December 15 - Cup of Joe For A Joe

CUP OF JOE FOR A JOE gives everyone an opportunity to express their support for our men and women in uniform through the simple act of buying a cup of premium coffee and having it delivered along with their own personalized message of thanks to a Soldier serving overseas.




The whole idea behind Cup Of Joe For A Joe is to give folks here at home an opportunity to send a Cup of Joe (Troops call them a COJ) and a letter of thanks to a Soldier, Airman, Sailor, Marine or Coast Guardsman overseas. Because the person here at home who sends the COJ and the Service Member who receives it are matched on a completely random basis, you don't have to personally know anyone who is serving overseas in order to send a Cup Of Joe.




Troops deployed overseas in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) or Operation New Dawn (Iraq) sign up to participate in Cup Of Joe For A Joe by enrolling on the Green Beans Coffee website or at the Green Beans cafe on their base.
 

When COJ receives contributions from people here at home they use a process to randomly assign the COJ gifts to the Troops. They send them an email notice telling them that they have received a Cup Of Joe from you and  include the email letter you wrote. They also give the Service Member an opportunity to write back to you and register their COJ for pick up at the Green Beans cafe on their base. All they need do to pick up your gift is stop by the cafe and ID themselves to the staff.




Sending a Cup Of Joe is easy, takes just a few moments, and at only $2 costs about the same as the spare change in your pocket.





Today only... Green Beans Coffee will MATCH YOUR COJ CONTRIBUTION dollar for dollar with a cash donation to Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund, Inc. This wonderful organization helps provide college grants to surviving U.S. Military children whose lives have been affected by the loss of a parent in the Afghan...istan or Iraq wars. The program has been expanded to include spouses and families of severely disabled veterans affected by these two conflicts. If you've been thinking about sending a Cup Of Joe to our Troops this holiday season, now is a great time to do so. Not only will you bring a little bit of cheer to our Troops overseas, you'll also help fund an education for a child who's lost a parent in service to our country.



Get Involved:


Send a Cup of Joe For A Joe.

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Source:  http://www.greenbeanscoffee.com/coj/faq.php

December 9 - Holiday Mail for Heroes

I'm sure most of you are more organized than I am... today I sent out my last Christmas card.  I have a great opportunity for you to make a difference, but time is limited.  You need to do this today if you want to participate! 

Do you have any left-over Christmas Cards lying around?  How about making the day of a service member or their family?   It is so simple, but time is limited... all cards must be postmarked no later than December 10th.  That is tomorrow!


It’s that time of year again! The American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes have teamed up for the fourth annual Holiday Mail for Heroes program.  From now until December 10th you are invited to send holiday cards to our American service members, their families, and veterans all over the world. Anyone can send a card and you can send as many as you would like!


Here is an example of what you might write in your Christmas Card:

 Dear Service Member, Family or Veteran,
 Sending warm wishes to you and your family during this holiday season.
 Thank you for your sacrifice! 


The deadline for this year is December 10th.  Unfortunately, if your cards are not postmarked by December 10th they cannot be delivered.  After Pitney Bowes collects and screens the mail received in the PO Box, Red Cross workers deliver holiday greetings to service men and women in their communities.


The Holiday Mail for Heroes program enables the American public to send a "touch of home" during the holiday season to members of our U.S. Armed Forces, veterans and their families, many of whom will be far from home during the holidays.



Get Involved: 

Please send all cards to:
Holiday Mail for Heroes
PO Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD
20791-5456


Get Involved: 
  
Donate items.   Explore causes that need your help!

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Source:  Holiday Mail for Heroes  

November 11 - U S O

Happy Veteran's Day! THANK YOU to all of the Veterans and their families who have made such tremendous sacrifices in service to their country!

Throughout our country’s history, Americans have felt a profound appreciation and gratitude for the dedication and sacrifice of our troops and their families. The USO (United Service Organizations)  provides a tangible way for all of us to say thank you, as it has for almost 70 years.


Supporting America’s troops was the first mission of the USO. In 1941, as it became clear that the nation was heading into World War II, several organizations mobilized to support the growing U.S. military: the Salvation Army, Young Men’s Christian Association, Young Women’s Christian Association, National Catholic Community Services, National Travelers Aid Association and the National Jewish Welfare Board.


President Franklin D. Roosevelt created synergy among these agencies by forming the United Service Organizations, with the objective of providing the emotional support the troops needed.  Over time, the USO has evolved, developing new programs and services to meet the ever-changing needs of the troops and their families, while holding fast to the original mission.


Every day, our heroes in uniform put their lives on the line to protect the freedoms we hold so dear. Our troops are serving in desolate locations, dealing with multiple deployments and missing their families and friends back home. Whether stationed in the mountains of Afghanistan or recovering courageously in a hospital in Germany, our troops and their families deserve the very best we can give.

Thanks to your generosity, the USO fulfills its mission of lifting the spirits of America’s troops and their families. Through the USO, you touch their lives through an extensive range of programs at more than 150 centers in 27 countries, and at hundreds of entertainment events each year. Thousands of USO volunteers do everything possible to provide a home away from home for our troops and to keep them connected to the families they left behind.

The USO makes sure your help goes to those who need it the most: troops serving in combat, their families, our wounded warriors and their families, and families of the fallen.

As a nonprofit, non-political organization, the USO is now, and always will be, about our troops. Wherever and whenever they go, the USO will be there, until every one comes home.



Get Involved:

Donate to USO

Learn about USO Programs.

Ways to Volunteer with USO

Shop the USO online store.

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Resource:  http://www.uso.org/

October 15 - Tunes 4 the Troops

Kaylee Marie Radzyminski wanted to make a difference! She wanted to provide entertainment for our troops overseas. She never dreamed her simple idea would inspire a national movement.


As an 8th Grader, while attending the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet camp in Florida, Kaylee asked one question to troops returning from overseas military service. It was their answer that spurred the teen into action.  "I asked, 'What was the number one thing they missed?' " recalls Kaylee. "The first thing was, of course, their families -but second to that was entertainment."  They described limited access to Internet and satellite service, with some soldiers sharing just a few DVDs or CDs with an entire unit.  When Kaylee returned home, she gathered her CDs and DVDs to send to the troops and Tunes 4 the Troops was born.


Kaylee never dreamed her simple idea would become a nationwide effort, but the reaction from the first few shipments touched the teenager so deeply, she knew she couldn't stop. Kaylee said, "It really hit me when we started hearing back from soldiers, and how it affected their lives. Some of them were losing fellow soldiers in combat, and they said gestures like this really helped get their mind off of things. It makes me cry just thinking about it."



As word spread outside of Cleveland High School, folks all over the nation pitched in, donating CD's, cash, or shipping supplies. Kaylee's work was all volunteer, but she was awarded a full four year army ROTC scholarship to Tennessee Tech.



Kaylee estimates she's spent more than 6,000 hours on the project, and admits that's she missed the proms, the athletic events and social activities that make up most of a teenage girl's calendar. Does she have any regrets? "Now that I look back on it, I wouldn't change a thing," she says. "It wasn't about me, it was affecting other people in a positive way."  "My mission is not about supporting or opposing the war, it's about supporting the troops," says Radzyminski, whose own family has a military background. "They sacrifice so much for us, why can't I do a little bit to give back to them?"

As this youthful role model advances toward graduation and a career in the Army Corps of Engineers, what happens to the project that remains so close to her heart? She's happy to report that it isn't going away.  Tunes 4 the Troops has actually partnered with the Service learning Center at the university," she says. "So the students and faculty will definitely be able to continue it after my graduation date."




Kaylee tells us she will be thrilled to some day get a box of CDs from whoever takes the reins of Tunes 4 the Troops when she is serving America.


As of September 1st, 2010, Tunes 4 the Troops has sent over 759,280 CD's, DVD's and Books on CD to our Troops! Kaylee has a goal of 1 million sent by 2011!  Can you help Kaylee reach this goal?
 
 
 
Get Involved:
 
Donate to Tunes 4 the Troops.
 
Other ways to help Tunes 4 the Troops.
 
Become a Tunes 4 the Troops satellite.

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Sources:  Tunes 4 the Troops.

October 4 - Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund

The Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund, Inc. was founded on October 23, 2003 to honor the service of founder's son, David A. Campbell who was serving with the 82nd Airborne in Iraq. They were founded to help support surviving U.S. Military children who have lost a parent in the Afghanistan or Iraq wars by providing them with College Grants.


The College Grant Program has been expanded to include both U.S. Military children and spouses who have either lost a loved one as a result of the Afghanistan or Iraq wars, those whose loved one died at home in an automobile, motorcycle or other illness or disease, including suicide who served overseas in either war and severely disabled veterans and their children.


The second objective is to help the surviving members of these families with financial assistance as well as severely disabled veteran families. Their goal is to make awards to applicants in need, some whose funds were raised in their particular State that have children 18 and under, and who are in need of assistance with housing, repars, utilities, medical expenses, groceries, clothing, school supplies and other expenses deemed necessary in order to help alleviate their need.


The financial assistance program assists disabled service member families as well. Donations come from families, individuals, and businesses throughout the World. Those that raise funds on their own may chose to help families within their State. The Administrative Management expenses ratio has been between 3-8% since they have been in existence, which means the balance is used for helping support our military and their families.


The Grant Committee has awarded $190,946.00 in College Scholarships to help surviving children and spouses affected by a loss, (awards are disbursed during the Spring and Fall semesters) $108,146.00 in financial assistance to surviving families with children under the age of 18 and have provided more than $205,000.00 in assistance to our severely disabled military families since receiving our first applications in 2005.


What a great way to make a difference and to say THANK YOU for your sacrifice!



Get Involved: 

Donate to Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund.

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Source:  http://www.cfsrf.org/

September 26 (Day 209) Troopons™ -- Coupons for Troops

I am always amazed by those people who go to the grocery store with coupons in hand and walk out of the store having saved large amounts of money!  My sister was like that.  She had a cupboard full of things she had gotten "free" through smart shopping and couponing!  I have tried... I cut out the coupons and then I forget to take them to the store!   Sunday is the big day for coupons, so here is a great and easy way you can make a difference.....by clipping coupons! 



The Support Our Troops® coupon program enhances the welfare of overseas military families by sending them food and non-food manufacturer coupons to make their dollar go farther.

What are Troopons?
Troopons™ are what you can do with coupons you don’t use!  Send them to the troops overseas!  It’s an easy way to make a difference in their lives.

Here at home,  it’s easy -- our newspaper arrives full of coupons. Overseas, for military families, it doesn't.
But the military stores on their base where they shop accept manufacturer coupons from here – even expired ones.

So we can all pitch in to help these amazing man and women and families reduce their grocery bills. This is especially helpful when they are living in countries with currency exchange rates off bases that are better than the dollar, meaning their money does not go as far as it would at home. For example, off base, a military family’s dollar is worth following:

• England: 65¢
• Germany: 72¢
• Japan: 90¢

So every dollar you can help them save in their on-base store, makes their American dollar worth more to them for things off-base.

How do our military families get these coupons? From you! They’re there for us, let’s be there for them.

Send us coupons you won’t use. We'll send them over. Just mail your clipped coupons to:

Support Our Troops®
P. O. Box 70
Daytona Beach, FL 32115-0070

FAQs

• This is patriotic, but not tax deductible.  (Your reward is the joy of helping others!) 
• There is no minimum donation size.
• Expired Coupons Are Accepted Until They Are Two Months Old. Coupons older than two (2) months expired on the date of mailing are no good. People at the base must have time to process them there, and families need time to use them in their budget stream.

How does this work....

Clip Your Coupons   
Don't send unclipped, We can’t do it. You will save people at the base time. You save yourself money on postage.

Good Coupons:
Only “Manufacturer’s Coupons” can be used. They can be from the newspaper, dispensers in grocery stores, tear-pads, internet and elsewhere as long as they state "Manufacturer's Coupon" on them.
Bad Coupons.:
No Assistance Vouchers. No Food Stamps or the like. No Store Coupons. No restaurant coupons.

Sort the Coupons

Bases usually have a grocery store, and a department store. Put food coupons in one bag and non-food coupons in another bag. This helps the base volunteers and personnel send them to the right store. Don’t use rubber bands, paper clips, or the like.

Mark the Bags

Write “food” or “non-food” on the outside of the bag. Write the approximate value on the outside of the bag.  Use the maximum value printed on any "buy one, get one free" offers. If none is printed, estimate.

• What is "Food"? Food can be eaten or drank by humans for nourishment.Chewing gum and mints are considered food.  
• What is Non-Food? Housewares, animal food, vitamins, are not food.  

Why Total the Value of Coupons on the Bag?
We can allocate the amounts among the various bases according to their sizes and needs. We can track how much good is happening by all us little people.

Where to Send Your Bundles.

Send us coupons you won’t use. We'll send them over. Just mail your clipped coupons to:

Support Our Troops®
P. O. Box 70
Daytona Beach, FL 32115-0070

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Source:  Support Our Troops

August 5 (Day 158) Project Healing Waters

“Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing helped in getting my head together during my recovery at Walter Reed. It was the perfect outlet for me while I was trying to adjust to my injuries and was a great help in broadening my horizons, giving me the hope and confidence that, no matter what my disabilities, I could still achieve and enjoy the activities of the outdoors and accomplish what I wanted to.“     - [SGT, USA, Walter Reed PHWFF wounded warrior]

“It really raised my self esteem, and it felt like I could do something, because lots of time we’re told we can’t do anything because we’ve got a mental illness.”  -[A California Veteran] 

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing  is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military service personnel and veterans through fly fishing and fly tying education and outings.


Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing (PHWFF) was founded in 2005 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC), with the help of local Trout Unlimited (TU) and Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) volunteers.  PHWFF provides basic fly fishing, fly casting, and fly tying instruction for wounded personnel, ranging from beginners to those with prior fly fishing experience, who are adapting their skills to their new abilities. While initially focused on military personnel in the Washington, DC area, PHWFF has expanded and is offering its services to active military personnel and veterans in military and Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals across the nation. Currently, over 70 such programs have been established in the U.S. and Canada.


Since its inception, PHWFF has been helping disabled active duty personnel and veterans to overcome the obstacles associated with their military service-related disabilities. The relearning of the fine motor skills required in fly fishing and fly tying has proven to be particularly effective in the overall rehabilitation of the disabled. While PHWFF emphasizes the skills of fly fishing and fly tying to help the patients regain the use of their damaged bodies, perhaps the greatest benefit is in their realization that a more normal life is possible. Fly fishing can be a lifelong re-creation, both physically and emotionally.


PHWFF partners directly with fly fishing oriented organizations such as the FFF and TU. Within local clubs and chapters, volunteers, working with hospital staff, donate their time to teach the various skills involved in the sport of fly fishing to Project participants. PHWFF, a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity incorporated in the State of Maryland, is dependent on tax-deductible financial donations and the help of numerous volunteers to meet the educational, training, equipment, transportation, and related outing needs of the participants. PHWFF strives to effectively serve its deserving participants, who have made great sacrifices in the service of our Nation.


Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. strives to effectively serve the deserving past and present members of our armed forces who have made great sacrifices in the service of our Nation.



Get Involved:

Donate to Project Healing Waters.

Find a PHWFF program in your area.

Other ways to help Project Healing Waters.




Source:  Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing

July 23 (Day 145) Armed Services Blood Program

You’ve got what it takes to save three lives with a single donation. By giving a little of yourself, your donation gives sick or injured troops and their families a second chance at life.

The Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) plays a key role in providing quality blood products for Service members and their families in both peace and war. As a joint operation among the military services (Army, Navy, Air Force), the ASBP has many components working together to collect, process, store, distribute, and transfuse blood worldwide.  The Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) is the official U.S. military blood program. Providing an opportunity for service members, their families, and civilians to support our military in a definitive, meaningful way, the ASBP is a direct connection between those who give and the sick and injured who need their help.

Blood and blood products are used for patients of all ages for many reasons. From cancer patients or surgical patients, to those with battlefield injuries—military members depend on blood donors every day. By giving blood to the ASBP, you ensure life-saving blood products are available whenever and wherever service members and their families are in need.

Did you know that over 40 units of blood may be needed for a single injured soldier? 

Your donation can save:

• A service member injured in action.
• A child with cancer.
• A family member in need of heart surgery.

It’s easy to save lives! By committing to give blood at least once a season, you help ensure that blood is available when it is needed most.



Where to Give

Find the ASBP donor center near you by visiting the Blood Donor Centers page. In addition to collecting blood at their facilities, many blood donor centers “take the show on the road” and conduct mobile blood drives.
 
Click here to see other ways you can help.
 
 
 
If there is not a blood donor center or mobile blood drive in your area...consider giving blood through your local Red Cross.  The need is always great in the summer and remember... you can donate blood every 56 days! 
 
 
 
Source:  Armed Services Blood Program

July 5 (Day 127) Operation: Old Navy

I try not to post similar causes 2 days in a row, but I really wanted to help get the word out about this effort to help the troops.  It is such a simple way to help and since today is the last day - I decided to change the post I had originally scheduled for today to make room for this one.  Please help if you can....  

To celebrate the 2010 Independence Day holiday weekend and honor troops deployed overseas, Old Navy's entire fleet of 1,000 US stores will host a donation drive from July 1 - 5 to collect everyday items needed by the men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Items will be collected by armed services volunteers at all Old Navy locations, which will then be sorted, packaged and shipped to deployed troops by Operation: Care and Comfort.

Old Navy has partnered with Operation: Care and Comfort to send money and supplies to our deployed troops overseas. For you, that mean's a great sale... and a great excuse to shop (like you really need an excuse to shop!) All Old Navy stores nationwide are accepting donations of:

• T-shirts
• Socks
• Underwear
• Undershirts
• Sunglasses
• Flip Flops
• Lip Balm
• Foot Powder

Old Navy customers who participate by donating items will receive a 10% discount off their entire purchase in-store that day. In addition, Old Navy will be offering a "Buy One, Send One" special on Old Navy's famous Flag Tees. For every purchase of an Old Navy Flag Tee purchased in-store between July 1 and July 5, Old Navy will send one to troops overseas, up to 500,000.  (Shirt pictured above.) In case you forget to bring something to give, there's also going to be a "Troop Essentials" section at the front of each store full of items you can donate — all for under $10.

"Operation Old Navy" began in April 2009 in the San Francisco Bay Area with a limited numbers of stores. This year, due to tremendous community interest and support, all of Old Navy's fleet of stores across the country will participate.

"Old Navy cares about our troops overseas and knows that our customers do too," said Tom Wyatt, president of Old Navy. "We hope the effort will help bring families together, and give our customers an additional opportunity to support the men and women that are currently deployed overseas in our communities."

"Operation: Care and Comfort is excited about the 2010 'Operation Old Navy' donation drive," stated co-founder Julie DeMaria. "The outpouring of gratitude from our troops abroad has been tremendous. We received such wonderful pictures and emails from the troops thanking us for sending the Old Navy items to them last year. We can't wait to do it again, and thank Old Navy for their genuine support of our service members."

Since April 2003, the all-volunteer Operation: Care and Comfort program has shipped over 300 tons of care packages for distribution to Marine, Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard personnel deployed in conflict regions. Adopted military units receive care packages monthly, until they return home. Operation: Care and Comfort is proudly listed on the Department of Defense "America Supports You" web site and has received national awards and recognition for its work on behalf of the military. For more information on how you can support this worthy program, please visit http://www.operationcareandcomfort.org/.

So pick up some of the requested items at your local Old Navy.  You can get 10% off your purchase by making a donation.  While you are there, pick up one of the special Buy One/ Give One T-shirts.  It's a win/win.... shop and make a difference at the same time!

June 16 (Day 108) Bugles Across America

Today's post is a very unique and  humbling way to make a difference.  Obviously, not everyone is going to be able to participate in a volunteer capacity, but there is the option of supporting the efforts through a monetary donation.  If the opportunity to provide a military send off to a deserving veteran is something that touches your heart , then please take a minute to learn more about today's cause.

 

Bugles Across America, NFP was founded in 2000 by Tom Day, when Congress passed legislation stating Veterans had a right to at least 2 uniformed military people to fold the flag and play taps on a CD player. Bugles Across America was begun to take this a step further, and in recognition of the service these Veterans provided their country, we felt that every Veteran deserved a live rendition of taps played by a live Bugler. To this end, we are actively seeking volunteers to provide this valuable service to Veterans and their families.

Bugles Across America now has over 5000 bugler volunteers located in all 50 states and growing number overseas. Since the Department of Veterans Affairs is expecting more than 1/2 million veterans to pass every year for the next 7 years, Bugles Across America is ALWAYS recruiting new volunteers.

Bugler Volunteers can be male or female. They can play a traditional bugle with no valves, or they can perform the ceremony on a Trumpet, Cornet, Flugelhorn, or a 1, 2 or 3 valved bugle. The bugler can be of any age as long as they can play the 24 notes of Taps with an ease and style that will do honor to both the Veterans, their families, and the burial detail performing the service.

Get Involved: 

Make a Donation.

Be a Volunteer Bugler.

Request a Bugler.

"There is no act that is too small to make a difference!"

Source:  Bugles Across America

June 7 (Day 99) Letters for Lyrics

Today's post features a FREE & easy way to make a difference to those serving in the military! The Zac Brown Band has teamed up with Ram Trucks to create Letters for Lyrics and together they are hoping to send 1 million letters to U.S. troops stationed overseas.


All you have to do is write a letter to a military service person and drop it off at a RAM dealer in your area. You can find your nearest RAM dealer here. In return for writing the letter you will recieve a cool gift... the country band is thanking you with a "Southern Ground Compilation" CD. The CD, which is not sold in stores, features three new songs from Zac Brown Band and songs from artists Sonia Leigh, Nic Cowan and Levi Lowrey.



In addition to handing out the free CD for every letter turned in. U.S. Ram Truck dealerships are providing special “Letters for Lyrics” stationary.  The non-profit organization Soldier’s Angels will help by making sure the letters are delivered to the U.S. troops. But that is not all, there is an exclusive live version of the band’s latest single “Free” available for download for the first 100,000 fans through RamTrucks.com. For each download of this single, Ram Truck will make a donation to Soldier’s Angels, which provides “aid and comfort to the men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, veterans and their families.”



Watch the exclusive documentary film "For Those Who Serve" following Zac Brown Band on their April USO Tour in the Persian Gulf. The film features the band performing for the troops, meeting individually with our men and women in uniform stationed far from home and sharing their thoughts on the experience. The documentary will be released in multiple segments and is available on the Ram Trucks website.


Please help us reach our goal of sending one million letters.





Source: Ram Trucks - Letters for Lyrics

April 27 (Day 58) Let's Say Thanks

From time to time I will include opportunities to help that do not cost a cent.  Let's Say Thanks is one such opportunity.  Please take a minute to visit the site and send a thank you card to the Troops!  This is a great way to make a difference! 
The mission of Let's Say Thanks is to provide a way for individuals across the country to recognize U.S. troops stationed overseas. By submitting a message through this site you have the opportunity to send a free personalized postcard greeting to deployed servicemen and women.

The postcards, depicting patriotic scenes and hometown images, were selected from a pool of entries from children across the country.


All you have to do is click on your favorite design and either select the message that best expresses your sentiment or draft a personal note. The postcards are then printed on the Xerox iGen3® Digital Production Press and mailed in care packages by military support organization Give2TheTroops®.




Xerox is committed to helping people across the nation express their gratitude to our troops overseas. The launch of this program is aimed at reminding them how much Americans appreciate their service.

Below is one of the messages received from the troops:

To the folks of Let's Say Thanks,


First off let me say a personal thank you. I was out of the office when the package arrived and it was placed on my chair. Just to see a package waiting for me made my day! I speak on behalf of other Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines that receiving a package stuffed with goodies is a great feeling - knowing that the folks back home are very appreciative and supporting of their defenders.


I myself have children ages 7 (girl) and 4 (boy) whom I miss so dearly! Seeing the artwork and the messages "praying and wishing for your safe return" that others write really brings a tear to my eye. It is very touching to know that the kids back home know why we are here defending our country and that they are very active in the supporting us.
Again, I would like to say thank you and keep doing what you are doing as many out here don't have family members to lean on.


- An Air Force Staff Sergeant

Source:  Let's Say Thanks

March 21 (Day 21) Connecting Military Parents & Kids

The Dog Tags for Kids Project is dedicated to helping United States Service men and women most in harm's way connect with their children at home. Specially engraved Dog Tags in the appropriate service color are provided FREE to the service members for their children.


The dog tags must come from the parents so all dog tags are sent to Iraq, Kuwait, or Afghanistan at the request of the service members to send back to their children; from their hearts to their children’s hearts. We are a grassroots project depending entirely on volunteers and donations to continue this mission. All donations go through the Kids Charities of the Antelope Valley, a 501(c)3 charity. Our goal is to see that every parent soldier who wants a dog tag for his/her children receives one at no charge to the service member or their families.
 
100% of Your Donation Delivers Smiles

Help send dog tags to troops in Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan so they can send them to their kids back home! This is a grassroots effort to show support for the troops and their families.

Your donation will help send a tag in the appropriate service color to an appreciative service member. There is NO charge to the service member or their family for these tags. As of December 1st, 2009, they have sent 500,580 tags to the troops overseas to send home to their children. Check out the website to see how you can help.  Please help make a difference and thank our troops by putting a smile on their kid's faces!


Source: Dog Tag for Kids
Related Link:  www.dogtagforkids.com

March 12 (Day 12) Cell Phones for Soldiers

Cell Phones for Soldiers was founded in 2004 by brother and sister Robbie and Brittany Bergquist, age 12 and 13, respectively, at the time. To date, they have provided more than 62 million minutes of free calling cards thanks to a national network of individual and corporate supporters donating phones and money. "The Helping Heroes Home" campaign relies on the donations of used phones. Qualifying phones are refurbished and given to requesting soldiers along with a month of calling time. Other donated phones will either be recycled or used to fund the charity’s free calling-card program for troops overseas. 

In addition to providing a valuable benefit to out troops, Cell Phones for Soldiers is also providing a service to the environment. There are more than 130 million used phones retired every year in the United States. Though each phone on its own may not pose much of an environmental risk, the cumulative impact is significant. Those 130 million phones contain more than 16 million pounds of hazardous waste and only a small percentage are currently recycled

Ways to Help:

Cell Phones for Soldiers has partnered with Little Caesars Pizza.  Stop in a participating Little Caesars location during the months of March and April and receive a Little Caesars/Cell Phones for Soldiers postage-paid mailing envelope with your order. Customers who provide their e-mail address in the space provided on the mailing envelope will receive a special coupon offer for Little Caesars via e-mail.   If there are no Little Caesars locations near you, you can print a prepaid shipping label from their website.  http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com/

Don't have a cell phone to donate?  You can also make a cash donation on the website. 

You can find a drop off location for your cell phone or you can register to make your business an official drop off location. 

You will also find instructions on how to erase your personal information before you donate your old cell phones.