Adopt a Troop
Individual volunteers, classes, or groups can directly meet the needs of our heroes by adopting a troop. When you sign up, you have the option to send care packages and letters directly to one or multiple troops.
Any troop available for adoption has given Operation Shoebox permission to release their mailing address to a supporter. When a troop signs up for a package, we do not ask for their origin, branch, or specific overseas station. We learn this information only if they choose to disclose it.
If you are interested in sending letters and packages directly to one or more troops, please fill out the form provided on this page. Our adoption coordinator will contact you with information about a troop within 3-4 days.
Thank you for supporting our troops deployed outside the USA, letting them know they are remembered and cared for.
Note: ‘A troop’ refers to a single individual from any of the service branches.
We will keep all provided information confidential and it will never be shared or sold.
Common Questions
The term “troop” covers all, no matter what branch they may serve in. A “troop” is one individual person from any one of the service branches and “troops” are multiple. For example, 1 troop is 1 soldier; 4 troops would be 4 soldiers.
You are not required to send any packages or letters weekly or monthly. This can be a one-time event.
Shipping can take 1-2 weeks. Depending on their location in the world shipping can be delayed. Please use shelf stable items.
No, we adopt troops on a first-in, first-out basis and do not ask about the branch of the troops when they sign up. Therefore, we are unable to provide you with a specific branch when adopting out a troop.
Yes, you will have to fill out a customs form for each box you send. Check with your local post office to find out how they want the customs form filled out, as some post offices have their own specific requirements.
-Check our FaQ page for more on shipping and addressing.
-You can ship your items to us or directly overseas to the troops through the Adopt a Troop program.
-If you are shipping a large quantity of items, we suggest using a large box, like a copy paper box, that way you can fit more items into fewer boxes.
-If you are shipping to us and you know the weight of your box, you can go online to FedEx, USPS and UPS to compare prices on shipping.
-If you would like to send a smaller box, we suggest using Flat Rate Priority boxes which you can get from your local post office.
-We suggest using travel size items, such as toiletries.
-When shipping toiletries, package the liquid items or items that will melt and leak like soaps, shampoos and lotions, separately from the other items in case they break open during shipping. You can put them inside ziploc bags and still ship in the same box.
