Sandboxx Community Newsletter

Welcome Home!

Starting this newsletter during the month of Thanksgiving feels especially meaningful as we pause to reflect on what we are most grateful for. November invites us to slow down and savor the beauty found in both the simple and extraordinary moments of life — the smiles shared around a table, the comfort of a cozy drink on a crisp morning, the joy of time spent with loved ones, and the profound gift of freedom that our service members protect every day.

At Sandboxx, we are deeply grateful for you, the heart of this community. For everyone who writes faithfully, every partner who stands strong, every recruit who serves with courage, and every veteran whose dedication continues to inspire us all. You remind us that connection is what keeps our hearts full and our mission clear.

This new community newsletter is our way of bringing that connection to life each month — a place where stories, updates, and gratitude come together to remind us that we are never alone on this journey. We hope you look forward to finding it in your inbox on the first of every month as a moment of reflection, inspiration, and belonging.

From our Sandboxx family to yours, we wish you and those close to your heart a very Happy Thanksgiving and a warm, joyful holiday season ahead.

Join the Sandboxx Community Here

Founders’ Note: A Message from Sam Meek

Community has been at the heart of Sandboxx since day one.

Eleven years ago, this all began as a simple idea: what if we built a platform designed to help our military community thrive? I pitched a one-page vision to a few people who believed in us, and it started with a simple idea to build community first.

That vision has finally come to fruition. It started as a small way to help people send letters and stay connected through training, and over the years it has grown to serve over six million people.

Every letter sent, every message shared, and every connection made has built the cultural backbone and family fabric we dreamed about from day one. Our early bets on letters and personalized content has become a mainstream network of support, a home for our military families, veterans, and friends.

Seeing this community come to life today feels like a full circle moment. “Welcome Home” has never felt more fitting.

— Sam Meek, CEO and Co-Founder, Sandboxx

Sam on a deployment to Iraq in 2007

Sam & Major General Ray L. Smith – 2025

Your Voice Matters: Help Shape 2026

We are dreaming big for 2026, and we want you to be part of it. From new community features to even more ways to support our service members and families, we are building the future of Sandboxx together. Your voice helps guide what we create, what we improve, and how we continue to serve you best.

Thank you for taking a moment to share your thoughts in our survey. Your feedback fuels the next chapter of Sandboxx, and we cannot wait to make 2026 our best year yet, together.

Share Your Feedback Here

Supporter Stories

Letters That Carry Them Through — Chris Black, Proud Sandboxx Dad

Being a military parent isn’t easy, especially watching your child head off to training, knowing you can’t be there for every moment. One of our community members, Chris, shared a story with us that shows just how powerful letters can be during this journey.

Chris is a paramedic and the proud father of two sons in the military. Seven years ago, his oldest, Christopher, went through boot camp at Parris Island. During his long 24-hour shifts, Chris often found himself sitting in his ambulance at 2 a.m., writing Sandboxx letters.

He used the Sandboxx weekly training updates to guide his messages, timing each one so it would land just when his son needed encouragement the most. One night, he wrote a letter knowing The Crucible was coming up. Christopher received it the morning before he stepped off and carried it in his pocket the entire weekend. He later told his dad that those letters kept him going through boot camp and gave him the strength to push through.

This year, Chris’s youngest son, Will, followed in his brother’s footsteps and just graduated from BMT at JBSA Lackland. Once again, Chris wrote letters every week, knowing firsthand how much his words could mean.

Chris’s story reminds us of something important: letters aren’t just mail, they’re lifelines. They give our sons and daughters the strength to keep pushing through the toughest moments of training and the reminder that home is always cheering them on.

Christopher’s Marine Corps Graduation – 2018

Will’s Air Force Graduation – 2025

Share Your Sandboxx Moment

Community Corner

Meet the Sandboxx Community Team

Bethany Joy Clark – Head of Community Programs

Annie Richardson – Community Manager

This community was built for you, and it grows stronger with every story shared and every kind word offered. We invite you to lean in, reach out, and find comfort and encouragement here, because our Sandboxx Community is a space where no one walks this journey alone.

Whether you are a parent sending a letter, a partner adjusting to a new normal, or a proud veteran cheering others on, you belong here. The conversations, connections, and friendships made within these walls are what make our community so incredibly meaningful.

Our small but mighty team is here to help guide, nurture, and grow this space with you. We believe deeply in the power of storytelling, encouragement, and shared experience. And the best part is, we’re just getting started.

Bethany Joy Clark | Head of Community Programs

Hi friends, I’m Bethany, and I have the joy of leading all things Community at Sandboxx. From strategy and engagement to storytelling and events, I’m excited for the adventure ahead!

With 20+ members of my family having served across four branches, including three generations of both Marines and Air Force, honoring and celebrating America’s military is deeply personal to me. I strive to bring my heart, creativity, and vision to everything I do because I truly believe connection changes lives. Community is where belonging begins and where hope takes root. I’m so grateful to be serving the Sandboxx Community and overjoyed for all that’s to come in 2026 and beyond!

Learn more about Bethany here

Annie Richardson | Community Manager

Hey y’all! I’m Annie. For the past five years, I’ve had the privilege of working with Sandboxx and our incredible military community. Every day, I help bring the Sandboxx Community to life by creating a space where you feel seen, supported, and truly welcomed from the moment you join us.

As a proud Marine wife with a background in communication and a heart for service, I understand how challenging military life can be. The long goodbyes, the constant change, and the moments of pride all shape who we are. I’ve learned that having a community that understands those ups and downs can make all the difference.

Whether you’re celebrating a big milestone or just getting through a tough day, I hope you find comfort and connection here in the Community. You’re never alone in this journey. We’re all in it together.

Learn more about Annie here

New Community Groups Now Live!

We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new branch-specific community groups, each designed to create a welcoming space for families, friends, and loved ones walking the same journey.

Now LIVE inside the Sandboxx Community:

Sandboxx Moms

Sandboxx Dads

Sandboxx Wives & Girlfriends

Sandboxx Husbands & Boyfriends

Sandboxx Siblings

Sandboxx Grandparents

These groups are supportive spaces where every family member can feel seen, heard, and connected.

To make your experience as personal and meaningful as possible, take a few minutes to complete or update your full profile. Once your profile is updated, you’ll be automatically added to the group that best fits your role and stage in military life.

With the addition of these new profile fields, new members who join the community will automatically be placed into the group that matches their profile.

(Please note that updates may take up to an hour to appear, so don’t worry if you don’t see changes right away as everything is syncing in the background).

The more complete your profile, the more relevant your group connections, conversations, and recommendations will be. It’s the easiest way to make sure you’re exactly where you belong.

A kind reminder that we are a community-led community. Your encouragement, kindness, and willingness to support one another are what make the Sandboxx Community so special. Say hello, share advice or a story, or perhaps offer a word of encouragement. You never know who might need it today.

Join the Sandboxx Community Here

Letters in Action

This month, our community reached a huge milestone — over 2 million Sandboxx Letters sent in 2025!

Each letter is a message of love, encouragement, and pride. Every letter strengthens the connection between home and service. Keep writing, keep sharing, and know that your words truly matter.

Sandboxx Fun Fact of The Month

Did you know every teammate at Sandboxx has a call sign? It’s our fun nod to military tradition! In the military, call signs are unique nicknames used to identify team members. Sometimes serious, sometimes hilarious, but always meaningful. Ours help keep that same sense of connection, humor, and teamwork that defines the Sandboxx crew.

Military Relations Spotlight

A message from our Director of Military Relations

For more than two decades, I’ve had the honor of serving alongside some of the finest men and women our nation has ever known. Today, I’m just as proud to serve in a different way, as part of the Sandboxx Military Relations Team, where our mission is simple: to serve those who serve.

Between the Military Relations Team, we bring over 79 years of combined military experience: myself with 27 years in the Marine Corps, Chris McCool with 27 years in the U.S. Air Force, and Kris Broadus with 25 years in the U.S. Army. Together, we’ve walked different paths, worn different uniforms, and lived by different creeds, but we share one purpose: to support our service members and the families who stand proudly beside them.

At Sandboxx, we work hand in hand with every branch of service and supporting organizations to find new ways to connect, inform, and empower those who wear the uniform, and those who love them. Every letter sent, every update shared, and every story told is part of a larger mission: keeping our nation’s warriors connected to home, to purpose, and to one another.
As we celebrate Veterans Day, I want to express my deepest gratitude to those who have served, to those still serving, and to the families whose pride and sacrifice make it all possible. Whether you served for four years or forty, thank you for standing watch over our great nation.

And finally, to my beloved United States Marine Corps, Happy 250th Birthday! You look outstanding for 250 years old, and your legacy of honor, courage, and commitment continues to inspire us all.

From all of us at Sandboxx, thank you for allowing us to continue serving in a new way. It’s an incredible honor and privilege to walk beside you on this journey of service and connection.

Semper Fidelis,
SgtMaj Paul Davis, USMC (Ret.)
Director of Military Relations, Sandboxx

Read more about Paul’s story here

Paul Davis, Director of Military Relations

Chris McCool, Air & Space Force Military Relations Manager

Kris Broadus, Army Military Relations Manager

Product Pulse: Waypoints in Focus

Waypoints is a new app, and is part of the Sandboxx suite of evolving products built to guide service members through every stage of their military journey, from enlistment to veteran transition.

Waypoints helps users plan, track, and achieve their goals, offering personalized tools for career advancement, financial readiness, fitness milestones, and education planning.

Waypoints provides practical tools, personalized resources, and progress tracking to help service members stay mission-ready and empowered throughout their careers.

Explore Waypoints

Upcoming Events and Holidays

Marine Corps 250th Birthday — Nov 10

Community Event: Virtual USMC Birthday Ball — Nov 10 at 6:30PM ET

Veterans Day — Nov 11

Thanksgiving — Nov 27

Join the Sandboxx Community Here

Stay Connected with Sandboxx

We would love to connect with you on social media! Follow us for stories, updates, and daily encouragement from the Sandboxx team and families just like yours.

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