Operation Shoebox

**This is part of a series of posts highlighting ways in which you can donate to community organizations and help others even when your budget doesn't have room for monetary support.

Operation Shoebox has a goal to provide a care package for every soldier, sailor, airman, and marine. There are many ways to support this wonderful program in addition or instead of a monetary donation.

--Items: You may send items or a box of items to be packaged and sent to soldiers overseas. There is a list of items that the troops have requested on the website, though anything is appreciated. I collected items/money within my office of 14 people two years ago near the holiday and we were able to send 2 shoeboxes of items, plus the money to cover postage. We sent hygiene items, magazines, dvd’s, paper/pens, candy, snacks, drink mixes, oatmeal packets, etc. You can send any combination of items. If you get items for free or cheap by playing the drugstore games or shopping sales with coupons, this would be a great way to help others without stretching your budget too far. This is a great “project” for a group of people like co-workers, neighbors, church members, or schools. Click here for more information and for the address to which you can mail your package.

--Letters: If you can’t sent items or donate money, Operation Shoebox would love to include your letters of encouragement with the care packages. Troops have given feedback that the letters of support and pictures or cards from children are important in providing the moral support that they need from back home.

--Sewing: If you can sew, they run a stocking drive towards the holidays. If you’d like to participate, you can contact them to get the pattern of the bag they use.

--Troops for Teachers: This is set up for classrooms to correspond with troops. If you’re interested, please contact us for more information.

They can also use any amount of monetary donation to help cover postage to send these packages overseas to the troops!