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Simple, Inexpensive,
Fun ways To Support Our Troops
Collect hotel and sample
sized toiletries
Everyone has a bag full at home! Ask your local drug store for free samples of
lotion, etc. At conventions, ask those with you to give you their unusedtoiletries. Casinos will donate playing cards. Ask insurance and real estate
agents for small calendars. Talk to your letter carrier about extra in the mail
samples, too. Ask your neighbors, church, and club groups to collect items, too.
Call your dentist and ask for a donation of
toothbrushes, floss, toothpaste and mouthwash
Ask other dentists, too. I happened to see an office, walked in, and received a
call the next week to pick up 300 (each) toothbrushes, floss, and toothpaste!
Call your medical doctor, dermatologist, etc. and ask for samples!
Conduct a neighborhood
scavenger hunt
Take the “shopping list” and have kids go through the neighborhood asking for
donations. Give the list to your kids/grandkids and let them go through your
house! You may also conduct a neighborhood drive by asking a grocery store for
brown bags and stapling the shopping list to it. Write on the list a day that
you will drive by and collect the bags left on front porches. This could also be
done through a church or school, handing each person a bag with list.
Pick one item from
our shopping list
Items such as black socks), and
spread the word that you are collecting this one item for
the Troops. This is a great, easy way to make a big impact. Be creative
and tie the item into a holiday. For example, start a “Mom’s love the Troops”
drive before Mother’s Day, and collect packages of briefs and panties.
Everyone knows the stories about Moms always worried about clean underwear!
Utilize your connections
If you know hotel workers, ask about hygiene products, etc.
Donate condiment packets from
restaurants
Soy sauce, catsup, jelly, honey, etc. make those MREs a bit tastier. (Be sure to
pack in zip locks in case they break open.)
Volunteer your time at a care
package assembly or other event.
Start a letter writing campaign in your local
schools, churches, and organizations
Getting mail from “home” is the highlight of the Troops’ day. Young children can
draw pictures. Be sure to add a return address so the Troops can write back!
Ask people to
donate money to cover shipping costs
At roughly $1 a pound, it is the program’s largest expense. 100% of all
donations are used for care package items, or to pay shipping costs. Checks
should be made payable to Tri-Counties Blue Star Moms.
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