New Defense Dept. program showcases America's support for its
servicemembers.
Defend America
Department of Defense site with news and support links
Operation Dear Abby
— Noted advice columnist's site for sending "any servicemember" messages.
Fallen Heroes Last Wish
Foundation — Provides funds to help support and educate the
children of American servicemembers lost during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Fisher House
— "Comfort
homes" on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers, where
family members can be close to a loved one during the hospitalization for
an unexpected illness, disease, or injury.
Homes for our Troops —
Building specially-adapted homes for severely disabled soldiers and their
families.
USA Freedom Corps
— Make a difference by volunteering. Web site gives you many options.
USO Care packages
— Sponsor a care package that includes requested items such as pre-paid
worldwide phone cards, sunscreen, travel-size toiletries, and personal
messages.
Armed
Services Blood Program — Supplies blood and blood products for
the 1.3 million servicemembers and their families around the globe. Here's
information on how you can help.
Wounded warrior hospital fund — To provide quality-of-life items
for wounded servicemembers at Landstuhl.
Voices from Home
— Allows serving military
members and their families and friends to send and receive immediate voice
e-mail messages.
Military Moms
— Message boards, chat rooms, ways to donate items, information on the
military, and much more; a project organized by mothers of servicemembers.
Operation Air
Conditioner — A military mother's effort to send needed air
conditioners (and in the winter, heaters) and other items to troops in the
Middle East.
VFW's Operation
Uplink — Purchases phone cards and distributes them to
servicemembers.
Operation Military Pride
— Volunteer organization, founded by military spouses, sends cards, letters
and care packages to troops. Also distributes names and addresses of
participating servicemembers for people wishing to send messages or gifts
directly.
Operation
Package
Send a gift to the 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment "Manchus" of the U.S.
Army's 2nd Infantry Division.
Books for Soldiers
Ships books, DVDs and supplies to deployed soldiers and soldiers in VA
hospitals, via a large volunteer network.
Adopt a
Soldier
Support the wounded, injured, and ill troops at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Adopt a Platoon
— Several programs, including Operation Holiday Eagle (to
send boxes of candy canes to forces deployed to Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, the
Balkans and Korea).
Camp.Doha.org
— Information on the Middle East for troops and their families and friends.
Blue Star
Mothers of America — Group founded by servicemembers' moms during
WWII. Site has links to several support programs.
Soldiers
Angels — "Adopt" a servicemember or send along a gift. A
wide-ranging foundation started by a soldier's mom.
Operation Give —
Coordinates the collection and distribution of toys and other items for Iraqi
children
Operation Shoe Box
— Their goal: "A package for every soldier, sailor, airman, and
Marine" deployed overseas.
Operation Call Home
— Goal: A satellite phone for every platoon in Iraq
Apppreciate our troops.org — If you buy a mug, a servicemember will
get one, too. Also, post photos.
Treat the Troops
— Home-baked cookies for servicemembers.
SI Yellow Ribbon
— From southern Illinois, sending packages, cards and letters to the troops
Operation Enduring
Response — a Texas Red Cross chapter's program enabling kids to
write letters which are then delivered to the troops.
Defend America messages
— At this Defense Dept. Web site, a way to send a "thank you" note to the
troops.
Attn: Any Soldier — Seeks donations of hand warmers, inflatable pillows, all-weather and emergency
blankets, antibacterial wipes and Beanie Babies for soldiers to give to Iraqi
tots.
Freedom packages
— Items for troops in overseas combat zones.
Kitchen Table Gang
— Encourages sending care packages, phone cards and items like magazine or
newspaper subscriptions to hospitalized veterans and troops.
Operation Hero Miles
— An effort by several airlines allowing the public to donate frequent flyer miles to troops coming home for
emergencies or R&R.
Operation Military Care
— The U.S. War Dogs Association's project devoted to supporting the hundreds of
American war dogs and their handlers in Iraq.
Gifts From the Homefront
— AAFES' project turns donations
into gift certificates the troops can use to shop at the 24 exchanges operating
in the Persian Gulf area or elsewhere around the world.
Gift of Groceries
— DECA's program provides gift certificates that can be used at commissaries.
Family members can also use them at bases back home.
Operation SAND Box
— Started by two 13-year-olds, "adopt a soldier" program gets supplies and
messages to the troops.
Operation
Soldier Support — Puts you in contact with participating
servicemembers, so you can send messages and gifts.
Operation Gold Bridge — Seeking school supplies for Iraqi schools.
(Story has contact
information.)
EmailOurMilitary.com — Send messages to the troops.
Marine Moms
— Support page for friends and relatives of Marines.
Militarymail.org
— Send "fan mail" to servicemembers.
Treats for
troops — Servicemembers sign up for goodies from home.
Give2TheTroops.org —
Letters and care packages prepared and shipped by volunteers.
Carolina Troop Supporters — A student-led
organization devoted to supporting the U.S. armed forces
Treat Any
Soldier — Care packages for soldiers serving in harm's way.
Operation Letters from Home — "Adopt" a deployed or wounded
servicemember.
Request for medical supplies addressed to the stateside medical community.
Operation
Show Time — "Sky Soldiers" of the 173rd Airborne send DVDs to the troops.
Stripes has gotten many requests from people asking about the rules for sending mail to
servicemembers overseas. Here's more information:
