SIMI VALLEY, CA The challenge is on for the new campaign of For The Troops®. “We Care” Packages…Supporting our troops one care package at a time, is the goal as they join the efforts of the fourth annual “9/11 Freedom Walk”. This is a day dedicated to remembering the victims of September 11, 2001, and honoring our troops who continue to fight for freedom.
One month – one thousand (1,000)
This annual event is sponsored by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, MilitaryConnection.com and Waste Management to be held September 11th, 2009. There will be a remembrance program, food, t-shirts for the first 1,000 people who sign up for the walk, entertainment and a walk from the Presidential library to the Rancho Madera Park. There will be shuttles to take you from the park to the Library. It’s all free and open to the public. For The Troops is coordinating its effort to support the troops with “We Care” packages throughout this event.
From August 11, 2009 to September 11, 2009 collection sites will be held at most the Ventura County Fire stations from Camarillo to Simi Valley, including Santa Paula and Fillmore (check website for updates). The Sheriff’s Department is getting involved with collection sites at the Thousand Oaks, Camarillo and Moorpark Sheriff stations. Various businesses throughout Simi Valley including Kopy King, Fresh & Easy, Paul’s Italian Villa, Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, Troop Real Estate (Wood Ranch and their Simi Valley offices), Amy’s Hallmark, The Stamp FunAddict, The Boys and Girls Club, The YMCA and the local military recruiter’s offices in Simi and Thousand Oaks will host collection sites to be filled with items needed by our nation’s HEROES in Afghanistan and Iraq, as they are deployed.
For The Troops mainstream focus has been providing care packages, encouragement and appreciation to our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. This all volunteer, non-profit organization was established in 2006 and has been going steady coordinating collection drives with schools, churches, service organizations, businesses, and scouting programs to furnish the care packages.
Items needed for packages are snack items, drink packets, neck coolers, socks, DVDs, CDs, batteries, TP, games, personal care items and magazines, etc. Please see the Troop Wish List for more ideas. As the donations flow in, assembly days are coordinated where volunteers fill the care packages with the donated items, including letters of thanks and encouragement from kids and adults, attach a name of a service member in active duty, and prepared to ship. Donated funds are used to pay the cost of postage on the boxes, which runs $10.35 per box. $15,000.00 is needed for this campaign to cover the shipping costs and purchase any necessary items for the “We Care” packages that were not donated. Monetary donations can be either mailed to:
For The Troops
P.O. Box 630103
Simi Valley, CA 93063
or you can make a dontation using our website.
For The Troops has been recognized and awarded many times over for their volunteerism and humanitarian efforts. They have already sent over 12,267 “We Care” packages. Please contact us with questions or for more information. All donations are tax deductible. Federal Tax ID #: 20-8099782 section 501(c)(3).
