Hawaiian Shirts For Deployed Soldiers
Some non profits come about in some strange ways! For Army mother, Gwen Pollard, her non profit Hawaiian Shirts For Deployed Soldiers is a great example of that. What started as sending a few shirts has rather quickly turned into a huge morale boosting non profit sending free Hawaiian shirts to deployed units all over the world. Join us as we discuss how this all unfolded and the huge impact they have made on morale.
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Transcript from Episode 28 with Gwen Pollard:
Keith McKeever 0:02
Welcome to the battle buddy podcast with Keith McKeever. Welcome back to another episode of the battle buddy podcast. This is my first experience interviewing a military mom. And we all know we love it. When we're deployed, we get a package for mom, there's nothing like it, you never know what's gonna be in it. This particular Mom took things to a whole new level. She sent a care package with Hawaiian shirts and it but I'll let her tell that story. I've got Gwen Pollard here. Gwen, welcome to the podcast. I appreciate you, Carla. Thank you, thank you. Go ahead and share your story of what what your nonprofits doing and how it all started in your journey.
Gwen Pollard 0:44
Okay, my son was deployed with the army, the 100, and first Airborne Division in 2017. And so they went overseas to a scary place. And I was very worried he had been deployed before, but not anything like this. And he doesn't usually ask for anything. But what he told me was he came out on base wearing a Hawaiian shirt and a straw hat. And all the guys laughed. I thought it was hilarious. And so he reached out to let me know that they arrived safely and that they were on base. And he said, Can you send a few Hawaiian shirts, he said, I wore one. And all the guys thought it was so funny. And he's this real tense over here. And he said, We haven't got started working yet. But it kind of helped break the ice. So my buddies wanted some. And so I said, Yeah, I can do that. And you don't have to be new, just go to the Goodwill or clean out a closet, just send us a few, we think it'd be great. And so I thought, okay, I can definitely do that. And as the day went on, I was remembering that he told me there were about 300 in his group, the base that they were on had probably around 1000 people, but his group that were coming on, were about 300. So um, I thought, wouldn't it be great if I could get people to help me and we would collect 300 shirts. And that would be amazing. I was surprising, man, that would be amazing. And I work in the medical field. So one of the respiratory therapists that I work with said, I think that you should add a thank you note to each of those shirts. And I thought, well, that's a great idea, too. So that's what we'll do. And people from my own work started dropping off Hawaiian shirts. And then the hospital put it on their Facebook page and their Instagram page, and it got a little more attention. And some of the local news stations started reaching out, say, we'll help spread the word so you can get these Hawaiian shirts. And before I knew it, and went viral, I was doing interviews all across the United States. I'm from Easley, South Carolina, if you can tell by my accent, and I'm trying to interview with people in California and New York, and the word just went out like crazy. So the first 300, we were able to get rather quickly. And I thought that would be a great project. And it was done a great story, but the Hawaiian shirts kept coming in. And before I can even let people know that we already have enough Hawaiian shirts, we're done. Soldier started reaching out to my Facebook page and saying, Hey, I'm deployed, can our unit get some some of those Hawaiian shirts, or a mom or dad or maybe a wife, our husband said, Hey, I got someone deployed, and we would love to surprise them and their group with wine shirts, and as well, okay, so I was winging it the whole time. I'm just winging it. We created the Facebook page.
My stepdaughter, Lauren, her name is Lauren Giltrap. He said, I can create a Facebook page for you. And she came over, she's grown married, she spent the night with me. And we just sat on my back porch. And we created this Facebook page because she knew exactly how to do it. And we waited about two o'clock in the morning. And that first light lit up and we were high five, and we were so happy. And it grew so quickly. So soldiers kept asking, Can we be included? So I started just making a list. And I thought, well, we'll just include the ones until we run out of white shirts. But the white shirts kept coming in. So on the Facebook page, I think every person if you sent something in for our soldier, I would send a thank you and I'd post what you sent and people were loving it. And people started sending boxes of snacks too. So we started sending. We came up with a number 120 120 shirts per troop, and two boxes of snacks and an extra so the extras would have luau decor or snacks or playing cards are just fun. Just a two boxes of random fun stuff, and eight boxes of shirts, which is 120. And we just kept sending them out week after week after week. And so far, I've never run out of Hawaiian shirts and I've never run out of soldiers asking that's been four and a half years. And so as of right now we're almost at 29,000 Hawaiian shirts been sent overseas to our soldiers and Every branch so it can be Marines. It can be Air Force, Army vessel, I was Army. So any anybody even Navy we have pictures on our Facebook page of just big Navy ships full of soldiers are full of Navy men in their Hawaiian shirts. And it really really boosts morale. And it's just grown and grown and grown. And I'm really proud of I'm proud of America for doing this, doing something to help take care of our soldiers and our, all of our military members who are over there fighting and doing, putting their life on the line for us. So it's just a small thing to thank them. It's something so out of the blue, it's something so different. They can take out those military issued uniforms and put on something fun and crazy and something they wouldn't normally wear. But um, it's just something that kind of, lets them laugh together, hang out together, have fun. And it reminds them that we are thinking about them over there. They're thanking notes that the pockets, let them know, Hey, you're important to us. We appreciate you.
Keith McKeever 6:01
Yes, that's awesome. And the moment I first heard about what you guys did from Britt, I was like, Yeah, bring somebody Gwen's contact information, because I definitely want to connect, because this is so cool. And I think back, I told you this the other day that when I deployed both both times, I, I don't think my chain of command, they would have thrown a fit with Hawaiian shirt. So it's awesome that that, that there's been a change there and that leadership, realize that, hey, just let let the guys and gals do their thing. Let him throw on the Hawaiian shirt. Let them have fun, right? Because morale is very hard to get when you're in certain places, and just five minutes and having a shirt on and kind of letting your hair down a little bit can make a big difference, you know, for your mental health and everything. So it's really cool. Which what you're doing. And
Gwen Pollard 6:56
once elder said that even when they weren't allowed to wear them overseas, they would drape them around their chairs. And so they had this lamp lined up chairs, oh, Hawaiian shirt, so their chairs are decorated. So it was always a little something that made them smile. So they were they put them in their visual sight so that they could see them even when they weren't wearing them. Would just by hearing that, let me know. It means something, it means a lot to them. And so um, yeah, you need to help boost morale, if we can do it with Hawaiian shirts, and let's do it with white shirt.
Keith McKeever 7:27
Yeah, you never know what's gonna work. And the craziest part about your story? Is it just like everything just happened? It just kind of fell in your lap. It just happened. You rolled with it. And you told me the other day, I don't know if it's changed, but you were at 28,540 shirts.
Gwen Pollard 7:41
Get Rich, quick for right.
Keith McKeever 7:43
So you're quickly approaching 30,000. So I want to know, what is 30,000 mean for you, when you sit there and think that you're you're on the verge of that you'll hit it before you know it? What?
Gwen Pollard 7:55
Before this airs, we'll probably already 40,000 Exactly. I think about what I think of 30,000 I kind of do this every time we hit another monumental 1000 We count them by the 1000s. So we celebrate by the 1000s. And every time I hit a new 1000 Mark. I always just like picture, like a football stadium. And I always wonder like, if I could fill that stadium with a number of heroes, male, female, everybody in the Hawaiian shores? What would that look like? I always think of it just like a football game. But just like the stadium full of all the soldiers and all the the Navy man, the airmen, the Marines, all the people that we reached, I just would love to see a whole sea of people that we've reached. That's what I think about and that's this is growing and growing and growing. It started with just a little handful. And from there just a little bit more. And I just in my mind, I picture that stadium, the stadium seating growing and getting fuller and fuller and fuller. And that's just the people that um, that we've reached everyone across America who pitches in to help we've done that, and it makes me proud.
Keith McKeever 9:05
Definitely, that's that's an awesome thing for people just to see that and just go out and get shirts and send them in and do their thing. And football stadium is interesting way of looking at it too, because every stadium is going to be different. But I mean, you've you've basically filled a third of the football stadium. Yeah, with the shirts over over the years, which is just incredible. So but you you told me the other day, too, that you had one big box that you got from a certain individual, very high profile individuals a high profile company. We share that story with us.
Gwen Pollard 9:36
Yes, I'll talk about that. Every day, almost every day. There are boxes that show up on my porch. And they're normally from people individuals across America, who just found a few at a Goodwill or a consignment shop. Some of them come by Amazon or new stores. And some of them they clean out closets. And that's what I'm used to seeing and they're usually medium sized boxes. This particular day, there was a huge box like it, I thought it looked like an appliance would fit in. And I was wondering what in the world it was. So when I opened it, I noticed that each shirt inside was new. And like I said, we do get new shirts, but not usually this many at one time, because they were all packaged individually. And I started pulling them out and the pile of shirts, it filled the whole room, the box was so heavy, I could hardly pick it up. And I noticed that the price tag was pretty high on the shirts. And I started noticing something else, they all had the same thing. And they were all Disney Pixar movie characters, all the animated movies. Now, I thought this is really cool, because I think those guys would love this the guys and girls ever sees, would love they could pick their favorite movie that they liked. And the more I kept going through the box actually has two boxes that happen twice. And I started seeing more and more and more of these movies. And then there was a Disney Pixar tote bag in there for me. And then it was just a little sticky note that just said like, I'm really proud of what you're doing like thank you for what you're doing for Ed Catmull. And I didn't know who that was. But I said I've kind of look him up right now. This is it because this is a lot of money. And these shirts are all brand new, pristine. They're all like size, medium, and larges and extra larges, the sizes I like to send overseas. And that was just like, the most amazing donation. So I looked his name up on the internet. And I was shocked. He is the former president of Disney Pixar Animation Studios. And they were sent out out of California. And I was so shocked and thrilled that someone like him of his caliber had saw my mission somehow, and or someone shared it mostly it's word of mouth, or people are saying just check this out. It's really cool. And the fact that he did check it out, and took the time to go into one of his stores and clean the stores out. For heroes. That means so much to me.
Keith McKeever 12:01
You know, I think it says a lot about the guys character. I mean, I don't really want him either. But he could have just easily just written a check, or gotten a hold of me and said, Hey, here's some money, you know. Right? That would help. But like, just think about the fact that he claimed to store whatever he did, even if he directed other people to do it and said, Hey, like, this is what we're gonna do. Like, that's a team effort. And that's just just getting things done. Right. Yeah. And what's really needed. So that's, that was an incredible story when you told me that, so I wanted to make sure you shared that one. Yeah,
Gwen Pollard 12:33
that made me a little bit to that story. Um, the soldier that was that I was addressing these boxes, too. So I always have a point soldier, and it's the one who either he signed himself up or hid himself up, or maybe a spouse or parent. So his wife nominated them. And what was so incredible it they were happened to be next. So there's, it's not that I pick certain shirts for certain troops, if you're next, you're getting the next group of shirts that come in. And he was working on their little kids room while he was overseas. She was gonna she was redoing it and repainting everything. And she was doing a Disney thing. And I thought you got to be kidding, I've got to worry about this. She said, Well, they love Toy Story. She sent me pictures of her kids playing with the Toy Story characters. And she said, I'm going to do their own room, all Toy Story. So let me tell you, there are Toy Story shirts in there. So make sure he gets one make sure he grabs that one. And he did. So they were able to send back a picture. And he had the Toy Story shirt on. And his whole trip was dressed like that it was so cool. And it just so happened that it went to a soldier who had little kids who loved Disney. So it's perfect
Keith McKeever 13:47
was a coincidence and then there's that story for the kid as they get older too, especially if they continue to like Disney or whatever. And there's a dad you know, and white shirts with got, you know, with all Disney characters on it and so perfect. All those different things you can do for the kids. I mean, kid might end up wearing that someday. So you know, that's that's incredible. He also told a story to me the other day about some of these guys and gals coming back through it come back to Germany and you had somebody in Germany reach out to you was like, Hey, what's going on? Why are all why am I seeing all these Hawaiian shirts?
Gwen Pollard 14:23
Yeah, Dad, I had a message and I'm new. So checking my messages. And they're almost all the same. It's either. So a donators asking a question about something they're about to stand or asking if I receive something, or the 90% Or can I be a part of this? Can we sign up our troops? And this one was a particularly different question. And it was a it was a transition officer. So he was in Germany, and a lot of the troops came back through his program before they returned to us soil and kind of a transition them back from what they've been seeing and doing And to help them get their mind back straight to come back home. They see a lot. It's not all fun and games over there. So there's a lot that they see. And there's a lot that he has to do his job is very important to help we help in our soldiers. And so he messaged me, and he said, I need to know a little bit about what you're doing. Because I've noticed that the troops that come through my program, who have received your Hawaiian shirts, they are different, their morale is different. And I can tell every single one that there's, they're not just like the other ones, there's something going on, you're doing something, whatever you're doing is working out. And I know, they said it's Hawaiian shirts, tell me about it. So I told him exactly about our Hawaiian shirts, and that each box has a letter in the box, and explains why they're getting them that they were nominated and how that mission started. And each box has 15 shirts apiece, they all had the thank you notes on top of the boxes that are widely like these people send these into, so it looks like a nice gift. And then I'll let them know about the snacks and the extras and the fun things. So it gives them as a party. It's like a party train a box and just a luau. That's on the way. And I said, Why don't you let me send you one box with a little bit of everything in in the box. So you can see. And he said I didn't have to do that. But if I did, he was a large. So I decided that that meant Yeah, go ahead. So I did send him one. And I put a couple, two or three shirts in there for him, and some snacks and some fun, Hawaiian leis and some decorations and things like that he'll kind of get an idea. It's really just a box of silliness. Something fine. And it helps I had a soldier once tell me that he he and his battle buddies were starting to not get along very well. I think they're just getting on each other's nerves over there. Just a lot of a lot of pressure. Yeah, I mean, they know anxiety is high, and they're getting on each other's nerves. And he said, that had gotten to a pretty bad point. And when our shorts arrived, he said, they couldn't help but laugh. And he said, of course, they had started talking to each other and laughing because they had to take pictures together. And they had to joke around. And so it he said it kind of just shook off all the attitude that we had the bad attitude that we have with each other. He said, It melted away. He said, we were doing nothing but smiling and laughing and picking on each other and try it on crazy things. And he said, um, he said, a cat and it got refocused as to he said, we were actually really needed to be refocused. And he said these whiners did it. He said, we were back buddies. Again, we're like smiling, and realizing who we're doing it for. He said, When America reaches out with something like this, to thank them, it reminds them why they're there and who they're doing it for. And it kind of works both both ways. We send it we send them the Hawaiian shirts, because of what they do while they're there. So we appreciate them. And in turn, they were really appreciate what we do for
Keith McKeever 18:03
that day, I can only imagine getting a Hawaiian shirt while deployed. But there's, there's definitely some things to unpack here. Because when you're deployed, you'll have so many people around you, it's the same guys and gals around you all day, every day for months on end. And just well, you know, just like this pandemic, especially in the beginning, when everybody's at home and you're on your family, what happens you start getting annoyed, mad at each other, you love each other, you do anything for each other, but you know, you're frustrated, all these things going on, it's the same thing over there, you have nowhere to go, you have really very little to do. And I've seen parties put together while deployed with a lot less than some white shirts and lace. I mean, you can do some, some repeats and some some good food for the chow hall. And you can call it a party, you know, and that's a far less colorful than white shirts and lace, and good snacks. But there's nothing worse
Gwen Pollard 19:04
or at the at all base. I mean, some bases are better than others. But I mean, you usually know what you're gonna get. Your choices are pretty limited over there. So we try to pick our own favorites in the summertime. I tell people don't send me chocolate, because it's going to melt and if you do, I'm going to carbon skate it and I'm going to take it myself, but in the winter and we just try to just tell people pick out your favorite things. What would you like what if you were if you were sitting around watching TV or hanging out your friends, what would you like just pick it out, pick out your favorites and send them and or pick out your kids favorites because sometimes even the kid favorites are really good too. They like that. Just pick out what you like and send that to me and I'll get that over season. Actually this past weekend or this past week. My daughter and I pulled out all my drawers that have a big big totes that have all the snacks so we did some rotating and moving things around. Make sure nothing goes on and make it serve weeks. Keep it rotated and in date, and so we just want to make sure that they get the best product and stuff that they sell that they enjoy something that makes them smile.
Keith McKeever 20:10
Yeah, it's good. Good point is Cincin What's your kids? Like for candy? Because I mean, half the troops that are deployed are just big kids anyway.
Gwen Pollard 20:22
I think it's true. I mean, I've meant so much to him. And he has never asked for much ever. Um, when he asked for that, I thought, well, I guess I can go to Goodwill. org. And then, of course, I can go to Goodwill, and get some shirts, I can ask other people. And so you're right. I mean, you know, do that and, and send them snacks. I sent him snacks the whole time, he was over there. Always getting boxes, I tried to every every few, you know, two or three weeks in them a big him a big box. But um, but when the Hawaiian shirts arrived over there, they were loving it. So that was a big treat for even his commander, his wife told me that she reached out and said that he was he got two or three shirts. And he was wearing them every day that he could, and he absolutely loved them.
Keith McKeever 21:11
Yeah, that's, that's, I think that's the best part is the leadership buy in? You know, they face it, there's some leaders that could just put their foot down and be like, Nope, you're not doing it, or here's where you can, you can't do it, whatever. But for leaders just kind of, hey, let your hair down, let your guys let them get some morale. Sometimes,
Gwen Pollard 21:33
once a commander said no. So I had to take them off the list that made me sad. Um, but then I also had a commander who actually the commanders, the ones who are reaching out now, a lot of the commanders are, but before I had a commander tell his his whole all of them that they could not receive any more clothing items. And he named a lot of things that you couldn't receive the area to me packages are getting too many, I guess. And he told him no, no more, no more clothing items, you're gonna wear your uniforms. And then my contact soldier said, Well, I signed us up for Hawaiian shirts for deployed soldiers. And they're like, what is that? And so he's willing to be for everyone. And it'll be a few weeks before they come because I've got to wait till I get to the top of the list. But they're gonna send white shirts with thank you notes, and they're gonna be enough for everyone. He's okay, that can we can do that. So he let me let him let me do that. So that oh, that were pretty cool. I try to encourage everybody. So if I can, and I let them know, there's not enough, let me know. And I'll try to squeeze another box into you really quickly. But usually, what we see in covers everybody. And just like,
Keith McKeever 22:45
just like kids, you know, with candy. Like if you don't have enough to share, can you get it?
Gwen Pollard 22:51
Tell me the truth before us left all your boxes, and we saw some of your letters, they explain what you're doing, but doesn't leave any shirts. So and I said, I'll tell you, I'll put that soldier on the list so they could get some for their group.
Keith McKeever 23:08
That's awesome. That's awesome. So what would you say? Is been like the biggest surprise in this journey? Because you've been doing this? What would you say? Four and a half years, something like that?
Gwen Pollard 23:20
Market? We thought March of 2022 will be five years. Ooh, another big milestone to celebrate? Yeah, that's a big one. I mean, I can't believe it's been five years. So um, I guess? Um, well, obviously, I didn't expect it to grow like this. I mean, it started immediately growing, started locally growing so that I remember when I first got shirts in and that before I knew it, I'd done. I've done a few interviews with the news and, and some radio stations and left the shirts laying out. So by the time I got through with interviews, I had about 600 shirts that needed to be rolled and had noted. And so I don't know if I'm just crazy, I guess I am a little bit because I put it out on the page. I'm going to have a Hawaiian shirt rolling party. If you want to come here's my dress come to my house on Saturday, and hung Hawaiian shirts outside of the house. I had it set up to where when people came in, there was a table it was a station and had someone there saying this is how you army roll a shirt. And they did the demonstration table and then you went from there with a basket of shorts and a basket of notes. And you found another place to sit and rolled a Euro Hawaiian shirts and people showed up. I knew everybody but a few there were a few people showed up that didn't even I never met him. That was fun. local pizza place two brothers pizza fed everyone for free. They had pizzas for everyone and local Coca Cola probiotic, drink some of soft drinks for everyone. So everyone just the community really pitched in. And from there, once it went viral, other communities pitched in, and other people started having their own fundraisers, barefoot resort in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, they have a huge benefit every year for this mission, we have a group that I'd like to call team Tucson in Arizona, they have drop off boxes that so many local businesses, and they will set a goal and, and they'll reach their goal, their goal right now is 300 shirts, and they're almost there. And that's I'm expecting to get a huge load of shirts, and sometime by the end of this month or first of next month, because when they set a goal, they reach it. So it's not just here, where I live in Easley, South Carolina, it's all over the United States. Even in Hawaii, they've had a couple of benefits two or three benefits in Hawaii, different lunches or dinners or things that people would bring their Hawaiian shirts or donate financial funds to help ship them overseas. So America loves their military members. And I have found that out through this mission and the days that I'm tired, and I don't want to do it, I just think about everyone else who's helping to pitch in how much it means. And we get those pictures back the photos of our heroes wearing those Hawaiian shirts, and the smiles, literally, you can click on any picture and just zoom in and it will melt your heart, you know, you're making a difference. So, um, I think just how he just gotten it's gotten and how much they need it, and how much people actually needed a way to think our heroes. They were just looking for what they didn't realize that. And we found this crazy way. And so many people jumped on board.
Keith McKeever 26:35
Yeah, people people know that on both sides. And I think it's also great that you know, we have just left Afghanistan, not not getting political or anything. But, you know, that was 20 years that we were there, just shy. And, you know, I think as time rolled on, it was a little bit more forgotten. I hate to use that term. But to know that you are out there, and this just happened. And we still had troops deploy in and they're still being taken care of. And they're still getting care packages. I was in in the in the middlee 2000s. Where I mean, I I got a lot of care packages. Definitely never got any Hawaiian shirts, but I got my fair share of beef jerky and Girl Scout cookies, which Yeah, yeah, couldn't complain about
Gwen Pollard 27:23
that our Hawaiian shirts were the only thing that he got. And it was his seventh tour. And no one ever sent him anything. And I don't know why. But he said that this was the first time he got open something in the mail. So it does, and, and when COVID hit, so everything was shutting down to my numbers, my Hawaiian shirt numbers dropped, but they didn't stop. So what I did for COVID If people sent in Hawaiian shirts, I got them packaged and ready, but I let I box them up and let them sit for a month, a whole month. So that I mean, just to make sure safety was and these heroes were getting their their stays extended because they couldn't come home or they were quarantined. And so we made it happen during quarantine just by holding on to the search longer, and box them up and letting them mean, they were safe, but just wanted to double check, make sure that they stayed lockstep for about a month here. And then by the time they reached the soldiers, that was a long time, they were fine. And they were so thing extra thankful, during the height of COVID. Because they were like, Thank you, thank you so much, because people aren't getting out. They're not sending us anything. And we understand why. But we really appreciate this, our morale is awful right now. So this really helps us so that that helped them a lot. So that made me feel like that we've done a something really big, you're in a really hard time for America. So that wasn't something else to be really proud of during that time.
Keith McKeever 28:58
Yeah, that would have been a heck of a time to be deployed, you know, yeah, of all of those fears. And, obviously, today, their access to information and the internet is so much greater than it was for me 20 years ago, but however long it's been but you know, to see all that that's going into the war going on in the world, but then you have to think about that yourself. Right? Because you can get out of it while being deployed and being around people. But the admission you got to say
Gwen Pollard 29:29
they would get COVID And they would have to quarantine away from the others and what happened with my troops is you know, you did your best to not spread it but it happens especially because they're all right together. And it can end in their stay overseas and it kept extending it and extended it so what happened was a lot of these soldiers he thought they were coming home in like may they weren't coming home until August or September. So that really, really put a hurt on morale.
Keith McKeever 29:58
Yeah, that really sucks. There's Nothing worse than getting extended. One of my two deployments was extended. We were there about an extra two months. Now different circumstances, but still, it's just like, ah, yeah. Well, from the moment you put your boots on the ground, you're looking at the calendar, and you're like, I got so many months or now so many days, weeks, whatever. And you get down to the end, and you're like, Oh, sure. Yeah. Yeah. Got no choice. Let's just add an extra 60 days on that. No. What's an extra 60 days or whatever? So on that?
Gwen Pollard 30:31
Awful so they those, those teams really needed something special, something else to help them out? For sure.
Keith McKeever 30:38
Yeah, it's even worse when you're, you know, you're so round so many people day in, day out. And then I can't imagine a quarantine like, oh, well, now I'm sitting in my room with nothing to do. And no, I Oh, comforts from home, no tick, well, you might have a TV. If we had TVs back in the day, I don't know where they got them. But we had two people with some TVs and some PlayStation
Gwen Pollard 30:59
two, and then they would literally try to sell them to the troupe coming in, even though they didn't buy it to begin with. But if you wanted in your in your orders, there's not many so that, yeah, I love that.
Keith McKeever 31:13
I remember going 5050 with a buddy of mine on my first deployment for mini fridge and a microwave. And the the guys that were on a roast rotation ahead of me that were in my room, there was supposed to be 10 of us, there's only nine of us in there. They had a TV and a PlayStation. And I didn't really play that much. I had my laptop and stuff but but it was free for anybody to play as long as you know, first come first serve. At the moment, I bought that mini fridge and that microwave, I mean, there was popcorn being popped in there constantly. Soups when I went to whatever they had like two lanes in it right? Gas stations in America have more stuff than they had. But then we would have cases in cases of water. And it was just a running rule in our room. Like you take a water bottle out of the fridge you pop one back in there you always always cold water and air were one off
Gwen Pollard 32:02
thought and the people he he shared because quarters with so even he would say later because I was fiddling with plenty more just things that even weren't related to white shirts, his buddies would come in and say you get a package from your mom today. Because I knew I'd have a bag or some gotta all blow something crazy to send them to help pass the time.
Keith McKeever 32:21
There is no doubt about it word spreads very fast when you're deployed, who has the mom that likes to send gifts? Everybody knows. And then use like, Oh, this is dig way back in my memory bank. But I know like, if somebody was expecting something like Girl Scout cookies, or something that you couldn't get on base, and they'd like, oh, you know, hey, I know my mom or, or this guy's wife ascended something, whatever is packaged for everybody. It was like so when it's coming? Where's it you know? How long did she send it yet? Like everybody's looking forward to next time you're on it to get that package it, you know, hey, I want my popcorn or go package Girl Scout cookies. Like it's, I just want three Thin Mints. You know? I live for the small things that so we'll go ahead and get this wrapped up a little bit. But I got I got two final questions for you. Right for anybody who's listening to this or who ends up watching it. First of all, Hawaiian shirts for deployed soldiers.org is a website is scrolling at the bottom. It'll be in the in the YouTube description as well. So that's a place you can go you've got a Facebook page as well. So just look for them on Facebook. But how can somebody help? Like if they're interested? They're inspired by this and they want to shirts money, whatever, what's what's a way they can help?
Gwen Pollard 33:37
Okay, that's, uh, it does we do depend on donations that people send in. So when if thought, then we stop. So the main thing, obviously, is the wine shirts. So I suggest first go dig in the back of grandpa's calls that are dead calls it and chances are you're going to find them. They don't have to be new, I do ask that the buttons beyond them and they'll be clean and send them in. You don't have to Army roll them, you can. But I'll do that you can. And it's kind of fun to go on a scavenger hunt to go to these consignment shops to look, you can you can buy the new you can order them on Amazon, you can. Anywhere you want to find a white shirt. That's the main thing that we seen. Or if you are not able to do that, sit down and write a few thank you notes. And literally just something very small, something short with those in the pocket. And all you really have to say is that we're proud of you. We're thinking about you. We're praying for you. We appreciate what you do just something short. And I will pair that with a one shirt that comes in. You can pick up some of the ladies back here that you say we have a lot on hand right now. But we're at the store. You're at the grocery store or Walmart or Sam's. You know, just pick up some snacks, something that you would like what would you Like you're watching TV or sitting around, hanging out, pick up some of those snacks, and send those in, we run out of the snacks rather quickly. And, or a pack of playing cards, you know, just some blow up beach balls, some water balloons, anything that small I do, we do send them in standard size APO boxes, so nothing huge, I wouldn't be able to send it overseas, and also shipping donations. If it weren't for people sitting in the shipping donations, this mission would stop it cost me around $11,000 a year, just just the postage, to send the boxes overseas. So sometimes that boosts up, and we're doing really good. If it boosts up a lot, I will send out more than one trip a week, or averages one trip a week, you can do that by sending a check in the address is on the Facebook page. And it's on the website as well. And people also use Venmo or PayPal, and that information you can find on both of those places as well.
Keith McKeever 36:05
Awesome. So I got a follow up question on that. One is your local post office done any updates to their building, put a build new building in, you know, one of your provider, the Postal Service?
Gwen Pollard 36:19
Well, they did end up on my Christmas list. So they, I usually get them a little something for Christmas. Um, they know if I know if I show up at a certain time and they're really busy, I usually allow a few people go ahead of me. And they know I'm coming. Whenever I'm working, they know that I'm there on Saturday, which kind of makes it hard because I have a local post office is really small. And it's only open it literally from 10 o'clock to 1130 is an hour and a half. So at the very end of that maybe 1115 Let every person go ahead and be on those days. And I hate to hold them over a little bit. But they usually know when I'm coming. And they know me by name, they know the troops, they check me in really quick. And I know it's extra work for them. And I know that people have to stand in line a little bit longer behind me. And if I feel like someone's getting a little aggravated, I'll hand them a card, I'll tell them what I'm doing. But our post office, our employees there, they know why I'm doing it. And they I think they're just as excited that that has grown so much. So I know that it's extra work for them, but they see the bigger picture. So they're proud,
Keith McKeever 37:30
I'm sure they don't care at all, you know, knowing what the mission is, I mean, how can you? How can you be upset for staying at work an extra 2030 minutes to make a mission like that happen? King can't be mad. So if you see people align, like I'd be, hey, if I was in line behind you and be like, Can I help you? And we take whatever, what do you need? What
Gwen Pollard 37:53
we'll say? What are you selling? Are you selling something? And I'm, I'm not? And I tell them why and a couple of people who just randomly asked me, What are you doing? ended up speaking at their church or at their, their meeting at the country club. So it's kind of a nice place to meet people. Many people want seeing me, but if they do, I'll tell them and, and they and I give them a business card. So they like to hear the story. And that post office has gotten me a few speaking engagements. So I don't mind talking to people online while I'm waiting.
Keith McKeever 38:29
And I'd be the smart ass I would kind of fire back with, you know, I'm just telling extended car warranties.
So, so the troops that are that are getting deployed, want to get on this list, you know, how can how can we reach out to you for that? How does, how does it do that?
Gwen Pollard 38:49
The easiest way is through the Facebook page, there's a message button and you can send me a message, you can also send it through the website, which will go straight to my email, and in both ways reach me just as quickly I can just respond back and forth. I can find your message quicker on Facebook, then I can my email because that drops a lot faster. But um just know if you if they reach out that my waiting list now is into February. So again, we I do this out of my home. I do this at my kitchen table. And people from all across America just keep me loaded up. So I don't it's not a storefront. It's not a huge business. It's basically our this is something else I do. So it is not you know it's once a week. So occasionally I can do more than once a week. But right now it's once a week. And so we can only take one trip a week. So right now it's into February. So the best thing to do is make sure that you reach out early on in your deployment. So that if you do have to wait two or three months, or even longer sometimes then we're sure to get you I don't want to miss a true I do want to Then while they're overseas, I know there are a lot of support groups for soldiers once they come home, and before they leave. So our mission focuses on deployment while you're deployed. So I do try to send only to those who are deployed overseas. And so just get on early. And if you do, then chances are you'll you can, you can get on the list. And other things I do suggest is, you reach out and you're you don't have much time on your deployment, but you do know that the truth is coming in to take your place. had put their information on the list, or have them contact me and in turn, have them save you a shirt. So that's worked out pretty good, too. So yeah,
Keith McKeever 40:45
awesome. That's awesome. Yeah, that's a that's this is just such an amazing thing for the troops. I, I can't, I can just keep saying it, but it just blows my mind still, you know. Like, like I said, earlier, I would have, I would have loved to have had that little morale boost, and many points during during my deployment. So troops that are out there, you know, if you're about to deploy, get yourself on the list, spread the word. But most importantly, you know, if you want to give and donate, there's, there's always a need there, right? There's a list to February. So let's get some of these sped up, let's get some things. So I challenge everybody to kind of do what they do what they can to help. I know, I'll be looking out for some white shirts, if I find you said, medium and large are the best.
Gwen Pollard 41:38
Well, um, medium, large and extra large are the most popular, okay, and I've noticed that some people have seen ladies, Our Lady soldiers, they like them ensures they tie them at their waist, and the lady shirts are not that popular. And the super extra, like three and 4x that most of our soldiers are not three and 4x. We do have a few that are big guys, but um, the most popular sizes are large and extra large.
Keith McKeever 42:05
That definitely makes sense. So well, Gwen, I really appreciate it, you got any final words that you that you want to leave us with?
Gwen Pollard 42:12
Well, um, I guess what I want to say is that our mission, our motto is together, we are mighty. And, and it just goes back to show, you know, when I did this, when I started this, even the 300 shirts I could not have done by myself. And, um, but if someone helped me, I could have reached the 300 100. And so I asked and, and that happened. And so we continue to grow. And that's just, that's the whole thing is, maybe we can't do but a little bit at a time, maybe you can only do one shirt. Or maybe you can just do a couple of bags of snacks. Or maybe you can just sit down and write a few thank you notes. But you know what, together, we are mighty. So if we all work together, and we all contribute a little bit, we can make this mission incredible, which we have. And we continue to do. And so we're looking for more people, come be on the team, if you donate one thing, your own thing. So that's um, love to have more help. So that would be great. Because you know, give our regulars are a little bit of a break. And you will be amazed what it does for your own heart. When you send that Hawaiian shirt and include your kids. Let them know what you're doing. Let them draw a picture for soldier and let them go with you when you mail that to me and let them be a part of the process. Because I'm learning to be thankful and helping others encouraging lifting people up. Teach them while they're young. And this whole world can use a lot more positivity. And if you're thankful for somebody let them know.
Keith McKeever 43:45
Awesome, awesome. Well hang out for a second. I'm going to throw up the ending video here where people can. They're watching they can figure out where to listen, because I got a couple more questions for you offline. I appreciate it. I'll see you here in just a minute.
Gwen Pollard 44:00
All right, thanks.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
