Netroots for the Troops is putting out a call for volunteers, and I am the volunteer coordinator. It will be my honor to nag contribute to something positive.
We need people to help at the booth Thursday, Friday and Saturday 9AM to 6PM. On Saturday after lunch we will pack the care boxes that will go to the troops.
If you'll be in Las Vegas and can help out for a bit, even if you are not attending NN10, follow over the fold to find out how you can help.
Diarist here can let the FPer's like Meteor Blades pick up the slack, but I am hoping we will have them drop in for just the company.
And, yes, I'm still accepting votes on a most identifiable trait. So far it looks like the front for gold, left side for blue, right side for crimson. Many thanks!
News from the world of TexDem and the Mojo Friday diary:
Since we have adjusted our goal this year to 300 Care Packages from our original goal of 600 Care Packages, the cash requirements can be adjusted. NFTT's minimal needs can be met with around $35,000. At the time of the publishing of this diary we're sitting at $28,742 $30,203.
Today Colby and I are also asking for 90 minutes to two hours of your time at NN10. On Saturday at NN10, we will be filling the boxes for the troops, but NFTT will be running a booth all day Thursday and Friday as well. I am serving as the coordinator of volunteers, and I am looking for people who would be willing to donate a few hours of their time on Thursday or Friday thru Saturday to help man/woman the NFTT booth.
You will be one of two volunteers, and starting and ending times will be staggered, so you will be able to wander in and out leave. We need people from about 9 in the morning to about 6 at night. I am looking for 20, maybe up to 40, volunteers. And of course, you can still donate pocket change here.
We are also looking for volunteers who live in the greater Las Vegas area who would be willing to earn a pass to the convention hall in return for a time commitment to the NFTT booth.
The final NN10 schedule is not available, but if you are attending and you would be willing to help, please let me know here or send me an e-mail. My e-mail is in my profile. We are looking to make a list of potential volunteers so that I can work out the schedule and post a google calendar.
I pack a personal APO box for the Captain and the daughter that married the Army every month. If he were to redeployed for his third tour in hostile territory, as an officer, he would divide his package among the troops he commanded. That's a way he found to take care of his troops, and those who would not receive anything from home for what ever reason.
They are all volunteers:
Again, this year, Netroots For The Troops seeks to make a tangible thank-you in our small way to the troops who are still serving before they become veterans. Our mission is two-fold: shipment of CARE packages to U.S. soldiers and Marines serving in hostile regions of Iraq and Afghanistan for the duration of their deployment, and on-going financial assistance for veterans and their families upon their return to the States.
Our goal for 2010 is $100,000 (cash or in-kind donations). So far, we've raised $28,657, only 29 percent of our goal. So there is a long way to go.
NFFT is a project of Netroots Arts and Education Initiative (NAEI), a 501(c)3 organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Here’s other ways you can help:
• Please contact TexDem or VeloVixen if you know someone who might be helpful in securing the corporate, in-kind donations. To help you think of companies that could donate products, see below* for a list of potential items. It takes time to get through the corporate processes, so we need to hear from you ASAP!
• The cash from individuals – donate here – will enable us to buy the things we are unable to obtain through corporate donations and help pay the costs of shipping them to our troops.
• $10 donors to Patric Juliett's team receive an ebook of Tales from the Larder.
• At the NFTT 2010 Personal/Team Fundraising Pages, you can set create a Personal NFTT 2010 Fundraising Page. This gives you a means to approach your friends, relatives, neighbors, co-workers and colleagues to donate to NFTT via your page. We're asking you to sign up to personally raise $1000.00. If you were a small donor last year but wanted to do more, this is a way for you to increase your donation via your contacts.
• Sign up for a diary! Our goal is to post two diaries per day until NN10, which doesn't start until July 21. That’s a lot of diaries! Don’t worry -- we’ve made it easy for you. We’ve got a template set up, and all you need to do is add a small introduction telling us why you are donating, sharing a story of someone you know who has served or is serving, or any other thing you want to share that might help motivate others to donate. Please contact jlms qkw if you are interested in posting a diary.
• Please consider joining the NFTT FaceBook Group. Invite your FaceBook and non-FaceBook friends.
* The following list contains some of the things we would like to include in the packages. Please let us know if you know someone who might be helpful in securing these corporate in-kind donations. (Please
DO NOT send these items yourself! We have no way to accept them. Instead, your cash donation is the very best way to help make this happen on the ground in Vegas.)
* Baby wipes * Mechanix gloves * LED flashlights * Gel shoe insoles * Goop Cleaning Gel * Powdered energy drinks * Gel energy food packets * DVDs and CDs * Letters to the soldiers * Sand scarves & cool ties. *
We realize that you may want to donate something tangible to go inside the packages that will be mailed to the troops. Unfortunately, accepting in-kind donations from individuals is not practical in terms of storage and handling of the items. Instead, we will only be accepting corporate donations or cash from you to purchase items for the care packages this year.
We are accepting hand-written or typed letters. See Lusty's diary for details. Mail hand-written letters to Lusty, email typed letters to jlms qkw.
Books for Soldiers
Soldiers love to receive books, but due once again to the logistics of collecting and storing them prior to NN10, books will not be included in the packages that NFTT will put together this year. Other organizations are more specialized in the collection and distribution of books to Iraq and Afghanistan. If you are interested in sending books, please consider checking out the Books For Soldiers website. It is run by DKos's very own StormBear and is a great resource for giving.
Since March 1, 2010, monthly donations are no longer being deducted. Please consider donating the difference here.