FORT HOOD, Texas — It all started back in 2015 when Jimmy Rogers came up with the idea for 'Boots for Troops.' He was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia with the United States Navy, at the time, along with his wife Lindsey.
"I just saw a need while I was deployed that a lot of people weren't getting care packages," Rogers said. "I was lucky enough that I had family back home that sent me stuff, but a lot of people didn't get anything."
For those that did get something, he noticed they weren't the best care package. Some of them were even mass-produced. So, he wanted to take a good idea and make it better.
"I thought that maybe we could create a better care package," he explained. "Something that was more customized to each person."
With that in mind, Rogers sought out to get to know each person he'd send packages to, find out what they were missing from home and what they need and try and make a huge impact inside that box.
Rogers and Boots for Troops traveled to Fort Hood Thursday to hand-deliver 160 personalized care packages for soldiers stuck there from Ohio due to the coronavirus crisis sweeping the nation.
"One of the mothers of one of the soldiers that's here contacted us," Rogers said. "The command that is here is from Ohio and they were here to deploy overseas. But with all that's happening with the COVID-19, they've been postponed."
Boots for Troops sprang into action and made a delivery that he hoped would make an impact and boost the morale for soldiers stuck here for the time being, before they can deploy overseas and serve their country.
"Our mission to raise the morale of active duty and deployed troops. So, they needed a morale boost and that's what we did. So, yeah, it was super important," Rogers said.
What sets this program apart from others is that Rogers knows what troops are going through. He understands the sacrifice they have made for the freedom of our country.
"I've been deployed myself. When you're that from home it gets lonely and you think you're forgotten about," he said. "There really are a lot of people in our country that love our military and they support them and stand behind them."
To stand behind them, the least he can do right now is deliver morale one box at a time.
"At this point in time, I can't imagine doing anything else," he said. "This organization has been a blessing to me and I think it's a Godsend. For me, it was a calling."
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