NEWS: SG Community Diary: Pinups for Soldiers

CULTURE: SG Community Diary: Pinups for Soldiers

In the whirlwind of global communication and instant, constant access to current events, it often seems that the only way to cope is apathy. We are so frequently bombarded with depressing stories, hashed out political arguments, and horrific news, that many choose to simply stop paying attention, filtering out what has the potential to dampen one’s mood…
This article is not such a story. Instead, it is the uplifting and interesting account of how Wendy and others in the SG Community have responded to current events with laudable ambition and kindness. Read about the SG Pinups for Soldiers endeavor that organizes shipments of pictures, letters, postcards, and other goods to troops from all over the world. Even if you tend to avoid discussions on the American war and conflict in the Middle East – or, conversely, if those are your favorite topics – read the following interview with Wendy Suicide and see what a fantastic project SG Pinups for Soldiers is. Hopefully you’ll be inspired to help out, too.



-Fatality: How long has the project been running?
Wendy: The project was started about 2 years ago.

-Was there a particular incident or person that inspired you to begin the project?
I saw a program on the local news about communities organizing care packages to send to soldiers stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. I started thinking about the amazing community I have access to: all of the creative women of suicidegirls, and I thought, maybe I can do something like this through the site! I thought that instead of sending beef jerky and socks, let's send pinup photos, SG decks of cards, and other merch to do a little something different and to keep it in line with what the site is all about. Soon after I emailed Missy and she adored the idea...and here we are.

-What happened from there?
It took off pretty quickly, and our first big mailing went out during the holiday season of 2006. We organized it so that any suicidegirl who wanted to participate would send me everything (autographed prints, notes, set photos, etc) and I would make the big packages to send out to each soldier who requested a package. SG Headquarters also sent me SG merchandise to add to each package. The packages ended up being huge, and we sent out so many! The project really grew after our first mailing because of all of the word of mouth that arose from it.

-About how much has been sent out at this point?
As the project has grown, word of mouth has led to soldiers from all over writing to me to request packages. We now have entire units requesting packages, it's pretty crazy. We just did a mailing to over 50 different addresses in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait. I'm not sure how many packages total we have sent out through the project at this point, but It's at least a few hundred.

-What types of things do you send?
The main portion of the packages are the contributions from the suicidegirls who participate. The standard is set photos that have been autographed or have a little note, but girls have gotten creative and taken themed Polaroids, photos specifically for the project, written letters, and other things like that. Staff is also very helpful and are always sending us SG stickers and decks of cards to put in the packages.

-Which countries' troops receive the packages or are they only sent to US soldiers?
The packages go out to soldiers who are stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan mostly, although we recently sent to Kuwait. The soldiers are, for the most part, from the United States but we have also sent packages to soldiers from the UK.

-How many SGs are involved?
The group has 220 suicidegirls in it, but I'd say in general we have around 20 girls participate in each project. Some girls in the group have participated in every mailing we've done so far, and others participate when they have time. We have new girls joining all the time.

-Who are some of the most involved SGs?
Some of the girls like Meow and Ajilee have taken photos specifically for the project which has been really amazing; Sunshine did something similar for our holiday mailing which was really great. Sid has helped out a great deal, and CeCe has been a huge help! Also girls like Pistolita and Sky have contributed some really great stuff. These are just some of the girls who come to mind off the top of my head, I'm sure I'm forgetting a lady or two, but honestly, each lady who participates contributes something special.


-Do you have involvement from any girls or models outside of SG?
Currently the project is only open to suicidegirls and limbo girls.

-Describe the process of getting (and staying involved) to an SG who might be interested.
We have a group here on the site as well as a myspace page. The projects are organized through our group on the site, and everything you need to know is available there! We have threads explaining each step of the process and I as well as the other ladies there are always willing to answer questions. We try to get out a few big mailings each year, and of course always encourage girls to send out mailings on their own in between the big ones. I collect all of the addresses, and other SGs who are given addresses also add them to our list. I encourage all SGs to join and help us out, it's a really important project. So many of our friends, family and loved ones are currently stationed overseas and really love when they get a little something from us.

-About how much do you think the average contributor spends on participating in the
project (for printing or shipping or other costs)?
Costs are really minimal, and girls contribute as much as they can. Sometimes girls only send 4 or 5 prints, and sometimes they send 100. It really all depends on how much people are capable of doing at the time. Adorama offers really cheap bulk printing, girls often order from here and then sign the prints before sending them to me to be packaged. This involves the print order and shipping, and then shipping it to me, and time is very minimal.

-How can members help out?
There are lots of ways in which members can help us out by promoting this project. They can promote it in their blogs, on myspace, and just by spreading the word to friends and family. If members know anyone currently stationed overseas, they can send me APO addresses here on SG or at wendysuicide@yahoo.com, and I will get all addresses added to our shipment list. We try to send out packages every few months.

We are currently getting some banners made by members as well (another way you can help us out!), we posted in both the SG Army and Fan Art group and requested some banners. As soon as we get a few of these, I'd like to put them up on our myspace page so that people can copy the links and also add them to their pages. Adding our myspace to your top 8 would be great as well.



-How has SG staff been involved in the project?
HQ has also helped out a lot by sending me and other girls stuff to add to packages as well as sending out decks of cards to soldiers themselves when I provide them with addresses. ViquiV, Sash, Rigel, and of course Sean and Missy have all been very helpful and incredibly supportive of this project.

-Are any of the people you send to members on SG?
Lots of them! We send to members all the time, and we are always getting new signups from soldiers who have received packages and want to know more about the site. A lot of soldiers get packages because friends and family give me their addresses, so once they get the package in the mail they come to the site and sign up to see more of what it's all about.

-What would you say is the best part of the project?
We get thank you mail all the time, which is amazing. We get lots of emails and messages through myspace saying that soldiers are hanging up the photos all over, putting SG stickers on their tanks, playing cards daily with the SG card decks, and spreading the word to friends. I had no idea that this project would grow to what it is, but I love it, it's a labor of love and I'm so thankful that I have the time to organize it because it's making a lot of people happy.



-Can you tell a particularly touching story?
Actually, something that touched the entire group recently was an email we received from a member of a unit where we sent packages to about 10 soldiers. We were informed that one of the soldiers, who I had actually been communicating with and who provided me with everyone's address, was killed about a month ago. Other soldiers in the unit were injured and going home soon. It just really hit all of us, how important it is to work hard and get these packages out and what these people are actually facing, and where they are. All of the girls in the group were really moved by this story. Our love and prayers are with all of the soldiers who were injured and who lost friends in this attack.

-How politically oriented is the group?
Our group doesn't state any political opinions about the war. The girls who participate in this project (as well as the soldiers in Iraq) have a huge variety of opinions about the war and we keep politics out of the group. We've never had an argument in there, and the girls have always been respectful of each other's views. Some of the members of the group have friends and family currently stationed in Iraq (like Sid, whose husband (member Trevor) is there), and the rest of the ladies all agree that the men and women serving overseas right now could use some pick me ups, some cheer, and some suicidegirls pinups on their walls.

-Plans for expanding or changing the project at all?
I would love to! Every time another girl joins the group we are expanding. As I said before, we're trying to get some banners added to our myspace page to get the word out even more. We are always looking for new ideas and suggestions on how to expand and make this project bigger. I'd love to get it to the point where we have our own page here on SG and a tab on the top! It would also be amazing if members could contribute by buying merch, things like tshirts and having them sent directly to the soldiers. Also if there was a fund they could directly contribute to....I'm always looking for ways to get more people involved and would love if this continues to grow.

Of course, my biggest wish is that this war ends soon and our soldiers can come home. In the meantime, however, there are a heck of a lot of them out there and I love that so many of us are doing our small part to bring them some cheer.

-Are there any links that you'd like to point out?
Here is the myspace page
Here is the link to our SuicideGirl only group on this site
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Below is some commentary from a couple of other Suicide Girls involved in the project. I asked them just to write a few words on the project and their involvement in it.

Dice said: While SG Pinups for Soldiers does big group projects, we are also encouraged to send in mail on our own. So I became inspired and collected a few of my favorite 5x7s and wrote nice little handwritten notes smothered with kisses and sweet perfume. I used the addresses that were available through AnySoldier.com, and sent away my smelly love filled packages with best wishes. It was so rewarding to hear back form those soldiers, who were so pleased with the unexpected surprise.
It is so fulfilling to know that such a small gesture is so greatly appreciated, I highly suggest that everyone does it!

Meow said: One of my favorite involvements on this site is participating in the Pin Ups for Soldiers project. I've gotten many emails & messages from troops who've received our packages; and it means so much to them. It's a great feeling to know that our little gifts can bring the soldiers some cheer. I enjoy making special photos just for this project, writing notes, and staying in touch with the troops overseas who've contacted me thru the project. Many thanks to Wendy for starting such a wonderful group; I only hope our involvement becomes bigger & better!


Meow; photo by AlissaBrunelli

Ajilee said: The best part of Pinups for Soldiers for me has been the overwhelming response from the people receiving our packages. I usually send 5x7 with little notes on the back of them with my e-mail address. Last package rollout, I created my own envelopes with designs all over them that would include several pictures and stickers. Then men love being able to keep in contact with us because it brings a smile to their faces in potentially tough times. One solider asked me if it was okay for his troops to gather pictures of themselves in Iraq and make a video of their experiences for me to share with the other SG's involved in this project. Though i know nothing of these soliders lives, they want to share their life and experiences with me, and that is why i will continue to be apart of this amazing project. It is a mutual respect we share with these soldiers for their courage and will. It is something I will take with me for the rest of my life.


Ajilee

Sid said: My husband, Trevor, is in Iraq for the second time since we've been together (the first since we've been married). This group was created during the first time he was in Iraq, and going through having your other half out there is hard, so knowing that, I joined the group in order to help soldiers who were far removed from their loved ones, just like my husband is.

There are so many soldiers whose families don't send them things, or who don't really have families who can afford to, or who just plain don't get mail at all. Whether or not you agree with what's going on in the world that has made these soldiers be placed so far from home, it's important to keep up their morale. Most of these men and women don't want to be where they are. Many, like my husband, were deployed at stop loss. Which means, their contracts for the military were supposed to be done, but they extended it to deploy them. These people, especially, deserve some sort of pick-me-up, as many of them just can't help but feel like they are missing out on the life outside of the military they should have.

Knowing first hand how stressful a military job is, and not only that, knowing how hard it is on the families of these brave soldiers first hand as well, I do my best to help them any way I can. Every single one of my journal entries contains an image with various websites to charities that are designed to help deployed soldiers and their families they left back home. I cannot stress enough how much it means to these men and women just to get small packages once in awhile.

I'm not in this for those rewarding thank you's, although, I have gotten several from soldiers I have sent things to. I'm in this to help those who are in the same situation as Trevor and myself. I know what it's like to only get to spend a handful of days of your first year of marriage with your other half. It's painful, and sweet little distractions like gifts from both strangers who appreciate what you do, and loved ones can help.

I hope after reading this article, members will think about donating a couple of bucks to some charities for soldiers, or even send a package to someone you don't know just to brighten up their day.
-------------------------------------------------------------
SG Community Diary is a newswire feature intended to highlight some of the wonderful, interesting, and amazing stories of this website’s models and members.

Please contact Fatality or Anarchie with any other potential stories!

great job ladies! what a neat thing to be a part of

what a fantastic article. it is so great to be able to be a part of this project!

amazing i would love to be a part of this
x

I remember the thread where this was discussed initially but I actually had no idea it took off. Awesome!

yay! It's great to see the final product.

As I said in the article, this project is definitely a labor of love and I"m glad this was written and that we get to spread the word about it.

I'm so happy to be a part of this project , thank you for this article.

Within the context of this program, or just the image in general...I'm curious...?