I really, really, really need some suggestions!!!!

[ArmedForces]

Ok...here's my predicament. Since I've become PA State Director for Give 2 The Troops - I've been getting donations sent to me hand over fist. My family room started looking like a habit trail until I moved all of the donations into my DH's warehouse and I now use that for storage.

Here's my problem - I've got not one single dime. Nothing. The last few boxes I sent out I sent them out of pocket & our boxes weigh in at 40 - 60 pounds(and one had tons of golf balls and golf clubs in it - so it was expensive!). I've tried sending letters to local businesses and restuarants, I've contacted schools for donation drives (I get items, but not money) - and I haven't gotten one single response.

I've got a warehouse full of things to send to our troops or take them down to Walter Reed & Bethesda and not a penny to ship them.

Anyone have ANY ideas???!! I need some brainstorming with this one. I'm desparate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Our other branches seem to be doing well...but the PA branch is relatively new and I have NOTHING as of right now.

THANKS!!!!!!

Heather

[Patriot Heart]

Have you started a website? How about contacting TV stations? I wonder what hoops one jumps through to get tax deductible status?

[Charity]

I wonder what hoops one jumps through to get tax deductible status?<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->__________________


It's not that hard at all.

[ArmedForces]

We are tax deductable. We are 501c3. Seems like all the other branches of this org. is doing pretty darn well...but since PA is new, I'm rock bottom right now. I've sent out at least 40 letters to local businesses about a month and a half ago - and not one single response. I've even gone in these businesses in person. Every thing that I show them is completely legit. I give them brochures about our org. and everything. Going to the website and making a contribution through that route goes straight to headquarters and not my specific branch. (www.give2thetroops.org (http://www.give2thetroops.org)) Seems like the southern branches are doing fairly well with fundraising also.

[Wolfcounsel]

Sell some of the things you have until you collect enough for shipping. That way, everything is accounted for. Keep good accounting.

[Rhino]

Seems like the southern branches are doing fairly well with fundraising also.Ask them how they do it.

[Suzie]

Contact the family support groups for National Guard units in your area. See if the Air National Guard has any flights going to DC that would be willing to take the boxes.


http://www.dmva.state.pa.us/paarng/cwp/view.asp?a=3&Q=441472&paarngNav=|29909|

http://sites.state.pa.us/PA_Exec/Military_Affairs/SJM/MFRAPFAQ.pdf

[ANI]

We have done things like organize car shows (hotrods) to make money to support the kids of active duty...it's easy...locate and contact local car clubs...they'll do most of the work..the money comes from the car owners paying a small fee to show their cars...if you can locate a retailer that will let you use their parking lot...it's all profit...unless you want to give away a couple of trophies to the participants. We made a couple of thousand dollars for each show...