Site Search 

Sign Up For The Newsletter. Enter Your Email:
 
Share This Website With a Friend
Home Our Mission FAQ News Room Security Contact Us Deborah's Place
  Military Registration
  Foster-A-Soldier
  About Us
    Our Mission
    A Soldier's Story
    Why We Do It
    FAQ
  Shop Now
  Thank You Center
  Corporate Sponsor   Program
Make A Group Gift
Send A Soldier A Birthday Gift

General

  1. What is Treats for Troops?

  2. What inspired Treats for Troops?

  3. How Does Treats for Troops Work?

  4. Don't soldiers get plenty of mail from friends and family?

  5. How many men and women are currently on active military duty?

  6. Is Treats for Troops associated with the government or any other organization?

  7. Can my group gather items and send them to Treats for Troops to be shipped?

  8. What if my company wants to donate products?

  9. We want to send Girl Scout Cookies to the Troops. Can we send them to Treats for Troops to be shipped?

  10. Is my gift tax deductible?

Foster-A-Soldier Program

  1. What if I don't know anyone in the service, but want to do something to show my support?

  2. How does the Foster-A-SoldierTM program work?

  3. Why is the Foster-A-Soldier Program so important?

  4. How will the sponsor know their package was received?

  5. Why can't sponsors and soldiers communicate directly?

  6. Once I've sponsored a soldier, can I keep sending them gifts?

  7. Can groups participate in the Foster-A-Soldier program?

  8. Can I send packages to more than one soldier at a time?

  9. How does someone in the military register to be sponsored?

  10. Can a friend or relative register someone in the military?

  11. Do I need a TFT ID to send a package?

  12. What is a TFT ID?

  13. Why is it important to register a soldier?

  14. Can I get a Pen Pal through Treats for Troops?

  15. How can I be sure my soldier will share the treats?

  16. How do I know my package will go to someone who doesn’t get much mail?

  17. Can I send gifts on behalf of others?

  18. I missed the place to enter a message for my soldier. Can a message be added after the order is complete?

Shopping

  1. What's available in the TFT Gift Shop?

  2. What's available in Gifts to Go?

  3. How did TFT decide what to offer in the Gift Shop?

  4. What items do soldiers want most?

  5. Can I send a letter or card instead of a gift?

  6. What if I'm shopping for someone I know?

  7. Can I send a package to my son in college through Treats for Troops?

  8. How do I pay by check or Money Order?

  9. What forms of payment do you accept?

  10. How much is shipping and handling?

  11. How can I send a large package to a unit?

  12. What’s available in Gifts to Go?

  13. Do the phone cards work from the Middle East?

  14. How many minutes are on the phone cards?

  15. If my soldier will be home soon, should I still send a package?

Security

  1. How does TFT insure that items in the packages are safe?

  2. How does TFT make sure packages go to an active duty person?

Package Delivery

  1. Why can't I just send a package myself?

  2. How are packages sent?

  3. How long does it take for a package to arrive?

  4. Why won’t the Post Office offer a discount on shipping?

  5. How can I be sure my package gets mailed?

  6. How do I know my package arrived?

  7. Can I get delivery confirmation?

  8. What About tracking my package?

1. What is Treats for Troops?
Treats for Troops is a web-based business dedicated to making it simple for anyone to send gift packages to Americans on active military duty anywhere in the world.
^ to top


2. What inspired Treats for Troops?
Back in 2001 when Deborah Crane heard that all of the "Any Service Member" programs had been cancelled, all she could think about was what a terrible injustice it was that at a time when flags were waving from every porch and America was seeing the biggest surge in patriotism since WWII, suddenly there was no longer a way to support the very people who had pledged to protect our country with their lives. So Deborah decided to put her 20 years of business experience to work figuring out a way to make it possible for every American to do something beyond flying their flags to show their support for our troops.
^ to top


3. How Does Treats for Troops Work?
If you know someone in the service, and have their address, all you have to do is go to our Gift Shop, click on Gifts to Go, and choose one of our ready-to-send packages. Or you can go shopping on Market Street and put together your own gift package. You’ll find everything from freshly baked cookies and old-fashioned fudge to practical items like duct tape and flashlights in our Gift Shop.
^ to top


4. Don't soldiers get plenty of mail from friends and family?
For many young people who choose to serve their country, college is financially out of reach. Often families just aren’t able to send gifts and packages as often as they’d like. We constantly hear that mail is a soldier’s only link to home, and there’s no such thing as too much.
^ to top


5. How many men and women are currently on active military duty?
According to the most recent numbers released by the Department of Defense, as of December 31, 2001, there were 1,384,812 men and women on active military duty. Of course, since then over two hundred thousand members of the Guards and Reserves have also been called up.
^ to top


6. Is Treats for Troops associated with the government or any other organization?
No, Treats for Troops is an independent, privately held company, founded and owned by Denver businesswoman Deborah Crane.
^ to top


7. Can my group gather items and send them to Treats for Troops to be shipped?
Because of security issues we cannot accept items gathered by individuals or organizations, however well meaning. We recommend that if your group wants to do something to support the troops, you consider using the money you would have spent on goods to donate to send packages through Treats for Troops. We have TFT experts available to help you with your shopping.

^ to top


8. What if my company wants to donate products?
If your company is interested in donating products or participating in our Corporate Sponsor Program, please contact us through our Contact Us Page .
^ to top


9. We want to send Girl Scout Cookies to the Troops. Can we send them to Treats for Troops to be shipped?
Treats for Troops does not have a license to sell Girl Scout Cookies in our Gift Shops. Because of the cost of receiving goods and properly packing and shipping packages, we are sorry, but we are not able to accept items like Girl Scout cookies purchased elsewhere and ship them to our troops.
^ to top


10. Is my gift tax deductible?
According to the IRS, gifts made to individuals are not tax deductible. We believe one of the things that makes Treats for Troops special is the fact that our customers are able to show their support for our troops by sending packages and good wishes to individual soldiers registered with our Foster A Soldier Program. We wish these gifts were tax deductible, but they’re not. Because they are going to an individual soldier by name, the IRS treats them the same way they would if a friend or family member sent a package. We hope you’ll agree that the magic of receiving a package addressed to you and the ability to put a smile on an individual soldier’s face is better than getting a write off.
^ to top


11. What if I don't know anyone in the service, but want to do something to show my support?
Through our unique Foster-A-Soldier program, individuals and organizations can sponsor soldiers, and send gifts with good wishes and messages of support without actually personally knowing anyone in the service.
^ to top


12. How does the Foster-A-SoldierTM program work?
Anyone on active military duty can register with Treats for Troops. When someone wants to sponsor a soldier, TFT matches them with a soldier who wants to be sponsored. The sponsor then can then pick a gift from Gifts to Go, or go shopping on Market Street and put together a package of their own, and add a message from our free Message Center. That’s all there is to it; their gift will be on its way in two business days.
^ to top


13. Why is the Foster-A-Soldier Program so important?
There used to be a variety of programs that gave people a way to send gifts and messages of support to “Any Service Member”; the Dear Abby Christmas program that was started during the Vietnam war is a good example. But all the “Any Service Member” programs were cancelled for security reasons after the anthrax scare that followed the September 11 terrorist attacks.
^ to top


14. How will the sponsor know their package was received?
We give soldiers two ways to say Thanks to their sponsors. They can send e-thanks through our Thank You Page. They enter the order number from the packing slip, and then type in a short thank-you message. We match the order number to the sponsors' e-mail and instantly forward the message. In case someone doesn't have access to the Internet, we also enclose a pre-addressed thank you postcard in every package. When the card comes back to the TFT offices, we'll forward it to the sponsor.
^ to top


15. Why can't sponsors and soldiers communicate directly?
For security reasons, we’re committed to keeping contact information completely confidential. Soldiers receive messages from their sponsors, but not full names, addresses or e-mail addresses. Sponsors will know the soldier they are fostering is a Marine from Illinois named Sam, but won’t be given any contact information. TFT is the liaison between soldiers who’d like to be sponsored and Americans who want to show their support for the members of our armed forces who are out there protecting our country.
^ to top


16. Once I've sponsored a soldier, can I keep sending them gifts?
Yes, when you sponsor a soldier you’ll receive his or her TFT ID Number. If you want to send the soldier another package, just click on I Have a TFT ID Number when you go shopping. When you enter a TFT ID Number, you’ll also be able to write and send your own personal message of support if you choose to do so.
^ to top


17. Can groups participate in the Foster-A-Soldier program?
TFT makes it easy for companies, organizations, groups or individuals to sponsor one or more soldiers. One of our personal shoppers can help you choose the soldiers you want to sponsor and recommend gifts that work with your budget. Or you can simply give us your budget and leave the shopping to us. For more information, Contact Us Page
^ to top


18. Can I send packages to more than one soldier at a time?
You can send packages to as many soldiers as you like. If you prefer to shop yourself, you’ll only need to enter your billing info once, as long as you don’t close your browser window. But you’ll need to shop for one soldier at a time – foster your soldier, pick out your package or items, then foster another soldier. Or if you’d prefer, you can work with one of our personal shoppers, who’ll talk to you about your preferences, offer suggestions, and even enter your orders for you. For more information, Contact Us Page .
^ to top


19. How does someone in the military register to be sponsored?
Registration is fast, easy and free. They just go the website and click on Military Registration. To register, a soldier needs an e-mail address and an active duty address. If they want to share a little personal information about their hobbies, interests and favorite foods to help their sponsor shop, that option is available, but the information is not required.
^ to top


20. Can a friend or relative register someone in the military?
Yes, a friend or relative can register a soldier as long as they have the required information – including full name, e-mail address and active duty address.
^ to top


21. Do I need a TFT ID to send a package?
If you know your soldier’s military address, that’s all you need to send a package. But why not register them with the Foster-A-Soldier Program too, so they’ll be eligible to receive gifts from their fellow Americans who want to show their support for our troops.

^ to top


22. What is a TFT ID?
When a soldier is registered with our Foster-A-Soldier Program, they receive their own personal TFT ID. If they choose, they can share their TFT ID number with friends, family, or anyone who wants to send them a package. If you have a soldier’s TFT ID Number, you don’t need to know their military address to send them a package through Treats for Troops; our system will automatically locate them.
^ to top


23. Why is it important to register a soldier?


A soldier must be registered with Treats for Troops Foster-A-Soldier Program in order to be eligible to receive gifts from their fellow Americans who want to show their support. We’d love it if every soldier on active duty were registered with Treats for Troops, but the government does not automatically register soldiers with us, so they must either register themselves or be registered by someone who has their correct military address. Soldiers can register online on our Web site or complete and return a Registration Card.
^ to top


24. Can I get a Pen Pal through Treats for Troops?
For security reason, we do not release any contact information for the soldiers who are registered with us. You can customize a message to accompany every package you send through Treats for Troops through our Create A Message Center.
^ to top


25. How can I be sure my soldier will share the treats?
Of course we can’t guarantee a soldier will share a package. We can only tell you that we receive hundreds of letters from soldiers who are so grateful someone has sent a package big enough to share with their fellow soldiers. We’ve even heard stories of soldiers breaking our Jumbo Cookies in half so they can share with even more troops. We hear that individually wrapped candies and other small items are also often given out to local children.

^ to top


26. How do I know my package will go to someone who doesn’t get much mail?
Of course, we can’t be sure your soldier doesn’t get much mail, but if you let the Foster-A-Soldier system pick your soldier for you, it will automatically select the soldier who has been waiting the longest to receive a package.
^ to top


27. Can I send gifts on behalf of others?
If you want to send packages through Treats for Troops on behalf of customers, friends, family members, employees or in memoriam, we can arrange for everyone on your list to receive a letter or e-mail telling them about the gift that’s been sent in their name, along with some information about Treats for Troops so they’ll really appreciate what you’ve done on their behalf. If you’re interested in sending gifts in the name of others please visit our Contact Us Page
.
^ to top


28. I missed the place to enter a message for my soldier. Can a message be added after the order is complete?
TFT has a default message in place for such instances.


The default message is:

Dear (soldier's first name)

Hope this package brightens your day. We are behind you all the way.

(sender's first name) from (sender's home state)
^ to top


29. What's available in the TFT Gift Shop?
Gifts to Go offers a variety of gift packages that each contains several different items. You can also go shopping on Market Street and design your own custom assortment from a wide variety of items available for individual sale.
^ to top


30. What's available in Gifts to Go?
Crazy for Chocolate has fresh-baked chocolate-chocolate chip cookies, old-fashioned fudge and other chocolate treats. Gadgets and Goodies offers items like duct tape, a flashlight with a night vision filter and bungee cords. And of course there's Cookie Break, with assorted fresh-baked cookies, teas and an insulated mug. There are several different themed food packages with candy, drink mixes and popular snacks. We also have personal care packages with things like shampoo and toothpaste. And we'll have themed packages for special celebrations, like birthdays, Christmas and other holidays.
^ to top


31. How did TFT decide what to offer in the Gift Shop?
We wanted to offer products people in the military would really want and appreciate, and would be fun for sponsors and friends and family to send and receive. We also had to take practical things into consideration, like will an item stand up to being shipped half-way around the world, potentially subjected to high heat or extreme cold, and still arrive in great shape?
^ to top


32. What items do soldiers want most?
To be sure TFT offered items on every soldier’s “Most Wanted” list, we relied on research and interviews with many people who are or have been in the service. Deborah Crane, the founder of Treats for Troops, has a son in the Air Force who is stationed overseas, another son who was in the Navy, and was married to a man in the Army, so she has a lot of personal experience, both in knowing what kinds of things the troops want and need, and understanding just how important mail call is. People talk about the packages and mail they received for years after they are safely back home.
^ to top


33. Can I send a letter or card instead of a gift?
The TFT Card Shop lets you build a letter from a wide variety of messages and sentiments. The letter you create will be printed, placed in a card and sent in a box with a few small gifts. We don’t offer the option of creating personal text because TFT is committed to making sure that all messages sent to our troops are 100% supportive.
^ to top


34. What if I'm shopping for someone I know?
If you already know someone's name and military address, all you have to do is go to the Gift Shop. You can send as many packages as you like, as often as you want.
^ to top


35. Can I send a package to my son in college through Treats for Troops?
No, gifts from Treats for Troops are just for active duty military personnel.
^ to top


36. How do I pay by check or Money Order?
Your e-mail confirmation of your order is the only invoice you will receive. PLEASE NOTE YOUR INVOICE NUMBER ON YOUR CHECK OR MONEY ORDER and mail to:

Treats for Troops, Inc.
Order Department
14 Inverness Drive East, Suite F-148
Englewood, Colorado 80112
^ to top


37. What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover Card, as well as personal or company checks and money orders.
^ to top


38. How much is shipping and handling?
Postage is determined by the USPS, and based on total package weight. We send all of our packages Priority Mail. The approximate package weight appears after each individual item or package. One flat rate packing and handling charge of $5.00 is added to each order; you can send as many items as you want to one address for this single fee, plus postage. The total shipping and handling for your order will appear before you check out, so you’ll know how much it will be. As an example, it will cost approximately $19 to send a five-pound package to the Middle East, including packing, handling and shipping.
^ to top


39. How can I send a large package to a unit?
We have many packages available that are designed to be shared by a group of soldiers. You will find these packages in the Enough to Share Shop in Gifts to Go on our Web site. You can also contact our Group Gift Department and ask about our Unit Support Programs. We have groups that range in size from six to about one hundred soldiers registered with us. If you’re interested in finding out more about sending a package to a group or unit please go to Contact Us Page and select Unit Support.
^ to top


40. What’s available in Gifts to Go?
Gifts to Go offers themed packages like Snack Attack and the TFT Top Ten that are filled with items that soldiers are sure to love. You’ll find packages starting at $9.95. The Gifts to Go section of the Gift Shop offers several different shops, including Treats to Eat, the Care Center (with personal care necessities like hand and face wipes) and Enough to Share, which offers packages specifically put together to treat two or more soldiers. You can also add individual items from the shops on Market Street to packages from Gifts to Go if you want to.

^ to top


41. Do the phone cards work from the Middle East?
Yes, we offer AT&T phone cards and have gotten feedback that they do work from the Middle East.
^ to top


42. How many minutes are on the phone cards?
We’ve chosen AT&T phone cards, in order to provide soldiers with the most reliable service in the most countries world-wide. The face number of minutes on the phone card is 120 minutes in the contiguous United States, as determined by AT&T. The actual number of minutes can vary significantly, depending on where the soldier is calling from, time of day, long distance carrier, etc. If the carrier is not AT&T, there are normally connection fees, both domestically and abroad, and international flat fees vary. We have not found any carrier or phone card that provides a more cost effective way to offer soldiers a way to phone home.


^ to top


43. If my soldier will be home soon, should I still send a package?


If you are sure your soldier will be home in thirty days or less, we recommend you do not send a package through Treats for Troops, or mail something on your own. While most of the packages sent arrive at their destinations in less than thirty days, the military mail system processes millions of pieces of mail each day, and soldiers’ records are often changed well ahead of their actual relocation. Oftentimes this means that even if the package arrives before the soldier is sent back home, the system may not realize it, and the package could get lost in the shuffle, and never reach your soldier.


^ to top


44. How does TFT insure that items in the packages are safe?
Products that aren’t already packaged, like cookies and fudge, are sealed before they leave the kitchen or prep area. Sealed products and pre-packaged items, like individual tea bags, are taken to our secure commercial fulfillment facility, and packed to order.
^ to top


45. How does TFT make sure packages go to an active duty person?
For security reasons, our database system is very sophisticated. We validate every address. For stateside shipments, we check addresses against all valid base addresses. If the package is going overseas, the soldier will have an APO or FPO address, which has a coded number very much like a zip code. We verify those numbers as well. We want our sponsors to be completely confident that their gift is going to someone on active military duty who will be very happy to receive it.
^ to top


46. Why can't I just send a package myself?
Anyone who’s regularly sent packages to someone in the military already knows that it’s quite a task meeting all the packing and mailing requirements. Thanks to the Unibomber, you can no longer just drop a package in the nearest mail box; you have to take anything over a pound into a Post Office, stand in line and have it weighed, and sometimes inspected. And you can’t send packages to the military through any alternative service, like FedX or UPS – everything has to go out USPS.
^ to top


47. How are packages sent?
TFT sends all packages USPS Priority Mail from our secure shipping center in Denver, Colorado. Because of military regulations, US Mail is the only available delivery method; the government does not permit special delivery services like UPS and FEDX to deliver military mail or packages overseas, and using special delivery services stateside usually isn’t practical, because it’s often difficult for the soldier to actually receive the package.
^ to top


48. How long does it take for a package to arrive?
If the package is going to a soldier stationed in the U.S., normal USPS delivery times apply. If the soldier is stationed overseas, regulations require packages to go through the Military Postal Service, which is an extension of the USPS. Your package will then go USPS Priority Mail to one of the official East or West Coast points of departure. From there the MPS will deliver the package. We recommend allowing a minimum of two weeks for delivery, and four to six weeks during peak demand periods like Christmas and other major holidays.
^ to top


49. Why won’t the Post Office offer a discount on shipping?


The Post Office tells us they are not legally permitted to offer a special discount or special rates to any group, including active military. The U.S. Congress is the only body that would be able to pass legislation permitting special rates for mail going to active military.
^ to top


50. How can I be sure my package gets mailed?
Treats for Troops sends all packages via U.S. Priority Mail. The Denver Post Office picks up packages from our secure fulfillment center daily. You will receive an e-mail confirmation when you order has been shipped.
^ to top


51. How do I know my package arrived?
Packages are very carefully packed in sturdy First Class Mail boxes in our warehouse. They are picked up by the Denver Post Office; from there they are sent to military mail consolidation centers on the East and West Coast. Once there, the military mail system takes over, so it’s not possible for us to get a return receipt that shows a particular package arrived. We strongly encourage soldiers to say Thank You to the generous folks who send them packages, but sometimes conditions just don’t permit them to write a note or get on the Internet. We do receive hundreds of Thank You Notes every month from our troops that we pass along to the sender. You can read some of these thank you notes on our Web site in the Thank You Center.
^ to top


52. Can I get delivery confirmation?
The Military Postal Service does not offer a delivery confirmation service at this time.
^ to top


53. What About tracking my package?
Currently the only way to track a package that is going to an APO or FPO address is to register it. We don’t register packages for several reasons, the most important of which is that registering a package seriously slows down delivery time. A registered package has to be scanned at every stop in the US, and manually logged into the system at every international stop. In addition, registered packages require special handling and must be wrapped in a specific way that facilitates checking and logging along the route. We estimate the additional special handling would add an additional $4 per package to shipping costs, in addition to the registration fee. Lastly, the military will not search for a registered package until at least 45 days after the ship date, and the search must be originated by the sender.
^ to top


See Our Photo Gallery! Back Forward
“Dear Melanie: I wanted to say thank you for your support and taking the time to send a care package. It is folks such as yourself that remind us of why we countinue to put on the uniform. Thanks again ”
Bryce
U. S. Marines
Privacy Terms | Contact Us | Terms of Use | Site Map | Shipping & Handling | TFT Process | Links to TFT

© 2005 Treats for Troops Inc. All Rights Reserved. Website development by Digital Assets Inc.