On the latest episode of Fuel Disclosure, we sat down with Lindsey Rodgers. Lindsey is the co-founder of Boots for Troops, a non-profit that supports deployed military members! (Here is the full episode of the podcast for your listening pleasure.) Moffitt is a proud supporter of Boots for Troops, having sponsored them for the last 5 years at their annual events. Read more to hear about how Lindsey and Jimmy started Boots for Troops, and the 2023 Crawfish Boil recap!
How It Began
In 2011 Lindsey met her future husband, Jimmy, at a party. “Three months later he went to bootcamp, and the rest was history for us,” she laughed. Just 19, Lindsey dated Jimmy as he enlisted in the Navy. The couple enjoyed their time in Virginia while Jimmy served. Then the Navy gave Jimmy a six month deployment. While deployed, Jimmy saw some shortcomings in the way our troops were taken care of overseas. “I would send him these gigantic care packages,” Lindsey said. However, Jimmy noticed there were always a few of his fellow soldiers who really didn’t receive anything. This didn’t sit right with the couple.
One morning, Lindsey woke up to an email from her husband. “I couldn’t wait,” he told her. He had started a GoFundMe page to start Boots for Troops.
The Next Steps
After that came the process of building up the non-profit. Lindsey recounted how they raised the money for the website and startup costs of the GoFundMe. When Jimmy came home, the couple threw themselves into trade shows and marketing to get their mission, and their brand, out there. With more money raised, the couple began putting together care packages for deployed troops. “Our primary program is a care package program,” Lindsey explained. What distinguishes Boots for Troops is that the care packages are custom for each service member.
A questionnaire is sent to the service member asking them a range of questions, from snacks to sports to, you guessed it, boots. “We build the perfect custom care package.” Boots for Troops ships care packages year round. Lindsey insists the extra effort is worth it. “…It’s like Christmas Morning,” she said, emphatically.
The organization and care package output has expanded every year, with a few hundred being sent the first year and nearly a thousand being sent in 2022! They also now have their own office in Tomball with its own dedicated care package room.
The Best Part
When asked what the best part of the service was, Lindsey was torn. On the one hand, the troops receiving the packages were obviously ecstatic. There are direct testimonials on the non-profit’s website that illustrates that.
But the excitement of the people coming in to package the goods for the troops, whether they are direct family members or engaged in charity work, is also a joy to behold.
April 2023 Crawfish Boil
On April 29, 2023, Boots for Troops and Moffitt Services hosted their third annual “Peel for a Purpose Crawfish Festival”. Moffitt Services is one of Boots for Troops’ largest sponsors, and set up their own fully staffed tent. The festivities were in full swing with a concert from Casey Donahew! Moffitt services hosted numerous raffles for guns, ATVs, and Astros tickets, and the money went to support Boots for Troops’ mission. It was an all around blast!
“With the remaining sponsorships that are still coming in included, we raised $162,000,” Lindsey said. That money will go to the continuing work Boots for Troops does to enrich the lives of our service members.
Get Involved
For those looking to get involved with the mission of Boots for troops, there are several ways!
You can:
- Become a sponsor of the organization.
- Adopt a care package.
- Host a package drive.
- Join the support squad.
- Become a volunteer
- Donate specific Amazon items.
- Purchase Spindletap Coffee Products
Moffitt Caswell Southern Trucking is proud to partner with Boots for Troops and support our men and women in uniform! We hope you will partner with this fantastic organization, too, and support those who protect our great country.
