My husband is a member of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA). Every year over the Veteran's day week they do a fund raiser for their project "truckers for troops". This is when we renew our membership every year, as part of our membership fee is donated to this project. This project boxes up big boxes to send to troops for them to share. The include things like socks, books, toiletries, even silly string (which the troops report back that they love as it gives them some "play" time to laugh and joke around). Every year, they also ask for cards and letters from children to put in the boxes. As you can imagine these are another favorite of the troops. So if you would like to help, let your kiddos have a craft making cards or even some writing practice you can do this! It is simple really your kiddos make cards/write letters and you mail them in before the end of January. They send this boxes in Feb. after the Christmas packages have all been delivered, to break up the lull when less packages are coming. If you are looking for a short craft, please consider this cause!

Here is a copy of the letter they sent me this year to share, with the address for cards and letters.

With the ninth annual Truckers for Troops campaign coming up, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) is putting out a request for cards and letters to include in care packages for military personnel stationed in combat areas overseas. We always include a variety of good things in the packages like socks, snacks, toiletries, books and other items, but the cards and letters are the most popular among the recipients.
We’d appreciate your participation in making this tradition even more special by sending handmade cards or letters to our Association by the end of January. While our campaign for our raising funds takes place the week of Nov. 9th (over Veterans Day), the packages do not go out until sometime February. We understand that care packages to troops in combat areas slow down after the holidays, so we try to make sure to send that time of year and possibly again in the Spring.

TO SEND CARDS/LETTERS: Send to OOIDA headquarters, Attention to: Truckers for Troops, P.O. Box 1000, Grain Valley, MO 64029. For more information, please contact Norita Taylor at 816-229-5791. Towns or school names can be included, but please do not include last names or other personal information. Cards can be any theme or no theme at all since the packages will not go out until after the holidays.
If you wish to make a monetary donation, please contact our membership department at 1-800444-5791.

Here is a link to a short article with info about the packages. http://www.landlinemag.com/Story.asp...0#.VfB3jJejEs4

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Thank you so much! We will be participating! Our city doesn't do the military holiday cards anymore and I was so disappointed.

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What a great idea! Yes, thanks for posting this!

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