To Our Soldiers, With Love, Vets, Honor Those Who have Served, Love our Military, America Support Vets

If anyone needs a gesture of love these days, it’s our men and women in uniform. While many enlisted for fervent patriotic reasons, others did so to learn a new skill, make college more affordable, or simply get away from home. But the mad rush of history has put many of them in harm’s way—far from friends and loved ones. If you’d like to make a personal gesture of love in a time of uncertainty and unrest, regardless of your views on the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan or elsewhere, numerous organizations provide ways for you to show that someone back home cares. When you write or email a service member, or send a care package, you can be sure that an appreciative soul—very likely young and lonely, and even possibly afraid—will be on the receiving end. Here are a few organizations for you to consider:

Adopt a US Soldier

This project was started in 2004 by Ann Johnson from Englewood, Colorado, when her son, Paul, was first deployed to Iraq. No matter how many items she sent to him, she needed to send more because he shared everything with his unit. She then asked all her friends, co-workers and church members to help. They wound up sending nearly $3,000 worth of items such as snacks, hygiene products, and even three microwaves to his company. Soon, Johnson extended her support to other deployed service members. Today, the non-profit is active in 178 countries or territories, including Afghanistan, and has nearly 1.2 million supporters. It seeks volunteers to write letters to deployed soldiers or send care packages if they can afford them. “We’re here to help any way we can,” Johnson says. To learn more, go to adoptausolder.org.

The Hugs Project

This Oklahoma-based organization was started in 2004 by Ray and Karen Stark because they wanted to “make sure every American service member knows they are loved and appreciated by those who remain at home enjoying the freedom they provide.” Over the years, the Hugs Project has sent 2 million cool ties (nicknamed “hugs” since they go around the neck) to keep troops in the Middle East cool during the summer and warm in the winter, and more than 900 tons of care-package items to help lift the morale of troops throughout the world. This year, 3,000 individualized Christmas care boxes that include socks, snacks, hygiene items, hand knit hats, CDs and DVDs are being sent to troops in Afghanistan and other countries. However, since The Hugs Project relies on donations to cover the costs of items, shipping and postage, it could use your help. Visit thehugsproject.com.

Tell Them Thanks

This internet-based organization receives the names of men and women who do not get regular mail from home and connects them with volunteers who want to write to them. You “adopt” a service member for the duration of their deployment. The requirements are that you send at least one letter a month so the service member can hear his or her name at mail call. There is no membership fee or monetary commitment except the cost of the postage to mail your letters. You can also send care packages to the adopted service member. To participate, you fill out the application found on the website after which you receive your soldier’s information. For details, go to: TellThemThanks.com.

Dogs on Deployment

The last thing that a service member needs to worry about when deployed is the care of their beloved pets. Too many service members have to give away their pets when they are deployed, never seeing their animals again. Dogs on Deployment, founded by husband and wife Shawn and Alisa Johnson of Santee, California— who live with two dogs, two parrots, two rescue cats and also foster pets—is an online network for military members to search for volunteers willing to board their pets while they are deployed or have service commitments. By doing this, military members are offered peace of mind that their pets are lovingly cared for while they are protecting and serving our country. Dogs on Deployment was recently awarded the San Diego Humane Society & SPCA Compassion award for their impact on the animal community. For details, visit dogsondeployment.org or call 619-800-3631.

Operation USO Care Package

Most people know the USO for its celebrity entertainment tours. But the organization is involved in an extensive range of other programs to help the troops. When a service member is deployed, for instance, he or she can can pack only a few personal items. Troops may go months without more than the basics (like soap) that the military issues them. Care packages sent through Operation USO Care Package lift morale by filling some of those gaps. Your $25 gift purchases one USO Care Package with toiletries such as razors and shampoo, snacks, disposable cameras, magazines, messages of gratitude, and more. For information, go to uso.org/operation-uso-care-package.aspx

VFW Operation Uplink

A sure remedy for loneliness is the sound of a friendly voice. But calling cards aren’t standard military issue. Each month the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Operation Uplink program provides free phone calls to active-duty military personnel and hospitalized veterans. Operation Uplink hosts three designated “Free Call Days” when deployed service members can make free-of-charge calls at internet cafes in Afghanistan, Kuwait and other Middle East locations. Since its beginning in 2006, Free Call Day events have connected over 7.5 million calls. Service members in areas without internet cafes can contact the VFW for other communication options. By donating to the VFW, you can keep a service member in touch with folks back home. For details, go to vfw.org/TroopSupport, [email protected] or call 816-968-1155.

Pillows for Soldiers

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When soldiers are deployed, they are not issued pillows and instead rest their heads on rolled up clothing or backpacks. But Pillows for Soldiers, founded in 2005, aims to supply comfortable, high-quality pillows to as many servicemen and women as possible. Founder Dave Busch, a Connecticut mechanical engineer, says about 2,200 pillows have been shipped to soldiers deployed overseas, bases such as Marine Corps base Camp Pendleton, and VA hospitals. All donations received go directly to the purchase and delivery of the pillows. Busch says he hopes that every time a soldier puts their head on a pillow “they know how much we all stand behind them, support them, admire them, respect them and revere them.” For details: pillowsforsoldiers.com or call 860-295-8144.