What can I do to support our troops?

Defense Link ^ | DOD

[Jen]

From the FAQs on the Defenselink.mil website:

Question: What can I do to support our troops?

Answer: Thank you for thinking of our troops! Thousands of Americans are asking what they can do to show their support for servicemembers, especially those serving overseas in this time of war.

Please do not flood the military mail system with letters, cards, and gifts. Due to security concerns and transportation constraints, the Department cannot accept items to be mailed to "Any Servicemember." Some people have tried to avoid this prohibition by sending large numbers of packages to an individual servicemember's address, which however well intentioned, clogs the mail and causes unneccessary delays.

Below are Web sites for several organizations that are sponsoring programs for members of the Armed Forces overseas. While it would be inappropriate for the Department to endorse any specifically, servicemembers do value and appreciate such expressions of support:

"Gifts from the Homefront" Certificates now allow you to send a gift certificate to a loved one, family member or dear friend associated with the military. These certificates are redeemable by Authorized Patrons of the PX/BX and are redeemable at all locations around the world including deployed areas.

Donate to "Operation USO Care Package"

The Gift of Groceries program helps meet the family needs of our Guard and Reserve troops fighting the war on terrorism.

Donate a calling card to help keep servicemembers in touch with their families at Operation Uplink.

Send a greeting via e-mail through Operation Dear Abby.

Sign a virtual thank you card at the Defend America Web site.

The newspaper "Stars and Stripes" includes a daily ""Messages of Support" section giving family and friends of deployed service members a chance to pass along greetings, announcement, and words of encouragement. Such messages (LIMITED TO 50 WORDS OR LESS) will be printed on a first-come, first-run basis. Messages may be sent to: messages@stripes.com.

Support the American Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services

Purchase a Patriot Bond

Make a donation to one of the military relief societies:

Army Emergency Relief

Navy/Marine Relief Society

Air Force Aid Society

Coast Guard Mutual Assistance

Volunteer at a VA Hospital to honor veterans who bore the lamp of freedom in past conflicts.

Reach out to military families in your community, especially those with a loved one overseas.

The support and generosity of the American people has touched the lives of many servicemembers, over 300,000 of whom are deployed overseas.

[Billthedrill]

Donate blood. BTT.

[Calpernia]

AHHHH! I didn't see our link in there! You can join Homeland Security!

http://www.usndfscom.com/

My Post: http://goexcelglobal.com/NJ_DefenseForce/index.html

[annyokie]

http://www.operationmilitarysupport.com/

Site currently flooded.

[Jen]

Ping for ways to support our troops!

Please help get the word out.

[rdb3]

Donate blood.

Amen. And pray, too.

Young, American, conservative-transcender, cocky, and black. Don't like it? Sounds like a personal problem to me.

[Jen]

Great! Thanks for adding the Homeland Security link. The links I posted came from the DefenseLink site.

[Jen]

Thanks!!

[Calpernia]

Yes, and we will get our link on that site ASAP! Thanks for posting that.

[Jen]

Info here too!

[risk]

It's easier said than done, but just don't ever forget them when this war is over. It's beside the point, but I think we all know that Iraq is probably just a battle in many yet to come.

The cold shoulder treatment our heroes received after they battled the evil forces of communism in Viet Nam shall never again be allowed in our nation.

I think in the 70s and 80s our country forgot that any thriving free republic needs its warriors, and always will.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"What can I do to support our troops?"


We Need You -- In the wake of the recent attacks on the United States, the Coast Guard Auxiliary will be called upon to provide essential services to the Coast Guard as they focus more heavily on their military missions.  We will need all the help we can get.  You needn't own a boat or even be an experienced boater, since our missions are wide-ranging.  For information about existing Auxiliary missions and the Auxiliary in general, go to our Join the Auxiliary webpage.  You will find there a form through which you can ask that a local Auxiliarist make contact with you to explore the ways in which you can assist Team Coast Guard
and, in the process, do something for our country in its hour of need.
Age 17 and up (no upper age restrictions) Click Here for details.

[jwalsh07]

btt

[annyokie]

TRy here too:

http://www.uso.com/pubs/8_20_1395.cfm

[soccermom]

Do a random act of kindess. OK -- not so random because you want to target our servicemen, of course! If it is within your means, pick up a serviceman's bill for dinner the next time you see him in a restaurant. Pay for his groceries when you see him in line. Pay his toll, etc. I have been hearing stories of freaks calling individuals in uniform "babykillers." We need to counter that, at every turn, with positive acts.

[Capitalism2003]

and you can always donate to http://www.NRSC.org and kick out the anti military lefties who would like nothing more than to slash 50% out of the defense budget to expand the welfare state.

[Jen]

WooHoo to that idea! :-)

[Jen]

It's easier said than done, but just don't ever forget them when this war is over.

I'll never forget and will do all I can to treat our troops as the heroes they are!

[GatorGirl]

Hi Jen, thanks for the ping. It's been ages since we've been online at the same time!

It has recently come to my attention that Elks lodges are sponsoring a program that will match volunteers with families of deployed servicemembers for assistance with errands, handyman work around the house, lawn mowing, etc... I believe it is a nationwide effort. If you contact your local Elks lodge, they may be able to help you.

Also, most bases have a Family Service Center either on base or at a convenient location. These centers provide lots of services, again including volunteer help and child care as well as classes and social events for military families.

The thing is, alot of us are pretty strong and independent (kind of comes with the territory) and we won't ask for help. If you know of an active or reserve family left behind, speak up! If you wait to be asked, it probably won't happen.

Very helpful and timely thread......GG

[EdReform]

Here's a BIG BUMP!