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Fundraiser "Boots for Our Troops" soon to arrive in Willcox
By Carol Broeder/Arizona Range News
"Boots for Our Troops" will be marching into Willcox next month.
It's a fundraising program that began in Arizona in 2008 to benefit veterans and active military and families, said Cochise County Coordinator Mike Maloon.
Some large corporations such as Basha's Supermarkets and Pizza Hut are participating, but "the primary outlet for our boot sales, however, are neighborhood businesses," he said.
The basics of the program are that a donor purchases a paper boot cutout at a local business for a minimum donation of $2.
The company will then "place their name and/or a statement on it and it will be posted in a place of honor for all to see," Maloon explained.
The program for the public runs from Saturday, Aug. 1 through Saturday, Oct. 31.
Basha's completed their drive at the end of May, and Pizza Hut is running theirs from June 6 to July 9, he said.
Boots for Our Troops was formed to help "Arizona Vets, military members, and families in a very meaningful way," Maloon said.
"Our program fills in the cracks in the concrete," he told those attending a recent start-up meeting in Willcox.
"The money raised in Cochise County stays in Cochise County," said Maloon, adding that their goal is to hold operating expenses to under five percent.
"Last year in Cochise County, nearly 95 percent of the funds raised ($1,000) were donated to the food voucher program run by Army Community Services on Ft. Huachuca," he said.
The funds go to organizations that meet their stringent requirements, such as "being a nonprofit organization that operates with high ethical and professional standards with low operational cost," said Maloon, adding that selected organizations "must serve Arizona veterans, military personnel and their families."
"With local programs and state programs nearly all funds raised in Cochise County benefit our veterans, military members and families," he said.
Additional organizations will be added this year in the county if they are vetted, Maloon added.
"We are currently in the final stage of the process with the Hero Hearts Equicenter in Hereford, who will be working on rehabilitation of individuals with TBI, PTSD and amputees," he said.
Every effort is being made to minimize any extra load on the local businesses and organizations that participate, Maloon said.
A locked honor box can be provided wherever possible, such as with member-only organizations or businesses with high security, he said.
In other locations, they will provide a non-secure container that can be emptied daily and the money secured, Maloon said.
The program supplies businesses with all materials, such as the boot cutouts, collection containers, posters, brochures, and 'Ask Me' buttons, etc.
The Boots for Our Troops program is sponsored by the Tempe Veterans Foundation, which is a 501(c) 3 charitable organization.
Business owners or organizations wishing to participate should contact local representative Kelly Rowden at (520) 384-3371, as early in the month of July as possible.
It's a fundraising program that began in Arizona in 2008 to benefit veterans and active military and families, said Cochise County Coordinator Mike Maloon.
Some large corporations such as Basha's Supermarkets and Pizza Hut are participating, but "the primary outlet for our boot sales, however, are neighborhood businesses," he said.
The basics of the program are that a donor purchases a paper boot cutout at a local business for a minimum donation of $2.
The company will then "place their name and/or a statement on it and it will be posted in a place of honor for all to see," Maloon explained.
The program for the public runs from Saturday, Aug. 1 through Saturday, Oct. 31.
Basha's completed their drive at the end of May, and Pizza Hut is running theirs from June 6 to July 9, he said.
Boots for Our Troops was formed to help "Arizona Vets, military members, and families in a very meaningful way," Maloon said.
"Our program fills in the cracks in the concrete," he told those attending a recent start-up meeting in Willcox.
"The money raised in Cochise County stays in Cochise County," said Maloon, adding that their goal is to hold operating expenses to under five percent.
"Last year in Cochise County, nearly 95 percent of the funds raised ($1,000) were donated to the food voucher program run by Army Community Services on Ft. Huachuca," he said.
The funds go to organizations that meet their stringent requirements, such as "being a nonprofit organization that operates with high ethical and professional standards with low operational cost," said Maloon, adding that selected organizations "must serve Arizona veterans, military personnel and their families."
"With local programs and state programs nearly all funds raised in Cochise County benefit our veterans, military members and families," he said.
Additional organizations will be added this year in the county if they are vetted, Maloon added.
"We are currently in the final stage of the process with the Hero Hearts Equicenter in Hereford, who will be working on rehabilitation of individuals with TBI, PTSD and amputees," he said.
Every effort is being made to minimize any extra load on the local businesses and organizations that participate, Maloon said.
A locked honor box can be provided wherever possible, such as with member-only organizations or businesses with high security, he said.
In other locations, they will provide a non-secure container that can be emptied daily and the money secured, Maloon said.
The program supplies businesses with all materials, such as the boot cutouts, collection containers, posters, brochures, and 'Ask Me' buttons, etc.
The Boots for Our Troops program is sponsored by the Tempe Veterans Foundation, which is a 501(c) 3 charitable organization.
Business owners or organizations wishing to participate should contact local representative Kelly Rowden at (520) 384-3371, as early in the month of July as possible.
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