As Veterans Day draws closer, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) is prepping for its 17th annual Truckers for Troops initiative. OOIDA’s Truckers for Troops spans one week and is designed to raise funds for veteran organizations and assemble care packages destined for U.S. troops stationed overseas. In a unique twist, this year’s campaign will last two weeks, from Nov. 6 to Nov. 19.
Effective Monday, Nov. 6, new and renewed OOIDA memberships will be available at a discounted rate of $35 for one year. Furthermore, the Association is marking its 50th anniversary with a special offer: a two-year extended member subscription at just $50 or four years at $100. Members are free to select the number of years they’d like to join or renew at the reduced rate, with 10% of the total going to Truckers for Troops.
In a remarkable display of commitment, OOIDA has pledged to match these funds dollar-for-dollar, and individual tax-deductible contributions are welcomed.
“The fundraising effort has been an OOIDA tradition since 2007, originally dedicated to sending care packages to service personnel stationed in combat zones,” the Association said in a statement. “Truckers for Troops has also helped a variety of veterans facilities, including those assisting or housing wounded, disabled or homeless service members.”
Approximately $800,000 has been donated by OOIDA members since the start of Truckers for Troops. These funds have supported veterans and veteran organizations, dispatching over 3,250 care packages to nearly 40,000 military service members. The Association has also extended its assistance to 65 facilities that cater to wounded, disabled, and homeless veterans.
Supporting Truckers for Troops is as simple as dialing 816-229-5791 between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. CT on weekdays or visiting www.OOIDA.com and choosing “Become a Member” to join or renew.
Among the recipients of Truckers for Troops’ donations is the Veterans Community Project (VCP), a Kansas City-based organization dedicated to “serving those who served us.” This nonprofit aids former military personnel through various means, including its Veteran Outreach Center, which offers an array of services, including assistance with navigating VA benefits, identification services, referrals for mental and physical health support, financial counseling, access to hygiene kits, and a food pantry during the organization’s commissary day.
In addition to the Outreach Center, VCP’s community of tiny homes provides homeless veterans an opportunity to escape life on the streets. The program boasts a remarkable 60% success rate in transitioning veterans from homelessness to permanent housing, significantly exceeding the average of other housing programs.
Following the success of VCP’s Kansas City site, the program is expanding to campuses in Sioux Falls, S.D.; Longmont, Colo.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Oklahoma City; and St. Louis, with the goal of establishing a community in every state.
Source: Land Line
