Adopt A Platoon

I have been a member for many years and have had several soldiers . I still have 4 that are in contact with me since getting out. They are family! I plan to meet for the 1st time this summer my very first soldier!
Yes, they’re are soldiers who never answer. I also got frustrated. But, the ones who did write- it was worth it!
I have saved several notes, pictures and whatever! Some would send gifts to me!
I truly treasure those friendships!.
Ida was always a good friend and we lost a true patron who began this organization.
So Thank You Adopt A Platoon!

I know this company inside and out. All I need to say is the lady who runs this got in trouble a few years back for using funds "your donations" to take herself and employees out to eat and drink/get drunk. This is a very ugly company even today, She treats her employees like complete and utter garbage, I can't stress that enough. making them cut her grass at home and other tasks like baby sitting her precious dogs when she is not at home and other personal things that have absolutely nothing to do with the non-profit and if employees complain they will be very horibly chewed out and fired by her. Also Every year she holds board meetings and forces her warehouse employees to dance like fools to "entertain" the board members. All in all the mission of this company is good but the lady who runs this company is evil. And I'm sorry to say that these are not rumors they 100% are facts.

Our VFW Auxiliary Adopted A Platoon. We are a small Auxiliary in Oregon with mostly elderly members. We wanted to help in our small way, service members serving overseas. We gathered our suggested materials to send, often using multiple boxes. We did this for 10 months with no response from the platoon, although I listed my email address requesting them to send us a list of items they would like. Never received a response. Finally, not knowing if they were still in Afghanistan, I checked the "return if undeliverable" square on the declaration papers. We got our 2 boxes back we sent in June, 2016 and am expecting the next one we sent to come home too. Would it have been too much trouble to let us know that they no longer wanted to receive boxes from home? I say this because the cost for our Auxiliary to send these boxes is considerable, not to mention the cost of all the items inside the boxes. This was not a good experience for us, and I doubt we will do this again.

I was assigned two soldiers. I sent letters and a huge pkg to each. The mailing cost alone ran 50$ each. They were big and heavy. I sent magazines, etc. too. Two months later I never heard anything from the soldiers. I had included my email address in everything. All I wanted was a NOTE. No such luck. I'm old enough to know that after I sent pkgs to Vietnam in the 60s and 70s I would get a note 6 weeks later in snail mail. I gave up. I felt used. Either the soldiers were non caring or they never got anything. One was in Korea so I know she wasn't super busy in battle. I dreamed of something much better.

I have received many packages with one sock, one item, etc.. asking for a donation and mailing back the single item that item can be paired and sent to a soldier. To my dismay, the last mailing included an item of multiple use but was made in China and the instructions was printed in an Asian language. Is this the junk we as sending? Is my money being used to support China and Not our American Soldiers?
I will never donate to them again.

I adopted a couple of soldiers a few years ago. Some replied, some didn't. It didn't matter, they needed things and I wanted to help. I've done multiple campaigns for Adopt A Platoon. You mail your donation to an APO, it goes to soldiers.

There are comments here questioning the charity. I've looked at Charity Navigator. Adopt A Platoon spends over 90% of its funds on program expenses. Compensation to its execs is less than $80,000 in total. Compare that to any charity. Nardizzi at Wounded Warrior collects over $400,000 by himself.

Ida Hagg started adopting troops because her son served in Bosnia and it continued into Adopt A Platoon. This is a small organization. Charity Navigator gives it a poor score for transparency. I'd credit that to Adopt A Platoon not paying too many paper pushers and putting donations where they belong.

I'm proud of supporting this organization.

I have been deployed 4 times and supported by Adopt A Platoon twice. I cannot thank those involved enough for the support I received through the organization or the support my Soldiers have received. They also supported our redeployment party with our families on return to the United States. We also received assistance with getting decent bedding, pillows, sheets, towels, hygiene items, laundry soap and snacks for my Soldiers in the barracks first night back in the US. I have personally seen the assistance provided through the walking wounded program. A great group of people and volunteers.

My last experience was about a year ago in Afghanistan. I got stuck somewhere for a night and it was cold. I went looking for a blanket. I found a stack of Adopt a Platoon fleece blankets. It was great.

On Soldiers not writing back. They suck. Some of the younger generations don't understand thank you notes. Many do and many write back. I try but over the years I have missed a few.

When massive numbers of packages come in we would type up a thank you letter a month and send it out to try and get a thank you out per box. Again we missed a few. In 2009 my company sent out a few hundred thank you notes.

If the Soldier isn't there when the package arrives it goes to the Chaplian. In that case you are less likely to get a note back. But the stuff gets to the Soldiers even in that case. That's where my blanket came from.

I have also developed life long friendships with the volunteers. One had me over for dinner last week while I was on travel with the Army.

Soldiers are still deployed and they still need the support. This is a great organization.

Derek B.

I've been supporting soldiers through AAP since 2008. I've never found them less than helpful and they do exactly what they promise. I have requested a platoon, a soldier, a pen pal and sponsored multiple one time campaigns. I always send the packages directly to the soldiers and have never, ever had a problem.

I have 'adopted' individual soldiers and platoons through this organization. They send me the contact information and I write letters and send care packages directly to the soldier(s).

It's been very rewarding for me and my children to hear how much the soldiers appreciate our letters, packages, valentines and sundries. And I'm grateful we can help in this small way.

Great, they are getting money from people to give to the troops. They also don't care who it is they get money from. They are targeting the elderly, especially retired military, and taking advantage of them preying on their patriotism and senility. I have told them to leave my father alone, they won't. They take advantage of people. And if you have to do that do help others, then something is really wrong.

My husband of 21yrs in the United States Army was injured in Iraq. Through out 18 surgeries within 4 years our family of 3 fell on some really hard times. Living in hospitals and hotels for most of that time. We were referred to Adopt A Platoon in 2010. From the first phone call in the middle of a crisis this organization basically adopted our family! Helped with expense the Army couldn't fund! Example the army would pay for me to be a caregiver but not for our 4yr old at the time. For the past 4 yrs not only has this organization helped us financial but has provided pure love and genuine support!
Because of this organization I did not feel alone and I now have another family to turn too!
I can never say thank you enough!

Those negative reports have no idea how much a package means to those troops. I asked my step-son. He and his group in the 82nd ABN received packages from this organization in 2012. I trust his judgement. He is a retired Marine (active and reserves) and a retired detective from the LAPD. Over thirty years in both. He was with the 82nd via a government contract.

Adoptaplatoon (Lozano, TX 78568) failed 7 major standards (e.g. Board Oversight, Board Compensation, Budget Plan, Donor Privacy) of the 20 total standards of the BBB.

Their official filings list no fundraisers even though they paid $336,000 to "professional" fundraisers. Wonder were these funds went? Three of their board members are listed as "independent" when they are not.

Interesting how the positive reviews are all loaded with misspellings and other mistakes. Probably products of the Texas educational system, or maybe just under educated scam artists.

I was looking for a veterans charity as a benefactor for a golf tournament we hold every september. I'm glad i read your reviews as we were considering AAP. What concerned me even more was that 9 of their 5 star reviews were all in month of March which looked very much like a campaign and on top of BBB's review made those reviews even more suspicious. I'm sure some good comes out of thier efforts but the nepotism is too blatant on the board and on their staff of paid staff.

I was considering donating but based on advisory and previous donors remarks, I will not donate. My donation will be sent to Am Vets and paralyzed Vets

This is a dispicable group. I donated once but will save my donations for DAV and Paralyzed Vets. I'm the daughter of 2 Vets, worked with the Army at Landstuhl during OEF/OIF, and now work in a VA. Active duty deserve better than this SNAFU organization.

I am disguted and shocked by this charities lack of conscience and morals.
You can be sure that any positive reviews are being posted by employees of this lowlife outfit.

I am shocked. If you read the Charity Review by BBB it's even worse than the fundraising being over 45%. The CEO is the Chairman of the Board and the Board does not review his performance at least every 2 years. The Board held only 1 meeting in 2011. There's more - go to bbb.org and enter the organization name.

I don't know how Adopt A Platoon spends its funds, All I know is that they provide information regarding pen pals (which I always have 2) and platoons that need specific support. They send out monthly bulletins about campaigns providing the troops with socks, underwear, and specialty items for the holidays. I have never been asked dontae money, only things that the troops need. I have gotten mail from Chaplains saying how much Adopt A Platoon is appreciated by those it serves.

I've been volunteering with AdoptaPlatoon for over a year now, and I consider myself lucky to get involved with such a great organization. I've had the chance to help my sorority adopt a platoon of marines, as well as adopting individual soldiers myself. AAP has done a great job with making sure people know what to send, not only to their soldiers, but also to their campaigns that they send out throughout the year. I also had a chance to volunteer with AAP through my college english class. I wrote their manual on "How to Send Care Packages" so that people would be able to support their soldiers and know what they need to do in order to make sure that their packages are received. I've really had a great experience with AAP, and they do a great job with getting you involved, both with adopting soldiers and if you want to actually assist the organization. Definitely recommend getting involved with them!!

I am ALL for supporting our troops in any way possible ESPECIALLY around the holidays BUT! after reading up on this organization and then reading a letter they sent my grandmother to get a donation a couple of weeks later..Was just absolutely ridiculous!! They haul quite a bit of money but do not show reference to where it goes...you are truly better off going at this SOLO and finding a soldier in need through many other avenues..please just be careful who you start writing checks to!! Thanks!!

I NOW HAVE FIVE TOOTHBRUSHES; YES,I DONATED FOR 4 OR 5 YEARS. THESE WERE TO BE SENT BACK WITH A DONATION. ONE OF MY GRAND CHILDREN SPENT THE WEEKEND WITH US AND FORGOT TO BRING HIS TOOTHBRUSH. I GAVE HIM ONE OF THESE AND IT WAS WORN OUT AFTER 3 DAYS OF USE. MADE IN MEXICO OR CHINA? I WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT WOUNDED WARRIORS AND BLINDED VETS BUT NOT THIS CHARITY ---JABO S

Our family has supported various soldiers for several years through AdoptAPlatoon - wonderful concrete way to contribute even if short on funds. Letters, care packages, anything at all is appreciated. My late father ( a career Marine) was so adament that this organization's efforts was the type of support a combat vet needs and wants, he specified it in his final wishes that contributions be made tothem 'in lieu of flowers'. Great organization

trying to get names of military to send care packages to and cant get enough names we ship out 150 boxes every 3 months and trommow sept 23 we dont have dnough names anyone hase names please send them to me asap today we are liget we have our web sight supportersofmilitary.com and we have been doing this sence 2004 thanks for any help

Their financial information is terribly incomplete and makes no sense - 1.4M in prgram costs and over 4M in other expenses??? The Better Business Bureau gives them a very low rating based on their failure to meet most of the BBB's financial criteria (such as oversight).

I adopted two Soldiers and one Airman through AdopotAPlatoon, and it was honestly one of the best experiences of my life. For one year, I mailed one letter a week and sent somewhere around 26 flat-rate care packages to Iraq and Afghanistan. I had the pleasure of meeting two out of three men that I supported after they came back from their deployments. They both flew in to meet me! The volunteer community through AAP is warm and welcoming. The forum (where I read and wrote posts for other volunteers) is a wonderful place filled with support for each other and where many of my questions were answered. My experience have inspired me to become more involved by doing a donation drive to support our troops at my work. I was also involved in paying a special tribute to my co-workers who are veterans for Veteran's Day. This organization has changed my life, forever.

What an amazing group of people that work tirelessly to help us as Americans, remind our troops that we are thankful for their service, pray for their safe return and appreciate all they (as well as their families) sacrifice! I have worked with Adoptaplatoon for over 3 years now, in all types of capacities from pen pal adoptions, to adopting an entire platoon and the experience has been amazing! I would encourage anyone who wants to get involved with a nonprofit to consider this great organization and remember that you can serve in all types of capacities big or small it all helps! We cannot let our troops-brothers, husbands, wives, sisters, uncles, friends etc think that they have been forgotten.

AdoptaPlatoon is a great way for everyday people to give back to the men and women who put it all on the line for us every single day. As soon as you get your first "adoptee", you're hooked. Writing them and sending packages is an honor and priviledge, and I would encourage everyone to get involved. It takes just a small amount of time our of your day to MAKE someone elses (and little do they know that it makes OUR day, too!!).

My family have been Adoptaplatoon supporters for years and it enriches our lives as much as the soldiers. My children draw pictures and make cards to include in the care packages. We have also participated in many of their seasonal campaigns (holiday stockings, valentine's day candy, etc.) with our Brownie Scout troop and school classes.

This experience is so important to me. My daughter and her husband are both serving in the Air Force waiting for deployment. This is my way to honor them for what they are doing. I have had several penpals and adopted several soldiers and always have had wonderful letters and emails back from them-they are so appreciative of what they receive. I also have a room full of books, magazines, gum etc. that were donated from the local gun club for me to send over for the various ongoing campaigns. I try to send a box full every two weeks to someone. This group cares about our soldiers and have been extremely helpful when I have had questions. If you are looking for a nonprofit to work with, this is one of the best!!!!!1

Our Harley-Davidson dealership works with Adopt a Platoon and we have had a fantastic experience with everyone there. Extremely unselfish, hardworking and tireless volunteers, all of them. The folks at Adopt a Platoon communicate well and always respond quickly to our requests for info, advice or help. I'd strongly recommend Adopt A Platoon to anyone interested in supporting our Troops overseas. They are great people, and represent what's best about America.

I was looking for a functional way to support our troops and stumbled upon Adopt A Platoon. I've been able to let an individual service member know that he is cared about, and that people do appreciate what he is doing. Because it is one-on-one I am getting to know him as a person and not just some faceless soldier thousands of miles away. I can send goodies that he can't get there so he has some of the comforts of home. This has been the most rewarding experience!

They gave me age appropriate soldiers. And it seemed like we really were connecting. I will be supporting our troops for as long as I possibly can. I live in a high military area and I love to have ways to support the soldiers. This organization is great about giving you all of the information necessary to make your communications amazing!

I'm tremendously grateful for AdoptaPlatoon -- it's filled a desire I had to be able to lend support to our deployed military men and women ... to be able to "thank you" for the countless sacrifices they make on behalf of our country and me and my family. And from their cards and letters to me, I know that AdoptaPlatoon is a very important part of their support system -- most especially through these very long deployments. As far as the organization itself, in my nearly 5 years of involvement, I think it's terrifically well run. I don't know how the main staff evolved, but these are volunteers and they do an outstanding job.

I am so lucky and honored to be able to provide support to our deployed troops through this wonderful organization. AdoptAPlatoon is all about our supporting the U.S. military. The organizers and volunteers give 110% to make sure that each deployed Soldier, Airman, Marine and Seaman gets support from home. There are not enough good words to describe this organization!

Adoptaplatoon has increased soldier support every year since 2005. In 2008 the organization spent $ 970,000 on soldier support and will spend over $ 1,000,000 on soldier in 2009.