I want to make cards and care packages for troops overseas but unsure of legal apsects of fundraising for this

Question

I send cards to troops overseas and want to continue this along with sending care packages. Unfortunately I don't have the personal funds to do too much of this. I'm wondering about the legal aspects of fundraising and how I might go about raising funds to do this? Is it possible to do so without forming a non-profit organization? I would be completely fine with planning fundraising events and things like that, but I want to know the legal aspect of it and make sure if I am allowed to do so.

Answer 1

go to a craft shop or scrapbooking store and see if you can set up a donation box. anyone who has old supplies they dont use can donate to you. that way you dont have to buy anything and they are just giving you stuff they dont use anymore. or see if your church folk will donate hotel shampoos or soap when they travel. and see if you can go to barnes and noble or any othe r book store and see if they can donate old magazines, they normally just recycle them. but you never know what you can get, just ask!

Answer 2

Contact the military. They may be able to help you.

Answer 3

I would look into starting this as a school project .  Ask a councilor.  If you're not in school consider talking to a church minister.  Getting the support of some major organization will make it easier to do it on your own  later on.  You must establish your credibility first and that's logically done through other organizations.

Also,  you might check with your local news paper.  It might be a good human interest story to them and you could get the publicity and advice you need to be very successful.  

PS.  (people like the tax write off they get for giving to a non-profit group...more success doing it that way but starting on a much smaller scale is still a winner.)