West Seattle Veterans Day: Local student’s campaign to help troops

On this Veterans Day, a group of college students is working to help military personnel via a campaign called Students for Soldiers. Among them is Christina Powell (left), who e-mailed WSB to explain that they’re working to “procure items for care packages which will be sent only to troops stationed at FOB’s (Forward Operating Bases). These soldiers were chosen because they are in remote areas, often the most dangerous, and do not have access to Exchanges. Exchanges that are on the military bases are where soldiers are able to buy such daily necessities as deodorant, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, baby-wipes (the easiest way to clean oneself in the desert), and so on. Without access, they must simply go without these daily necessities, depleting morale and running the risk of illness at a time when they must be the most alert and cautious of danger.” Christina is looking for West Seattle community support because, while she’s a Washington State University student, she’s studying via “distance degree,” and works at Celtic Swell on Alki.

Originally, our goal was going to be to send 300 packages to troops however, we have teamed up with a non-profit organization called US Troop Care Packages (USTC) located in Pasco, WA that says ‘if we get the goods to them, they will cover the shipping costs for packages.’ Now, our GOAL is to raise $5000 in goods to be sent to Pasco who know how to get these items to soldiers at FOB’s. All 25 of us are now reaching out to our friends, family, churches, and communities (be it local, state, or nationwide) to help us with this cause. I believe that as a community, we can all come together and truly make a difference that will have an impact far greater than any that we could imagine.

The direct link to our Facebook page where you will find all of our information, updates, and the link to the Amazon WishList is:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003042561352&sk=wall

Donations: We have set up an Amazon WishList that contains the most needed items for soldiers on FOB’s right now. This WishList shows the items, all travel sized, with the information and price right there. This method allows you to buy items, pay and ship directly to the USTC for care packages to be compiled. Everything is safe, secure, every cent accounted for and completely traceable.

The direct link for the Amazon WishList is:
http://www.amazon.com/registry/wishlist/VVQ6A6WMQYTP/ref=cm_wl_sortbar_v_page_1?_encoding=UTF8&page=1

As an example: On the site listed above, you will find among the list “Huggies Baby Wipes Travel Pack, Case of 12 Packs” with a picture, description, and price options. With this item that runs $20, you have just given 12 soldiers (assuming they don’t share) the ability to clean their face and bodies in the desert. You simply select which items you’d like to donate and add them to the cart. When ready, click “check out”. Select the first option for shipping addresses as the WishList already is programmed with the address for USTC who will then put all items together and mail them overseas.

Christina says there was plenty of inspiration for the campaign, particularly the fact that she has classmates who have served, and the fact her family is “full of Marines.”

Jim P. November 11, 2011 (5:52 pm)

I note there is nothing I can find on US Troop Care Packages web pages that indicates they are any sort of non-profit organization or indeed any info about their profit/non-profit/tax-exempt status.

No financial information is provided nor any of the usual legal postings about how to obtain same. Nor any indication they are a registered charity.

Indeed, very little reference to them at all other than their own web pages and this blog.

I offer no opinion, I simply suggest anyone considering donating do their due diligence and make sure this organization is what you expect it to be by your own standards.

I for one would like to see their expense to actual charity work ratio, an important gauge of a charity’s ability to get your dollars to there they work rather than office expenses and salaries etc.

A link or two to help you decide:

http://www.charitynavigator.org/
http://www2.guidestar.org/

(I found these two to be very interesting for the current discussion, please use your own judgement though.)

http://www.secondact.com/2011/10/help-finding-good-effective-nonprofits-1/

Christina P November 12, 2011 (8:02 pm)

Hello Jim and anyone else, I will contact USPC in Pasco to request this information if available. Thank you for pointing this out as we are all volunteers who are donating our time and energy. We have not been taking any monetary donations for this very reason, as we do not want anyone donating to ever question how their money is being spent. We are asking for donations of physical items to be put together into care packages at the USTC on the military base in Pasco. I believe the people on the base working in the USTC are also volunteering their time and energy. I will now seek to verify this and will get back to you. Have a lovely day!

Jim P. November 13, 2011 (3:25 pm)

Christina,
If they are not forthcoming about their finances and/or non-profit status, I strongly urge you to sit down with the other members of your organization and examine that fact closely and then make sure you want your efforts to go that way.

Every organization has to decide how best to spend its time and energy as suits them of course, but make sure you do it with open eyes and as much knowledge as you can get.

Again I offer no opinion whatsoever on this particular place but never forget there *are* companies out there that claim to be charities but who actually provide little to none of what they claim to the actual groups or people in need or who take an astounding amount of money for “internal expenses” with no accounting given.

Sorry, comment time is over.