Our Programs

Why Our Programs Exist.  A neighbor leaves his family to go off and protect us and our families. Morally what should we do for his family? For her family? Civilian-founded and civilian-led, Support Our Troops^® (SOT^®) is a nonpartisan, patriotic family organization through which people can look out for those who are looking out for all of us. SOT^® enthusiastically welcomes civilians, active-duty families, veterans, and folks from all political parties. Our motto: They Support Us - Let's Support Them!™

Programs Overview. Consistent with our philosophy of personal involvement, Support Our Troops^® operates programs which enable each of us to personally take responsibility for our neighbors when we ask them to protect us. All of our programs boost support for the troops and their families in a direct citizen-to-citizen manner. This overview page touches the highlights of some of our main programs which donations support. There are others as well. Both these and others are presented in greater detail elsewhere throughout this site. At times more emphasis is placed on one program than another. New programs are periodically added.

The License Plate Program. We have to date caused the issuance of our trademark official DMV motor vehicle Support Our Troops! specialty license plates in 26 states both red and blue across the nation, many unanimously by their Legislatures. These Support Our Troops! plates enable people to publicly show their patriotism for their troops and families, and raise patriotic private money for our programs to do things for the troops. As one of our programs, donations assist in putting these plates on the road and thus donations will in turn through these revenue-generating license plates multiply themselves many times over the coming years.

The Find-A-Group™ Program. It is the opinion and practice of SOT that we can do best by the troops and their families if we facilitate everyone who is working to help them. People have a difficult time finding out how to help, where to help, and who is helping. This program therefore links everyone up by providing a consolidated, editable, searchable database of every troop-related charity, group and organization we can find or which finds us and is doing anything to bolster the troops or their families. Hundreds of such are listed. It therefore ultimately serves and benefits the troops themselves. Users can submit additional charities, organizations, and can search by location, or particular service activity, and view contact information.

The Care Package Program. This program directly benefits the deployed combat troops and combat support units, particularly those in remote combat areas. It ships and facilitates the shipping of personal care items and things specifically requested by the troops to them all over the world.

• "These men have been occupying combat outposts where they are frequently engaged with the enemy. They've been eating MRE's for the last six months and have had no comforts from home. No regular mail. No good food. No internet. Few personal hygiene items or other simple things." Executive Officer of an Airborne Infantry Company executive officer when he requested packages.
• "Everything you have sent has been such a blessing from the plastic utensils to the blank CDs and memory sticks. Even the simple things are hard to come by out here so every last bit helps and makes it that much easier for us to do our job. Thank you for all you do in support of us and all of our fellow soldiers out here. You are truly a blessing." SSGT [-------], Kirkuk.

The Popcorn Project. This fun program ships millions or dollars of fun free popcorn treats to the troops everywhere. This program is an ongoing cooperating partnership project between Support Our Troops^®, the Boy Scouts of America and the Trails-Ends Popcorn Company. The program actively involves Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, and average folks in every state and in most every city. It enables people to take simple, safe, fun, specific action for the troops.

• "Hi, I am a Soldier in Iraq. We Love Your Popcorn!!!!  We Need Your Popcorn!!!! Every now and then we get care packages with [your] Popcorn. We love the Sweet taste of the Kettle Popcorn. The problem is we only had a couple of pack and it is gone. Now we are all craving it. Can you help us out?"  ~~ SFC Benjamin ------
• "Your [popcorn] service makes a world of difference and help to boost the morale of the service men and women throughout the world." ~~Navy Admiral.

The Seal of Assurance™ Program. Through this program SOT^® is the accreditor of troop-related organizations and products, reviewing and approving them with the Seal of Assurance if an appropriate portion of their activities reasonably benefits the troops or their families. This program facilitates more giving to all troop-related groups by authorizing their use of the Seal of AssuranceTM for $1 a year and assisting in removing doubt that a group claiming to help the troops or their families is legitimate and is actually doing so. This also helps to ensure that the generosity of people acting to help the troops is not abused.

The Apparel and Accessories Program. This program facilitates public displays of support for the troops and their families via of genuine Support Our Troops^® and Salute Our Heroes^® apparel, accessories, jewelry, magnets, ribbons, stickers, and the like. They are distributed via the SupportOurTroops.Org website, and various retail outlets.

The Media Distribution Service Program. It is the opinion and practice of SOT that we can do best by the troops and their families if we facilitate everyone who is working to help them. The media distribution service project enables us to do that, thereby further bolstering the troops. SOT holds a subscription with one of the largest media and news distribution services in America. We use this to promote troop-related events and activities for other groups. This program facilitates activities of other organizations and nonprofits by issuing news releases through a distribution service for other groups which assist or rally support for the troops and their families.

The Community Forum Program; The Americans Support Our Troops Association. Linked through the community forum area of our SupportOurTroops.org website, these programs focus on providing interpersonal connection, interaction and sharing among people who believe in those who look out for all of us. The forum enables people in all 50 states to join the SOT association for free and interact with other people who may or may not be of like mind, but do agree that the troops and their families deserve our moral and material support. People may set up their own webspace, pictures and downloads. They can add an event or additional group. They are also able to: promote a rally; post and exchange good news about the troops; post a fundraiser; post a special project which needs assistance; make and exchange general patriotic postings; specify categories like "Blue Star" and the like so that people that have a common connection can then communicate with their peers for various reasons and specific projects.

Patriot Rides™. These provide a fun way to bring people together outdoors to mutually explore and express their patriotism. They inspire patriotism and indirectly benefit those who protect all of us. These rides enable people to get together and interact. Motorcycle enthusiasts gather together at a specific location, and are provided a shirt bearing the logo for the ride. They depart that location and in a long string ride their bikes to events at other locations.

Bike Weeks. This project is aimed at creating increased awareness of the troops' families and affording people the opportunity to show support for them. Each year there are multiple events around America organized around the motorcycle enthusiast community. Motorcycle enthusiasts from all 50 states travel to attend these events. During most of the events, we locate multiple Support Our Troops^® booths with large signage around the event areas. With their large banners and logos, these booths bolster the morale of the families of troops attending the events, and assure that the troops' spouses and kids are surrounded by the comfort of knowing we know about them and care about them. They are not alone. They are not isolated. We are here for them. Various businesses distribute Salute Our Heroes^® coupons and promotions.

Responsibly Poised for a Successful Future. The Support Our Troops^® record of growth has resulted from successful execution of our sound business plan, which was built upon strong fundamentals and financial acumen. Looking toward the future we will continue to build upon those same principles to maximize charitable revenue from existing centers, while leveraging our expertise to identify additional charitable revenue opportunities. The stage is set for permanent future success. We are uniquely positioned and enjoy significant visibility. Continuing this approach will enhance operations and further position this organization for exceptional long term service to America's troops and their families.