"

"I just want you to know that I am so thankful that you are helping Steve & all the soldiers of the 70th Engineer Battalion!

They all loved the girl scout cookies you sent. Of course they're not all eaten up yet, but they put sure have put a dent in them, so to speak.

I am so grateful to have a friend like you who is giving so much of your own time and energy to help him out. Let alone all the other soldiers you're helping out in all the planning and organizing of the fundraisers and packaging parties. You are truly one of a kind."

"Your treats were divine and the movies entertaining. So you are part of the MN Nice prgram huh? That is really cool of you. You have been a realy blessing to all of us and especially our stomachs. We have a tiny base out in the middle of no where actually. As foar as our free time goes we watch movies and eat licorice and giummi bears. Movies are always a sure winner if you are ever wondering what you can send. They would have to be dvds though seeing as how all we have is small portable dvd players that can hook up to a tv. And everyone knows that nothing goes better with movies than licorice and gummi bears hehehehe. Well I have to get going now, 14 hour shifts don't leave a lot of free time. But I wanna thank you again for all you have done and I am very grateful."

"Hi, I'm Michelle...the one you sent a couple care packages to. I just
wanted to say thanks so much for the support, it means more than you can
imagine. I must say, the milk was a great idea. The only milk we get here
is from goats. Needless to say, I don't drink it..."

"I am station here in (Toji - I think I can't read his writing). I have recently received your package and truly appreciate your support . People like yourself are one of the best things soldiers have over here. I just wanted to make certain you knew how appreciative I am for your selflessness."

"Hello!! I recently received a care package in the mail....which is unusual because I never get mail....so I was like....I don't know these people....what is going on! MAIL! Whoo hoo! I wanted to say thank you very much. I don't think that is good enough. Ok...I don't have the words to thank you for the care package, it was really really cool!"

"CAN''T SAY HOW MUCH YOUR CARE PACKAGES HELP OVER HERE. SO THANKS FIVE TIMES OVER FOR THAT."

"Didn't expect all that but this is just great. moral levels should come up, (they did last time) smiles on several faces. I don't think people know, when we get motavating packages in the mail like that we leave the base feeling prouder than we did the day before, not forgotten, full of pride, we feel like a respected soldier. people we don't know send us stuff to make it better ( for the most part it isn't about the stuff, it's the fact that we still have support.) so thanks a bunch for all of that."

"The purpose of any package sent is apparent in an email received from Ben, and also what he mentioned in our conversation today. Being in contact with Denise, he has relayed to the "guys" they will be receiving packages from complete strangers. Not having received their packages yet, but knowing they're coming, the soldiers walk with a lighter step, heads held a bit higher, and smiles more often than usual. When they leave base, they leave prouder and more confident, knowing people they don't know are thinking of them, and care enought to spend their hard earned money on "little old them".

"just want to let you know right away(what your doing is by far the best thing any old friend,or person for that matter has done for the guys and myself.)see smiles when we roll out on mission again,it's like we all have something to look forward to. kind of weard guys keep smiling at me when I come around, (starting to think there gay.) just want to say thanks."

"Thanks, for taking time out of your busy day to keep my spirits up!”

"hi i am spc wise i received your package it was very nice thank you
i am from west virgnia i am 22 i am married my wifes name is amber we have a son who is 1year 4 mounths old
it is a great thing you do sending packages to us it is great to have the support of others out side of the family”

"I want to thank you with all of my heart, For your support and worries, Especially the prayers. thank you also very much for the gifts.”

"Denise I can't repeat enough , how in awe I am of you and your adoptees ! When reading your kind words of me, a thought went through my mind I wanted you to pass on to the other adoptees. Just as my mothers heart is touched by those helping where I am not able to do so, each and every one of those soldiers they have adopted, is someones son, brother, or husband. They are bringing peace and love to many more hearts than just mine or their soldiers!"