When I heard that Dina Riccobono at MarketLeverage was participating in Operation Shoebox, I wanted to help.  Being in California, I can’t really participate with her and her group, but I can tell you all about it in hopes that some of you are in the Orlando area and can help, or alternatively, would like to make donations for future package parties Dina plans to host.

Operation Shoebox puts together care packages year round for our active troops, and ships them out either on a one-time basis, or directly connects you with a troop (1 solider = a troop) to interact with for the duration of their tour. While Dina wanted to help as many troops as possible, she really didn’t have the budget to shop for 50 troops herself…so she enlisted the help of some friends. They sent letters, emails, tweets – all asking various companies to donate their products for the packages. They solicited non-perishable items from friends, family, dentists, and co-workers, put out ‘Op Boxes’ in their offices to collect supplies, and stocked monetary donations to assist with shipping costs (the most expensive item for Operation Shoebox by far).

So far, Dina and her group have been able to get donations from the following companies:

• Xshot – 53 of them!
• DoYouPoken.com – 108 Pokens!
• Pingo.com (Brian Hawkins) – 200 International Calling Cards
• Quaker Oats – 50 Gatorade Vouchers
• GBL Public Relations for Pentel – Hundreds of Pens, Pencils, Hats, and t-shirts.
• FujiFilm – 60 One-Time Use Cameras (SeeHere.com)
• CharmFactory – 60 American Flag Pins
• TheDistrictDish – Matchboxes
• Burn Cream MD – Medical Supplies
• Orlando Ichiban – Space for the Packaging Party with Discount Sushi and Drinks

It’s not just companies getting involved.  Dina has been able to attract some individual sponsors as well:

• Drew Bennett of BenSpark.com
• Various members of the MarketLeverage team
• Vanessa Swanepoel of PokenGirl.com

The packaging party – where they will organize all 50 shoeboxes and put the sponsors items and donations together for individual shipment to the troops – is TODAY in Orlando!  If you’re near Orlando and want to help, Dina and her group are happy to have you!. Orlando Ichiban has been kind enough to donate space to use to put the boxes together, and also some discounts on food and drinks. They will potentially live stream this packaging party, and then Deb Schroeder and Dina will drive all the boxes to Operation Shoebox HQ the first week of December and hand deliver the packages. She’ll be filming that journey as well.

Please, if you’re in the Orlando area or know anyone who is, go help them out.  It’s a great thing they’re doing.  You can also organize something similar in your area.  You can go to OperationShoebox.com to adopt your own troop.  Dina hopes to do this quarterly if all goes well this time.  If you’d like to sponsor any items or donate funds for shipping, you can reach out to Dina directly at dina-at-marketleverage.com.

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