Operation Shoebox in the Villages, Florida
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
Note: This is not the main website for Operation Shoebox. This site features the part where volunteers create and pack the packages that are sent to the deployed troops. The main site can be found at https://operationshoebox.com
Example below of a typical bag for our troops with contents displayed also.
To see the heart behind our mission and why we need your support,
please take a moment to watch the following video by clicking on the button below:
Photo Restoration Fundraiser
This first image is a photo sent to me by my wife’s best friend. She asked me if I “could clean it up.” I experimented with some AI programs and in conjunction with Photoshop was able to create the photo on the right.
The photo on the left side was given to me by our director, Sandie. I applied what I learned from the first photo restoration and got the picture you see on the rightl Sandie is on the left with her mother on the right.
The photo on the left side is of my youngest brother. I found it in an old box filled with dusty items. I carefully placed the photo on a towel and took a picture of it with my smartphone. And, of course, I applied my learned techniques to it to get the result seen on the right. As an aside, I had to ask his wife for the color of his eyes and she told me that they are hazel. He is wearing a sport jacket and bow tie that my two brothers and I shared for special occasions including school pictures. He served our country with three years on the aircraft carrier – USS Enterprise, during the Vietnam War.
There are several stores in The Villages that offer professional photo restoration, and they do a very good job. However, they typically charge about $38 per photo.
I’m offering a special opportunity to help support Operation Shoebox while having a treasured photo restored. If you make a $25 donation to Operation Shoebox, I will restore one photo of your choice and return it to you in pristine condition.
It’s a true win-win! You are supporting a very worthy cause, Operation Shoebox, and in return, you receive a professionally restored photo that may have special meaning to you or your family.
If you would like additional photos restored, simply make another $25 donation for each photo.
At $25 per photo, it’s still a great value compared with the $38 or more you would typically pay for photo restoration elsewhere—and your donation helps support our deployed American heroes.
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Furniture Store
5940 SE Hames Road
Belleview, FL 34420
Tuesday – Friday
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Thrift Store
8360 East Highway 25
Belleview, FL 34420
Tuesday – Friday
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
OSBTV Schedule
This space is reserved for a future list of items that are approved for packing under Customs regulations.
With the new Customs rules and regulations, EVERY box is supposed to have the exact same content, the exact same weight. Officials might choose to X-ray the boxes, and their contents. All have to look the same. It sounds insane, and it hasn’t been easy. It may be January before we have time to plot it all out.
Candy Table
The Candy Table is very proud to have been selected as “The Table Of The Month for September.
We take pride in each bag of candy that we pack to send the troops. We want to be sure they have a nice mix of good will in each bag.
Our Shoebox participants are happy to be able to weekly provide something to our servicemen and women because they have given so much for our freedom.
Copyright 2026
dschofield2008@gmail.com