Packages from home… Local organization holding weekend benefit to send pieces of home to troops overseas
What started as a simple keep-busy activity while watching evening television has blossomed into a county-wide organization that’s helped hundreds of overseas U.S. troops alleviate stress while getting a little taste of comfort and home.
Local woman and founder of the Adopt-a-Troop foundation Kaye Caple was sitting at home one night back in 2007 watching TV?when the idea suddenly came to her.
“God sent it to me,” she said.
She immediately began making Christmas spiders, as it was around the holidays, and when that time of the year was over, her spiders became red, white and blue.
The Adopt-a-Troop organization was born.
“I began selling the spiders (from the ‘God and the Spider,’ story of a U.S. Marine saved by a spider during WWII) to make money to buy gifts for our overseas troops,” Kaye said. “I’m a twice Vietnam widow, and I didn’t want the men and women coming home from Afghanistan and Iraq to be treated the way they were from Vietnam and Korea.”
Working out of the garage of her SWFL home, Kaye uses the funds that are donated to her organization to purchase an array of toiletries, snacks and other products for the troops that we so easily take for granted on this side of the globe.
“We send snacks, candy, toiletries, moist wipes, nail clippers, trash bags, socks, Tootsie Pops and all kinds of those little bags of snacks they like pretzels, animal crackers, Cracker Jacks, peanut butter crackers all types of fun stuff,” she said. “I also send Charmin-To-Go travel toilet paper, soap and the blue Gold Bond foot powder. They’re expensive, but it’s the only thing that works for the heat and the environment that these men and women are encountering over there.”
Kaye, who’s been nicknamed by her troops as “Momma,” said each box costs about $60 or $70 to pack and ship, making it over to the camps in about 10 to 14 days. She said moist wipes are a Godsend for them as well.
“They’re dealing with 120- to 130-degree days and 110-degree nights. People don’t realize what our troops are going through over there,” she said.
So far, to date, Kaye said 869 packages have been sent out to 10 units and about 400 to 450 soldiers, about 50 of them going out just this summer.
Kaye graciously accepts any donations and contributions made to the cause, but if deciding to contribute items to the charity, she likes to remind us, “When it comes to the ‘needs list,’ think small. These packages are 8- to 10-inch boxes. I like sending them snack-size items and travel-size accessories.
“And our women over there really kick ass. They’ve done some phenomenal things, but they also like to feel like a woman,” she said. “I like to send them lotions, shampoo, conditioner, tampons you know, feminine things these women aren’t getting over there.”
Raising awareness and items
Kaye sets up Adopt-a-Troop shop whenever and wherever she can to raise awareness, funds and items to be packed and sent overseas to our troops.
She’s regularly stationed at Bike Night held in downtown Fort Myers, and also holds fund-raisers for the cause throughout the year.
The next benefit will be a poker run through the Fort Myers Beach area Sunday, Nov. 8, beginning at Jimmy’s Pink Cadillac at 10 a.m.
“I just thought the Beach needed a poker run for the troops,” she said.
The cost to ride is $15 per biker, $10 per rider.
Stops will include the Sandy Parrot, Sneaky Pete’s, Junkanoo and the VFW on Pine Ridge, where a conclusional celebratory party will be held, complete with food, drink and live music by the local sensation of DAZ, beginning at 2 p.m.
“Of course, if you don’t feel like doing the poker run, just come to the after-party at the VFW,” Kaye said.
The next benefit following the poker run will also be held at the VFW on Pine Ridge, Thursday, Nov. 19, from 6 to 10 p.m., again featuring DAZ.
Helping thru the site
What started as a collection of spiders sold for the cause has now grown into an entire wardrobe of goodies available for a small contribution.
Kaye said any purchase made on the Adopt-a-Troop website goes directly to funding the stuffing and shipping of packages to our overseas troops.
“We started with little spiders, but now we have patches, spaghetti tops, T-shirts, key rings, flags, stuffed animals, magnets, you name it,” Kaye said.
Shipping services are available. Visit AdoptATroop.net to get your merchandise and help fill a box.
Corporate help
Currently in the process of obtaining a 501-c3 non-profit status, Kaye and her organization is recognized by local and corporate companies who offer a total discount for every visit.
“Walgreens on the corner of Gladiolus and San Carlos Boulevard orders all of my toiletries for the organization and they give me a 15-percent-off, across-the-board discount,” she said.
“I do this pretty much by myself. I have some friends that help me pack boxes, and a couple people go with me to shop at Sam’s. It’s quite a chore, because we go to Sam’s, then we go to Walmart. Walmart carries three items Sam’s does not. But, it’s all totally worth it.”
If you’d like to contribute to the cause in any way, shape or form, contact Kaye at 671-8456 or visit the website, AdoptATroop.net.