TREATS FOR TROOPS/OPERATION POCKET CHANGE

WINTER 2009/SPRING 2010 NEWSLETTER

 

Our sincerest apologies for not doing a January 2010 newsletter. We have decided to do a quarterly one to keep everyone informed.

After several appearances in various newspapers, the community really stepped up to the plate and helped out with baking.

For the 2009 holidays, we shipped out 1500 dozen home baked cookies (18,000 cookies) and for Valentine’s Day almost 1750 dozen (21,000 cookies). A HUGE thanks to all the bakers, packers and those supporters who gave us supplies and monetary donations to keep the baking going.

 

Between October 31, 2009 and January 2010, we collected about 9,000 pounds of ‘left over’ Halloween candy from caring people all over the US.

 

In November 2009, our postage bill was $35,000. In December 2009 just over $50,000 and with 30,000 more deployed, it is at an all time high of $60,000 monthly.

 

On January 1, 2010, Treats For Troops launched “Operation Pocket Change” which speaks for itself.

We are asking the general public to spare us their pocket or loose change to help offset some of the costs of postage and baking supplies. If you would like to put a donation jar in your office or business, please contact us at: Karin_King@yahoo.com

 

Your checks and money orders are highly appreciated. Please make your check out to:

Karin_King-Treats For Troops

 

Mailing address

Treats For Troops

4923 Patagonia Place

Land O’ Lakes, FL 34638

Ph: 813-746-1517

 and please let us know if you would like a tax receipt.

 

The Tampa Bay Lightning National Hockey League paid a visit to the warehouse in Wesley Chapel on December 27, 2009 and were so impressed with the whole operation that they decided to partner with Treats For Troops in Operation Pocket Change. We collected pocket change from their fans after 5 of the home games in January 2010, and were able to ship out 13,016 pounds of much needed supplies to the remote war zones, camps, hospitals and Chaplains with little to no access to a PX (store on base) and if they do it can be a 5 hour helicopter ride away, accompanied by gun ships.

 

 

Donations and funds are always low immediately after the holidays, so we decided to do 2 drives:

 

FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS FOR THE FEMALE SOLDIERS:

Need we say more? Please pick up an extra box the next time you go to the store or order online and send to the address above. Amazon.com might offer free shipping on some products.

 

ZIPLOC BAGS FILLED WITH GOODIES FOR THE TROOPS : simply fill a gallon size Ziploc bag with either toiletries OR snacks and ask everyone you know to do the same thing. If you are local to the Tampa bay area, we will meet you halfway to collect the bags from you. The sky is the limit, as we have over 300 remote addresses in the war zones on file.

Some suggestions to put in the Ziploc bags:

Body wash, shampoo, toothpaste, thick full size ‘baby wipes’ (some soldiers have no access to running water for days), toothbrushes, floss, body lotion, small hotel size soaps and lotions are welcome, shaving cream, razors, eye drops, if you can cramp it into the Ziploc bag, we’ll take it.

Food items: instant soups, instant beverages (drink mixes), coffee, hot chocolate,  cookies, crackers, lunch box packets of crackers with tuna or chicken), cereal bars, instant b-fast, microwave popcorn, beef jerky etc.

 

For the 2009 Holidays, we collected about 2500 cards and letters. For Valentine’s Day the number was just over 8,600.

We highly encourage you to write a few cards and/or letters and place them in the Ziploc bags. They do wonders for the morale of our Troops.

 

 

 

Dear Mrs. King,

Thank you very much for sending the wonderful care packages with feminine items for Valentine’s Day. These items are very scarce here and very much appreciated. It is so nice knowing that we have Americans back home who are thinking of us. Your delicious treats and kind words are truly treasured. God Bless.

1LT Karly Mangen

MN Army National Guard

 

Dear Mrs. King,

Just a short note to thank you for the box with feminine hygiene products, cookies and other treats we received for Valentine’s Day. Many of your treats and items went to soldiers beginning a 3 day journey across Iraq, delivering equipment to soldiers in Mosul that will keep us safer. Your treats were a welcome blessing on the long journey north. The feminine items were shared with all the female soldiers here who are so grateful with a little comfort from home.

Many thanks,

 

Imogene Brasic,

401 AFSB, SWA, Box 152

 

 

 

Not to leave anyone out, but a few special thank you notes are in order:

 

Kelvin Woodson from The Tampa Bay Lightning for making it possible for Treats For Troops/Operation Pocket Change to collect pocket change from the TBL fans in January 2010, which enabled us to ship out 13,016 pounds of much needed supplies to the remote war zones, camps, hospitals and Chaplains.

 

Jim Deitch, CEO of Southern Crafted Homes for getting so many caring, sincere Realtors involved in Treats For Troops/Operation Pocket Change and for being there with us every step of the way.

 

MEDLINE: for donating 50 cases with 50 packets of FULL SIZE wash cloths (big baby wipes). The impact these wipes have is beyond words as sometimes our soldiers do not have access to running water.

 

Kyle Lojacono from THE LAKER: who wrote a couple of fantastic articles about Treats For Troops and who really got the ball rolling for us.

 

Pam Tucker Tanner, owner of  THE PASCO NATURALLY: for being with us every step of the way and to get the nudist community in Pasco County involved

 

Pam Hayes: for orchestrating all the donations (home baked cookies, Ziploc bags, checks, ca$h, cards and letters) from Lake Como