A Support Our Troops fundraiser is a great way to make money for your group. With troops overseas to protect our freedom, selling patriotic ribbons and car magnets is a great idea. When telling people about this, be sure to add that your group will be sending care packages to troops! This can be a double pronged fundraiser that brings in much needed revenue for your cause and showing support for the men and women who risk their lives for those at home.
Contact fabric stores for donations of ribbon, beads, and safety pins. Ask a clothing supplier for plain white or pale olive drab colored cotton T-shirts. Find a silk screening shop to print supportive messages on the T-shirts such as military wife, child, parent – you get the idea. Also, have some shirts simply stating “I support our military” for those without direct ties to a particular soldier.
Locate a business that will donate magnets for cars in the shape of ribbons, either yellow signifying the wait for our troops to return, camouflage, or red, white and blue in support. Also ask for donations of dog tags with messages proclaiming support for the troops. Look into donations of rubber or silicone wristbands, too, and have them stamped with similar logos and sentiments.
While you are soliciting donations for the products you can sell, don’t forget to fill up your basket with items to go in the care packages. You can visit the military support websites to find out what soldiers are most in need of, and for shipping information once the packages are ready.
For each business donating items, offer free advertising. Ask for business cards to be displayed with their products, and tell them exactly who will benefit from the fundraiser and how. Don’t forget to mention the care packages.
Collect a group of volunteers for an afternoon and thread the safety pins with red, white and blue beads and yellow or flag striped ribbon. This will also be a good time to make posters and prepare flyers. In the days leading up to the event, collect your volunteers to bake and decorate cookies. Be sure to bake enough to send some in each care package!
Find a shopping mall, a spot on a busy street, or even a place at the county fair to set up tables displaying all of the patriotic and supportive items. Prominently display signs giving information about the fundraiser, and info about those who were kind enough to donate. Put the business cards near the signs, as well as beside each group of items. For every purchase over $20, include a card for the person to fill out to be tucked in a care package. The soldiers who receive them will love the messages of support from home!
This is not only a fun fundraiser; it’s patriotic and supportive of our military troops and their families. You don’t have to support war to have a Support Our Troops
Fundraiser and to send encouragement and appreciation to the troops and their families!
