How to Support the Troops This Holiday Season

Take some time this holiday season (or any season for that matter) and send some cheer to service men and woman overseas. The following programs are a few ways to help the troops by purchasing phone cards, gift certificates or mailing letters of thanks. It doesn’t matter if you agree with the war or you full heartedly support the president’s decisions concerning the war, these men and woman are doing a job that keeps them away from home this holiday season and in the line of danger. So take some time this holiday season to make their lives a little brighter and let them know that someone out there is thinking of them and the situation they are in.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Ability and Desire to help others
• The Internet
• Time

1. Help Them Call Home: No better way to make the holidays truly special than to be able to hear the voice of loved ones back home. The Red Cross and the Army and Air Force Exchange Service(AAFES) offer phone cards for $39. These cards do not expire, and do not have any connection fees. Each card offers around 2 hours of phone time from centers around Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait. Cards can be purchased from the AAFES website. (Link below in Resources). Phone cards can be purchased “for any soldier” and are then passed out through charitable organizations like the Red Cross, USO, Air Force Aid Society, and Fisher House.

2. “Gifts From the Homefront” The Red Cross and the AAFES have developed a way for soldiers to purchase convince items without causing extra strain to the military mail system or causing problems with security. Certificates can again be purchased “for any soldier” and are then passed out through charitable organizations. (Link to all sites will be in the Resources).

3. Operation Dear Abby. Anyone can send a message via the internet to service members. They can then check the messages on the Operation Dear Abby website. There

4. Let’s Say Thanks (Program Sponsored by Xerox) You can click on a postcard design or create your own. Then add a personal message and hit send. The postcards are then printed and sent to people in a military service braches in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Asia.

5. Operation Hero Miles. Allows you to donate frequent flier miles through the Fisher House Foundation. The tickets are then given to family members of wounded soldiers overseas so that they can visit their loved ones recovering at different military hospitals around the country.

6. Send a Letter through A Million Thanks. The organization encourages individuals or groups of people to write letters or cards of thanks and then drop them off at local centers. They then distribute the letters to either active duty or retired service members.

Tips & Warnings

• When sending letters keep things positive. It is best not to ask or point out things that can be depressing such as "I hope you don't die" or "It is sad you are away from your family".
• If you have kids, have them make homemade cards for the holidays. These can be sent out through the A Million Thanks organization.

[PositivelyWrite]

on 12/4/2008 Thank you so very much for this article!

[dawnzlight]

on 12/25/2007 Great for you to write this article up, so many people don't really know what to do. Good job, thanks