Truckers For Troops continues support for military
Once again, OOIDA and its members rallied together to support military personnel and veterans.
Following its latest Truckers For Troops campaign in November, the program has now raised more than half a million dollars.
Truckers For Troops used some of those funds to make a $10,000 donation to the Veterans Community Project – Kansas City on Dec. 7 and also delivered a truckload of supplies. Those supplies included items for VCP’s commissary as well as household items for veterans living in the tiny house community in Kansas City, Mo.
“OOIDA and Truckers For Troops have always come through for us,” said Kristin Griffin, communication and events coordinator for VCP. “They have been a longtime supporter. We don’t take anything for granted, but when we got the call that this was coming, we were very excited and thankful.”
Donating to VCP assists with providing housing, counseling, career services and medical services for veterans in need.
“We know that our members want to show support for troops and veterans,” said Norita Taylor, OOIDA director of public relations. “Either they were in the military or they have connections, and this is a great way to channel that support for those that are in need.”
Strong ties
Shelby Enke is a military veteran who works in OOIDA’s business services department. As part of this year’s Truckers For Troops campaign, he displayed his collection of military memorabilia at OOIDA’s headquarters in Grain Valley, Mo.
Enke displayed his collection of relics from the Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War and more. Some of these items were passed down by his family members.
“I think I have upwards of 200 uniforms,” Enke said. “I started collecting stuff back in 1998. I used to go to an Army surplus store in Springfield, Mo. I have family that was in the military dating back to the Revolutionary War. So, it interested me. It’s been a family thing. I joined the Army in 2006 and did one deployment in Iraq.”
Enke regularly takes his display to local schools and hopes to one day have a permanent location for his collection.
“The main plan is to get a building built and have a museum somewhat local to this area,” he said.
As for Truckers For Troops’ future plans: It expects to cast an even wider net of generosity as VCP expands to new locations and services across the country.
“The funds will be put to a myriad of uses,” Griffin said. “They’re used for emergency assistance and to provide the resources that our veterans need to recover in dignity and get back on their feet. We’re proud to say we are now housing veterans at four different VCP projects: St. Louis; Longmont, Colo.; Sioux Falls, S.D.; and here in Kansas City, Mo. We have also started projects in Milwaukee, Wis.; Oklahoma City; and we just announced Glendale, Ariz. So, that’s something to stay tuned for.”
Care packages
The Truckers For Troops fundraising effort also will continue to send care packages to military personnel stationed around the world. Those packages contain snacks, games, toiletries and other items to try and provide a little bit of home overseas.
OOIDA recently sent 15 care packages to Navy personnel and even heard back from a previous recipient requesting another package because he wanted his fellow troops to experience the same feeling he had upon receiving one.
Any active military or family members of military personnel interested in requesting a Truckers For Troops care package can email Nikki_Johnson@OOIDA.com.
“I’m surprised every year from the amount of donations we collect,” said Sylvia Dodson, manager of OOIDA’s membership department. “I’m thinking, ‘It’s been a bad year, but oh my gosh, they came through again.’”
Tax-deductible contributions to the Truckers For Troops fundraising effort are accepted year-round at ooida.com/truckers-for-troops.
“I know it’s an old saying, but every little bit counts,” Taylor said. “It adds up over the year. So, I encourage anyone interested in donating to go to the Truckers For Troops website, and there’s a donate button right there.”
All the money goes directly toward care packages or to VCP.
More information about current and future VCP locations is available at VeteransCommunityProject.org. LL