Postal Shoppe owner, Larry Hinkle knows what it's like to be deployed overseas during the holidays. The retired Army veteran says, "you don't have a telephone to pick up and call, you don't have a computer to log onto."

So that's why Hinkle started "Adopt-A-Soldier."  The idea is pretty simple. You come into the shop, pull a local soldiers name from the Christmas tree and send the soldier a care package.
 

Hinkle says, "it's your only contact with the outside world when you're in the combat zone, in a remote area, everything is brought to you."

"Any support that the American people can give just re-assures our soldiers of our commitment to their duty," says Army Captain, Brock Zimmerman.

More than 100 names are hanging on the "Adopt-A Soldier" Christmas tree right now. Hinkle says some of the items soldiers crave are things many of us take for granted, like "crossword puzzles, batteries and junk food."

"When soldiers get things overseas, it gives them a sense of being closer to home," says Zimmerman.

Also, instead of "Adopt-A-Soldier, you can also donate items or money to help pay for the shipping fees.

For the Postal Shoppe, this can amount to more than $3,000. But it's a cost that many say is well worth it.

Zimmerman says, "we have soldiers overseas that are sacrificing any single day, anywhere from 6 months to a year at a time away from family members."

Hinkle remembers those stretches away from family all too well.  "Care-boxes were the highlight of your day, everytime the Humvee pulled up and the First Sgt. had a care-box with your name on it, it was a good day," says Hinkle.

For more information on how to "Adopt-A-Soldier," call 815-397-7301.