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Show them we care!! |
Operation Care Packages
What is this? A long term program sending care packages to deployed Idaho
service members.
When? This is
an ongoing project that started in October 2006. We are receiving cards
and letters from our Idaho troops expressing their thanks for being
remembered while so far away. Read the many
expressions of thanks we have received.
Days of packing
1st and 3rd Saturday of each month and by appointment.
Who?
Whoever wants to help out! Idaho has approximately 600 deployed service
members in our target group.
How can I help? Click here to contact us via
e-mail or give us a call at
376-0753.
Where do I drop off my donations? Look
below for instructions and
drop off locations.
Important!
If you put together your own boxes to bring to us to mail DO
NOT SEAL THE BOX! We will need to verify the box contents
before applying the customs forms and sealing. Also, unless it is your
intent to supply the postage for the box, do not affix
stamps to the box. We will take care of that part. If you do want to
supply the postage for the box then we welcome that too.
“Operation
Care packages” officially started in 2006. The follow statistics
show the on-going results.
2006:
- 715 boxes mailed
- postage $5694.00
- cost of goods $24,975.00
2007:
- 571 boxes mailed
- handed out 19 snack bags for departing troops
- postage $5005.00
- cost of goods $20,318.00
- handed out 82 VFW phone cards
2008:
- 934 boxes mailed
- handed out 467 snack bags
- postage $8346.00
- cost of goods $33,210.00
- handed out 574 VFW phone cards
- handed out 509 pocket flags
2009:
- 312 boxes mailed
- postage $3613.35
- cost of goods $13,380.00
- handed out 100 pocket flags
2010:
- 92 boxes mailed
- postage $1,990.00
- cost of goods $4,400.00
- handed out 180 snack bags
We still
have soldiers being deployed and we will continue this project as long
as there are soldiers deployed. There is a need for more food items and
monetary donations to cover postage to enable us to continue. We
want to emphasize that over the life of this project approximately 93% of monetary donations have been used for this project.
All items
must be of a size that will fit in the U.S. Postal Priority Mail Flat
Rate Box, which is 11 x 8.5 x 5.5. We cannot accept PORK products,
alcohol, religious material, pornography, or home made food items. Food
items must be appropriately sealed/prepackaged.
Feel like
helping out?! We can use all the help we can get. This is an ongoing
care campaign to provide little comfort items for our service members.
This does NOT end at the end of the year after Christmas and the other
holidays. We can use volunteers to solicit their dentists, local
merchants, and church groups for donations to this worthwhile cause.
Click here to contact us via
e-mail or give us a call at 376-0753 today!
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SUGGESTED
FOOD SNACKS
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SUGGESTED TOILETRIES
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(Individual Size or
small packages)
|
(Travel Size or Small
Containers)
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| Beef Jerky/Beef
Sticks |
Advil/Tylenol
Pain Reliever |
| Biscotti |
Antacids |
| Chicken/Tuna
Salad w/crackers |
Antibiotic Cream
(Neosporin) |
| Energy/Power/Granola
Bars |
Anti-Bacterial
hand cleaner (Perel) |
| Cheese (Small
pkg Velveeta or other |
Anti-Bacterial
Wipes (Travel size |
| processed) |
packets) |
| Cheese/Peanut
Butter & Cracker |
Dental Floss |
| Snacks |
Deodorant
(Non-Aerosol) |
| Chicken/Tuna (In
Pouch or Pull Tab |
Eye Drops |
| can) |
Face Soap |
| Coffee Creamers
(Individual Servings) |
Foot Powder |
| Coffee (Maxwell
House foil wrap block |
Hand/Body Lotion |
| or foil packaged
containers) |
Lip
Balm/Moisturizer |
| Candy (Hard
Individually wrapped) NO |
Mouthwash |
| CHOCOLATE |
Razors |
| Chewing Gum |
Shampoo |
| Dried Fruit |
Sunscreen |
| Drink Mix
Powders (Crystal Light, Kool |
Tooth
Brush/Tooth Paste |
| -Aid, Gatorade) NO
TEA |
|
| Fruit (Cans with
pull tab tops) |
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| Fruit Roll Ups |
|
| Hot
Chocolate/Cider Mix |
Batteries |
| Licorice (Black
or Red vine) |
CD's/DVD's
(Current Releases) |
| Pringles (1 3/4
oz size in cardboard |
Crossword
Puzzle/Word Find Books |
| container) |
Games (a size
that will fit in mailing |
| Ramen |
box) |
| Trail Mix |
Magazines
(Current Issues) |
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Donation Drop
Off Points
Here is a list of local drop
off points that have collection boxes for the care packages items. For
your convenience we have included a link to the Yahoo Maps page for
each one. Just click on the business name.
We wish to express our
sincere appreciation for these local businesses in their support of
this project.
Boise
VFW
Headquarters
State Office
1425 S. Roosevelt St.
Boise
Hrs M-F 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Closed during Lunch 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
KISN
Radio Station
1419 W. Bannock St.
Boise
Hrs M-F 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Veterans
Resource Network
7025 Emerald St. Suite 200
Boise
Hrs M-F 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
376-0753
A drop box is located in the foyer at the top of the stairs on the west end of the building.
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