A Web of Support For Our Troops

As a member of the United States military - Air Force - I ask that you celebrate the Fourth of July by helping me support my uniformed brothers and sisters with any of the following websites:

AAFES “Gifts From the Homefront” (www.aafes.com/docs/homefront.htm)
The Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), aka “The BX,” is where most of us military folks do our shopping. With this website you can purchase a gift certificate for anyone who is deployed or injured.

Any Soldier (www.anysoldier.com)
Any Soldier allows you to see a list of deployed individuals by service and what items they are in need of. You can then adopt the troop of your choice and customize your package of aloha to send to them.

Books For Soldiers (www.booksforsoldiers.com)
Books For Soldiers is a non-profit organization, operated as a ministry from a non-denominational church in North Carolina. Send books, DVDs, games or relief supplies.

Commissary Gift Certificates – Groceries (www.commissaries.com/certificheck)
Help a family with groceries by purchasing gift certificates to the commissary. You can either purchase one to give a gift to an authorized shopper, or elect to donate one through select non-profit organizations.

Homes For Our Troops (www.homesforourtroops.org)
Contribute to building and remodeling specially adapted (handicap accessible) homes for severely wounded veterans.

Operation Dear Abby (http://anyservicemember.navy.mil)
Send a special e-mail message to any servicemember. They can view your messages online.

Operation Hero Miles (www.heromiles.org)
Donate your frequent flyer miles to deployed troops so they can fly home complimentary. It also opens opportunity for family members of wounded servicemembers to visit their loved ones recovering at military hospitals around the country.

Operation Gratitude (www.opgratitude.com)
Provides different ways for you to show your appreciation for the troops. Your monetary donations will be used to purchase needed goods, or opt to donate something from the wishlist. Care packages and letters are then sent to deployed troops.

Operation Uplink (www.operationuplink.org)
Keeps military personnel and hospitalized veterans in touch with their families. Your contribution will help fund phone cards that are distributed to servicemembers who are separated from their families.

Soldiers’ Angels (www.soldiersangels.org)
Become a soldier’s angel by adopting one. For this program, be prepared to send a card or letter every week, and at least one or two care packages a month.

USO Cares (www.usocares.org)
The United Service Organization (USO) is requesting assistance from individuals to support the troops through Operation USO Care Package. These packages are delivered all over the world to deployed servicemembers to show them that they have not been forgotten. A donation of $25 can sponsor a care package and includes a personal message of support and encouragement.