(Houston, Texas) When you're deployed with the U.S. military, there's nothing better than receiving a care package from home. But sometimes as a soldier, it can feel like your loved ones gathered up some random, out-of-date magazines and stale, lint-covered candy from the bottom of great-grandma's purse and threw it all in a care package.
Jimmy Rogers was deployed in the U.S. Navy and saw too many service members receive packages and throw out half of the contents.
"We were getting care packages from back home. And although it was a nice thing that the American people were sending packages, I noticed that the packages were not filled with quality items. I just felt like we come from the greatest country in the world, we should be sending care packages with the greatest quality items and the best stuff to our troops," Jimmy shared.
It was then that he and his then soon-to-be wife Lindsey came up with an idea to create customized care packages--Boots For Troops.
Through email, Lindsey was able to receive the necessary 501c(3) tax exempt status from the IRS to make Boots For Troops an official nonprofit even while Jimmy was still serving in the military.
"I decided to start a custom care package program where not only were we sending quality items but we actually got to know each servicemember and what they're missing from home--their favorite snacks, their favorite sports team and instead of mass producing care packages, we customize each box to each individual who's receiving the care package."
Jimmy explains the customization, "Each care package comes with a new pair of combat boots that's actually selected by the servicemember so that when they go to the website and request a package, they also get redirected to a partner of ours called Tactical Gear who they get to choose a new pair of combat or uniform boots. Also in the package is all the specially requested items that the servicemember may ask for. If they're missing cookies from the favorite hometown bakery, we may call that bakery and get cookies here to our office and send them overseas. If they're asking for headphones, or a watch or something they need, we'll put that in the care package. We fill the box with things like quality beef jerky, quality toiletries, the best protein snacks. It's all top notch quality stuff."
The community of Houston has surrounded Jimmy Rogers and his organization, coming together for care package parties, gala events and fundraising concerts.
How's does faith play in role in what Jimmy does?
"My faith is probably the most important thing. I think me joining the military back in 2011 when I was 23 years old and really going down a bad path in life and all my friends were graduating college and you know starting their new careers and I wasn't really doing much in life. I didn't know what God's plan was for me but I prayed about it and I believe He wanted me to join the military which ultimately led to me starting Boot For Troops and it's been my life for the past 15 years."
Boots For Troops has expanded its reach with The Honor Our Heroes Program designed to support veterans who have served in the Armed Forces, providing financial assistance to veterans for disaster relief efforts, financial hardships and other emergency situations. The program also funds one service dog a year and that dog is then paired with a veteran with a disability.
Boots For Troops also has a Travel Assistance Program that provides financial relief for E1-E5 so they can travel home for the holidays or to get home in an emergency situation. Boots For Troops pays for the flight and doesn't ask for repayment.
And finally, the organization also has The Jimmy Rogers Military Spouse Scholarship, designed to help the spouse of an active duty man or woman gain their education.
Jimmy says, "This is what God wants me to do and this my calling."
