How We Do It
Preparation of these packages is a year-round process. Throughout the year, non-perishable items such as books, DVDs, puzzle books, small travel games, Christmas cards, playing cards, etc. are gathered and stored. Businesses are contacted to request donations. All donated items are inventoried and stored in our offices generously donated by our board of directors. In late September donation boxes with a list of items appropriate to our needs are placed at businesses that support our mission. Generally, donations of large containers of multiple items, such as from Costco, are too large to ship in one package so the boxes are opened and the items divided into appropriately-sized zip-lock bags.
Items included are Christmas cards with a special note from the Adopt A Sox team on behalf of the community, donated books and DVDs reviewed for appropriateness, a star from a retired flag in a small zip lock bag along with a note from the Adopt A Sox team, hand-knit caps with hand-made neck coolers along with instructions on how to use them, a hand-made designer-matched cloth pillow case, and so much more. Volunteers sew the neck coolers and pillowcases at organized events.
On occasion Adopt A Sox receives excessive numbers of particular items and not enough of others. When this occurs, the shopping committee exchanges the excess items for needed items. If the items cannot be returned, arrangements are made to distribute these items to military families.
Adopt A Sox maintains a safe and clean working environment for their voluteers. When boxed donations arrive, the cardboard is recycled and any educational coupons on boxes are removed to be given to local schools. Items sometimes are received that cannot be utilized due to shipping constraints or volume. These items are donated when possible to military families or where best utilized.
As the shipping date nears, boxes are staged in preparation of packaging. As donations increase and the bulk of the items are on hand, packaging begins.
When the boxes are ready to go, labels and customs forms are prepared and placed on each box. Postage is purchased and attached to the box. Arrangements are made with the Post Office to pick up the boxes and ship.
Sometimes a box will be returned as undelivered, but the vast majority are received as expected. Often a recipitant will send a thank you and even photos of the opened box and the smiles it produced. Mission accomplished!
