Operation Shoebox In The Villages, FL

Operation Shoebox is a 501 (C) 3 Nonprofit whose mission is to provide support to our troops deployed outside of the United States. Our care packages are filled with requested items from our troops to help them get through their deployment but more importantly to let them know they are thought of and cared about. This could come in the form of coffee, socks, hygiene items and letters of encouragement. We appreciate our men and women who serve our country and are committed to serving those that serve us.

OSBTV must absorb and pay all shipping costs and this can be as much as $10,000+ per month. To that end, OSBTV uses the following fund-raisers:

Bingo the first Monday of each month
Chinese Auctions
Various dances with live bands
Etc

jmgamio@verizon.netjmganio

Thrift Store

Furniture Store

Donations

Donations can be made every Monday at the back of the Lake Miona Rec Center between the hours of 9:30 AM and 1:00 PM

Upcoming Schedule

11/18 1000 stockings
11/25 1250 stockings
12/9 1250 stockings
12/16 XMAS Party

These numbers may change
due to requests or our budget.

Click on either image to go to that site

Donations

Consistent Donors

Amerikanos Restaurant
Bridge Players Club at Bridgeport
at Lake Miona
Budweiser
Chatham Bingo
Golf Ball Gals
Johnny Rockets Restaurant
Mulberry Bunco
Paradise Bunco and Pokeno
The Villages Parrot Heads Club
Sam’s Club
Texas Roadhouse
Tops Club

Credit Card Donations

Use the following link for making a credit card donation or for obtaining information on how to become a supporter sponsor –

Supporters

Meeting Sales

Popcorn People

Wine Bags

Donated Items

The above pictured items and more are for sale at every Operation Shoebox meeting on Mondays at the Lake Miona Recreation Center between 11:30 and 1:30 PM.

The wine bags, snap bags and popcorn people make great holiday gifts.

Who we are

Phone Number: (352) 307-6723

Operation Shoebox embraces a practical mission of providing hands-on support for our troops deployed overseas and returning home. It is the mission of Operation Shoebox to meet the needs of every hero with dignity and appreciation. Whether it looks like packing coffee, socks, toothpaste and sports gear into care packages or sending letters of encouragement, whether it looks like organizing fundraisers or collecting supplies for homeless veterans, Operation Shoebox is committed to treating every hero with care and honor.

The Operation Shoebox office is located at: 8360 E Hwy 25, Belleview, FL 34420

how we got here

Operation Shoebox was founded in 2003 by military mom Mary Harper. While five of her children, and two son’s in law, were deployed around the world, the central Florida mom learned from her kids that troops didn’t receive many care packages or mail. She rolled up her sleeves and started an informal care package project out of her living room. While troops receive the very basic necessities like meals and shelter from the U.S. military, Harper realized the

need to boost morale with practical tokens of kindness in the form of snacks, personal care items, entertainment and thank-you notes to men and women stationed around the world. Her homegrown project grew into a full-fledged nonprofit organization so quickly that after just a few years of operation, Harper was honored at the White House for her work on behalf of the men and women of the armed forces. Whatever global events shape foreign policy, Mary continues her mission at the Operation Shoebox headquarters in Florida, where the organization ships between 800-1,000 care packages a week. In 2012, 114 tons of supplies were sent to hardworking members of the U.S. military around the world.

How we deploy our resources

Operation Shoebox is an independent 501 (c) 3 non profit organization founded in 2003. It is not associated with any of the following:

Operation Shoebox New Jersey
Dino’s Operation Shoebox
Operation Shoebox UK
Operation Shoebox V
Operation Christmas Child

When you give a tax-deductible donation to Operation Shoebox, you can take pride in knowing that 100% of your gift goes directly to shipping costs and care package supplies. Shipping costs for an average month total between $11,000 and $17,000 in postage.

Honor the sacrifices that members of our armed forces make every day by contributing to our mission today.

The package bag on the left was created by our very talented sewing ladies who carry their sewing machines to our recreation center every Monday. Every week these talented ladies create hundreds of bags that are later filled with items for the troops.