An Arlington woman turns your chocolate problem into presents for deployed troops. —Susannah Black & Ariel Yong
In 2007, George Mason University alum Yael Roggen founded Treats 4 Our Troops when she began sending care packages full of leftover Halloween candy to her friend deployed to Iraq.
Realizing the potential to, as Roggen explains, “pay it forward,” she organized—from her living room—a now countrywide movement to donate surplus Halloween candy to troops overseas. Because of the growing velocity of Treats 4 Our Troops, Roggen now encourages those interested in donating to mail their candy directly to troops. Through email, Roggen provides the necessary military addresses and guidelines for donating.
Since its inception, Roggen mailed upwards of 15,000 pounds of candy and sent sweets to over 1,000 troops.
Using “such a small thing” like Halloween candy, says Roggen, demonstrates my appreciation.
(October 2014)
