Operation SOS Supporting Our Soldiers

OPERATION SOS Supporting Our Soldiers

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Holidays for Heroes
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Make a Difference Day

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Suggest a Soldier

Make a Difference Day on Oct 25,2008 at the Army Reserve Center at 880 Commerce Parkway. Take Exit 161 off I-70 in Hays, Kansas.

FAQ's about Make a Difference Day and Holidays for Heroes

What is Make a Difference Day?

Make a Difference Day is a national day of volunteerism. Across the nation, groups of people get together to volunteer for a cause they deem worthy. Operation SOS has chosen their cause as supporting the troops of the United States of America who are bravely serving overseas. This event is called Holidays for Heroes.

What is Holidays for Heroes?

Holidays for Heroes is a day filled with activity. Volunteers will band together to pack boxes of holiday goodies to send to the troops. It works like an assembly line, starting with home baked cookies, and ending with packaging and addressing. Volunteers will start at 10:00am to get the cookies packed first then begin to fill the boxes.

When and where is Holidays for Heroes?

This year, Holidays for Heroes will be held on October 25th. It will be held at the Army Reserve Center at 880 Commerce Parkway in Hays take Exit 161. More exact directions to be posted very soon!

How many boxes will be packaged and sent?

In 2002,50 boxes were sent.125 boxes were sent in 2003. In 2004, 500 boxes were sent and we named our holiday event "Holidays for Heroes". In '05,'06, and "07, 1000 boxes were sent in time for the Thanksgiving/Christmas season. We are planning on 1000 boxes in 2008. We also send boxes for Valentine's Day and 4th of July, usually about 200 boxes each time. To date Operation SOS has sent over 9,700 care packages to our men and women serving in the Middle East. As we approach the 10,000th box mark, we are grateful for all the support we receive from so many people across the country

What goes in these boxes?

Lots of things! Home baked cookies, socks, snacks and goodies, Ramen noodles, hot cocoa, shampoo, soap, laundry detergent, razors, little games, books and/or magazines, and hand drawn holiday cards made by local elementary school students. For a complete list of items needed, click HERE!

I can't volunteer on that day, is there anything I can do?

Absolutely! Donations of either goods or money are needed. In the beginning, all items were donated by the surrounding communities. However, the word is spreading and we are happy to report we are now getting donations from all over the country. Monetary donations are VERY MUCH appreciated for the purpose of shipping these boxes overseas to their deserving recipients. Look for donation boxes in your local businesses, or contact Melanie Elliott. Email her or call her at (785) 476-2840. Donations can also be mailed to Operation SOS at PO BOX 267, Kensington KS, 66951 or at PO Box 1265, Hays KS, 67601.

I know a soldier serving overseas. Can I add his/her name to the mailing list?

YES! We love to get more names of soldiers! You can call, email, or mail the name and address of your soldier to Melanie Elliott.

Is my donation tax deductible?

Operation SOS is not an IRS approved non-profit organization yet. Talk with your tax professional to determine whether your donation can be used as a deduction. If you are a sponsoring business, you will receive an advertising receipt that you can use for tax purposes.