Wednesday, January 24th 2007

22:35 (626 days, 4h, 26min ago)

PHOTOS and NEWS - January 24, 2007

NEWS THIS WEEK ..

Another photo from January 3, 2007
(Thank you XEROX & NYSE!)

We THOUGHT things might simmer down after the holidays, but we were WRONG!

Give2TheTroops just completed our most successful year!

Our financial donations quadrupled as did the amount of goods inkind! We also quadrupled the number of care packages sent --> more than 26,000 care packages!

Thanks to your help, we've entered our FIFTH YEAR and are growing by leaps & bounds.

Boxes of donations are still coming in pretty steadily to most of our branches ... and we're seeing an increase in donations from foreign countries, such as Canada and the United Kingdom. And local Senior Citizen involvement is outstanding!

However, despite the increase in donations, we could always use MORE FINANCIAL HELP and MORE volunteers! We also need MORE STORAGE SPACE as we are beginning to outgrow our centers! More people are asking how they can open a branch in their state, but until we find extra help, we have to put those plans on hold.

More and more troops are signing up with us daily.

To give you an idea of our financial needs ... our Connecticut Branch is spending on average $8,000.00/month on postage costs alone to send our large boxes to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and neighboring countries. We have eight other branches besides Connecticut, so you can imagine our monthly expenses are very high ...

(Below, Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority, from East Carolina University in North Carolina, helps with our "WARM A TROOP'S HEART" Donation Drive.)

To keep up with the heavy flow of incoming donations, Headquarters is considering hiring a few people to help with the recording of donations and other administrative needs. This will be discussed at our annual meeting this weekend.

More Directors are being brought on board to help our branches keep up with the demand. If you have a few hours each week to give, why not contact your nearest Give2TheTroops Branch Director to see how you can help? WE NEED YOU!

A SHOUT OUT -

To thank just a few incredible people this week ...

... the Marines from Charlie Company, 1/25 (Plainville, CT) who are back from Fallujah, Iraq and who have been volunteering at our center and collecting donations for us! OOH RAH!

... the amazing volunteers at all our branches who come every week! You blow us away, guys! We can't list you all here but take a look at our Web site's growing DONOR HONOR ROLL PAGE

... the senior citizens at The Heritage Center in Redding, CT, who make cards for our troops!

... the Girl Scouts around the nation who contributed so many magazines & cookies to our organization!

... Dave Motsek & the Boy Scouts in Royersford, Pennsylvania for an outstanding donations drive!

... and of course, to all our military (both past and present) who answer the call to duty!

May God bless you all!

Love,
Andi

3 Comments.

Posted by Shelley Parsell:

Way to go G2TT and all the people that have made this year great!!!!!!!! I have a feeling in 2007 we're gonna knock it out of the ballpark!!!! Whoo Hoo! Great Post Andi!!!!!!!!!:)