Mission Statement
Supporting Our Troops One Care Package At A Time!
For The Troops' mission is to send care packages to our front line troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.
These packages contain such things as snack items, DVDs, CDs, batteries, personal care items and magazines, etc.
Description
Packages of love, care, hope and appreciation to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have been the mainstream focus of a non-profit organization called FOR THE TROOPS.
In November 2005, a couple of work colleagues in a law firm got together to send a care package to one soldier. They asked a few others in their office if they would like to participate and so began the effort to continue and seek out names and addresses of soldiers serving and send them all a care package.
This act of gratitude is what brought Paula Cornell and Janie Josephson together to form a non-profit organization and organize a major all-volunteer grassroots effort to support the troops.
FOR THE TROOPS was established, now offering a tax benefit for those wanting to show their support for the troops. The two women have been coordinating collection drives with schools, churches, service organizations, local businesses, and local scouting programs. Donated funds are used to pay the cost of postage on the boxes, which runs approximately $10.70 per package. As the donations items flow in, packing is coordinated where volunteers gather and fill the care packages with the donated items, including letters of thanks and encouragement from kids and adults. In turn, letters and emails of thanks from the troops have been received.
This effort began in Cornell's garage in Simi Valley, CA with friends and neighbors volunteering their help. When donated space was offered to them, the move was made. For The Troops is now headquartered in Sycamore Village, located at 2872 Cochran St, Simi Valley to host donation drop-offs, and packing and shipping needs. Today this organization works 5-7 days a week fulfilling needs for "We Care" packages and requests from our troops. We are in constant fundraising mode to keep up with demand to ship over 1000+ boxes a week. For more information visit our website at Http://www.ForTheTroops.org
