'Gifts from the Homefront' routes support to 'Any Servicemember' (Send Cheer to the Troops!)

Air Force Link ^

[SandRat]

11/16/2007 - DALLAS (AFPN) -- When issuing suggested holiday mailing deadlines for military care packages, the Unites States Postal Service made sure to highlight that "all packages and mail must be addressed to individual service members, as required by U.S. Department of Defense regulations."

Since DOD suspended mail addressed to "any servicemember" nearly six years ago, individuals and organizations back home, as well as troops deployed to the contingency theater, have devised a variety of cumbersome, and sometimes potentially dangerous, methods to circumvent security and transportation concerns that originally led to the cancellation of the program.

Noting the great lengths being taken, including posting the full name and rotation dates of Soldiers, Airmen, Marines and Sailors to the Internet or sending to the attention of one person enough feminine and oral hygiene products to meet the needs of an entire unit, Army & Air Force Exchange Service officials began working to create a program that would allow any American to safely send support to "any servicemember."

The resulting "Gifts from the Homefront" program today makes it possible for anyone to leverage services and products already "on the ground" and available at military exchanges throughout operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom through lightweight gift certificates that can be routed to "any servicemember" without compromising safety or creating additional demands on the military postal system.

Some four years after the launch of "Gifts from the Homefront" in March 2003, the American public has sent 92,240 "BX/PX" gift certificates totaling nearly $2 million.

"The outpouring of support has been very encouraging," said Chief Master Sgt. Bryan Eaton, AAFES' senior enlisted advisor. "It's understandable as the effort is a win/win for all involved; the sender saves money on postage and doesn't need a direct point of contact while the recipients can go into an exchange and redeem the gift certificate for exactly what they need."

"Gifts from the Homefront" can be sent to deployed troops by logging on to www.aafes.org and clicking to the "Gifts from the Homefront" icon, or by calling 877-770-4438. From there, the gift certificates are sent to individual service members (designated by the purchaser) or distributed to "any service member" through the Air Force Aid Society, American Red Cross, Coalition to Salute America's Heroes, Fisher House, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Operation Homefront, Operation Interdependence® or USO. 

"Gifts from the Homefront" gift certificates can be redeemed at exchange facilities worldwide. Recent reports indicate troops shopping their contingency exchanges are reaching for movies, snacks, Military Exchange Global prepaid phone cards and more.

[SandRat]

Thought you should know.

[HiJinx]

There are a lot of organizations doing this now - which is a win-win situation for the troops and their supporters.

[PROCON]

I remember a long time ago how those “Care Packages” boosted my spirits. My dad once sent a bottle of Jack Daniels to me when I was stationed in Germany and on the customs claim labeled it “Cologne”. I’m glad the bottle didn’t break,LOL

Seriously though, now is the time to get those packages ready, thanks SandRat!!

[basil]

I was in the post office today, and was touched by a little old couple ahead of me. They were mailing off 8 large packages to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. I overhead them telling the postal worker what was in them---and they said that they had a list of things that most soldiers had requested, so they followed that list.

Anyway, I was so touched by this that I went up and gave them some money to help pay for all their expenses. They were delighted, and said they would use it for their next shipment! They plan to do this every other month until all the troops are safely home.

[goodnesswins]

Hey.....I was thinking of doing exactly THAT - been packaging up stuff for soldiers and was wondering while I was shopping whether sticking a bottle of booze in there would make it......I might just do it!

[mdittmar]

There are a lot of organizations doing this now - which is a win-win situation for the troops and their supporters.

Here's a few links,a few more ways to say Thank You to our Troops.

A Million Thanks
A Soldier's Wish List
Adopt-a-Chaplain
Adopt a Platoon
Adopt A Soldier Ministries
American Care Packages
The American Legion
American Legion Auxiliary
Angels 'n Camouflage, Inc.
Any Soldier
Armed Forces Foundation
Armor 4 Troops
Boatsie's Boxes
Blue Star Mothers of America
Caring For Troops
Central Illinois Proud Families of Marines
Dallas Is Love
Defenders of Freedom
Deployed Soldiers Family Foundation
Flags Across the Nation
The Freedom Fund
Freedom Is Not Free
Give 2 The Troops
Have a Heart/Adopt a Soldier
Hearts Across the Miles
Helping Our Troops
Hero Hugs
Home of the Brave Quilts
Homefront Hugs USA
The Hugs Project
Keystone Soldiers
Ladies Auxiliary to the VFW
Landstuhl Hospital Care Project
Letters From Home
Local Heroes
Marine Corps Family Foundation
Marine Corps Family Support Community
Military Ministry

Montana Supporting Soldiers Mothers of Military Support Music for Troops My Soldier New England Caring For Our Military Operation AC Operation Candy Cane Operation Care and Comfort Operation Care Packages Operation Dreamseed Operation First Response Operation From the Heart Operation Give Operation Goody Bag Operation Gratitude Operation Holidays Operation Homefront Operation Hope Operation Interdependence Operation Military Support Operation Mom Operation: Mom’s Cookies, Inc. Operation Morale Operation Paperback Operation Pinecone Operation Quiet Comfort Operation: S.A.M. Operation Second Chance Operation Shoebox Operation Stocking Stuffer Operation Support Operation Support Our Troops Illinois Operation Thank You Operation Troop Appreciation Operation We Care Packages from Home Packed with Pride

Patriot Packs, Inc. Project Prayer Flag Salute Our Services Salute The Troops Shadow Warrior Share Our Gifts Foundation SI Yellow Ribbon Campaign Silver Star Families of America Soldiers' Angels Soldiers Memorial Fund Special Kindness In Packages, Inc. Summit Supports Our Troops Support A Soldier Support Our Soldiers America, Inc. Tee It Up for the Troops Tennessee Marine Family Treat the Troops Trees For Troops Troop Care Package United We Serve USA Cares US Troop Care Package US Troop Support Foundation USO Care Packages USO of Metropolitan Washington USO World

[PROCON]

I don’t know.

When I was in, the military was pretty lax about it, maybe some younger military types can offer you better advice.

OBTW, if you do send one make sure it’s in a plastic bottle/LOL

[HiJinx]

That must be an older list, my organization - Proud Patriots, Inc. - is listed with America Supports You now.

[StarCMC]

That’s a great idea! And AAFES will also allow civilians to purchase international phone cards to be distributed to military members.