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| LIFE IN SOLERA | NOVEMBER 2025 | 29 The most common size box that people mail to their soldiers overseas is the Large Flat Rate Priority Mailbox. The name is a little deceiving. It is only 12"x12"x 6" high. It is the only package that the postal service gives a break on, if you are mailing to a military APO or FPO address. They started giving a $1.50 break on this package, after many Congressmen registered their complaints. In 2024, they raised the price on this box by a whole dollar. In 2025, they raised it by another two dollars. This package currently cost us $25.85. The postal service, for the second year in a row, is putting on a holiday surcharge that lasts from mid-October through mid-January. The two most common size packages that we send are Priority Flat Rate packages for our heavier items, and the apple boxes for our light weight things that take up a lot of room, such as Cup 'o Noodles, Ramen Noodles, noodle bowls, chips, and cookies. These boxes are double sided and great for shipping. At 12"x13"x20" they can hold a lot and usually weigh 20 pounds or less. The current cost for mailing one of these boxes is $33. The other day, we mailed one of these boxes to the 12 groups that we are currently supporting. If you calculate the cost out, that was $396. All of this talk of cost, brings me to the topic that I wish to discuss. Usually we hold two fundraisers that cover our cost for the year. Each cover approximately half of the expenses. Our garage sale is a very labor intensive project, and we did not hold it this year. The other is the musical event we have near the end of each year. This is hosted by Marty and Diana Mangan. Because of a very generous donation by the Sunshine Club, I think we will be able to squeeze by, if we can max out on attendance on this musical event, along with its raff le. The show is called Broadway Supports Our Troops and is on Sun., Nov. 16 at 2 pm in Oakmont Rooms 1-3. Marty sees to the music and ticket sales. His contact number is (909) 921-1144. Diana, at (951) 333-1986, coordinates the baskets and other items for the raff le. I also have tickets. ~ Jesse Donardt SUPPORT OUR TROOPS VETERAN ASSISTANCE FLAG BRIGADE Billy (Mitch) Mitchell is a resident and Veteran who has voluntarily worked with individuals and the Veterans Administration to assist Veterans in obtaining benefits. If you are a Veteran and want to know which benefits you may be eligible for, contact Mitch at (951) 797-0800. The Flags will be raised in November for Veterans Day and in December for Pearl Harbor Day. Thank you to those few dedicated resident volunteers who are up "at the crack of dawn" on these special days to put up and take down our flags. Contact for the Flag Brigade is Nick Gercis at nick.gercis@ gmail.com. Flag schedule for 2025 Veterans Day: Tues., Nov. 11 - up 11/10, down 11/12 Pearl Harbor Day: Sun., Dec. 7 - up 12/5, down 12/8 Music by DJ Blast • Baskets Rae Bring your own snacks & beverages All proceeds go to help Jesse Donardt mail packages to our troops! For tickets, call/text Marty Mangan at (909) 921-1144 or martymangan@yahoo. com or Linda Donardt at (951) 845-9028. To donate a basket, call/text Diana Mangan at (951) 333-1986 or diana. mangan@yahoo.com

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