Celebrating Our Service Members This Memorial Day

Each year we pause all too briefly to honor our brave service personnel throughout our country and overseas. Politicians give speeches extolling the virtues of those and their families who have served, continue to serve or have given the ultimate sacrifice for us all. After the parades, the speeches, and the barbecues begin to wind down, we will all return to our daily lives.

You may find one or more of these charities listed below appealing to you and worthy of your participation. Not sure what you can do? We've highlighted two worthy charities below. Regardless of your choice, you can make a difference either financially or in person.

Please click on a link and follow your heart with your wallet. If you lack funds to donate, many will welcome your time and energy if you can. We have the ability to do so much for so many right here in our own backyard as we celebrate this and every Memorial Day. God bless our troops, their families and America.

Two charities that help our veterans:







Soldier Socks
1127 High Ridge Road, 124 Stamford, Connecticut 06905; Tel - 203-832-2005

www.soldiersocks.com/index.php?option=com_contact&view=contact&id=1&Itemid=68

Fisher House

Fisher House Foundation, Inc., 111 Rockville Pike, Suite 420, Rockville, Maryland 20850; (888) 294-8560 or (301) 294-8560; Fax: (301) 294-8562
info@fisherhouse.org

Fisher House Foundation is best known for a network of comfort homes where military and veterans’ families can stay at no cost while a loved one is receiving treatment.

During our research for a list of charities that help our military personnel, we found this page with an incredibly long list of charities for the military:

http://www.ausa.org/resources/familyprograms/resources/InternetResources/Pages/CharitiesSupportingSoldiersandtheirFamilies.aspx

If the links below do not work, please go directly to the link above and link to the charity of your choice from there.

Wounded Warrior & Family Support Resources Gary Sinise Foundation This foundation is designed to honor the nation's defenders, veterans, first responders, their families and those in need by creating and supporting unique programs designed to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen, and build communities. The Giving Effect The Giving Effect is a national movement getting food, gently-used items & more to people in need. From people like you! Homes for Our Troops Homes for Our Troops assists severely injured service men and women and their immediate families by raising donations of money, building materials and professional labor and coordinating the process of building new adapting existing homes with handicapped accessibility. Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund aids severely injured military personnel in their treatment and recovery at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. Fisher House The Fisher House Foundation provides affordable lodging for family members of hospitalized military personnel. National Center on Family Homlessness The National Center on Family Homelessness develops and implements innovative solutions that address the unique needs of homeless children and families. Our extensive knowledge of the causes, correlates, and consequences of homelessness allows us to support families in their return to stable housing in the community. Operation Comfort Operation Comfort provides support to Service members who have been wounded in Afghanistan or Iraq and are receiving treatment at Brooke Army Medical Center. Operation Hero Miles Operation Hero Miles takes donations of unused frequent flier miles to help soldiers travel on emergency leave. They can also be used to help families fly to hospitalized soldiers. Operation Gratitude Operation Gratitude seeks to lift morale and put smiles on faces by sending care packages addressed to individual Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines deployed in harm's way.** Operation Gratitude care packages contain food, hygiene products, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation, all wrapped with good wishes of love and support. Operation Paperback Operation Paperback is a non-profit organization incorporated in the State of Pennsylvania that collects gently used books nationwide and sends them to American troops deployed overseas. Since 1999, we have shipped over 1.3 million books to locations around the globe. Pets for Patriots We create unique opportunities for members of the military community to save a life by honorably adopting homeless adult dogs and cats. Project Prayer Flag Project Prayer Flag is recognized by the Department of Defense as a member of the "America Supports You" program, which showcases efforts to support American troops and their families. Since 2002 the organization has distributed flags, care packages, baseball equipment, family and financial support, military phone cards and Unit support to soldiers in Iraq, Afghanistan and various international deployment areas. Project Valor-IT Project Valor-IT provides voice-controlled software and laptop computers to wounded Service members recovering from hand and arm injuries or amputations at major military medical centers. Visit the website to learn how to make a donation or request a laptop. Quilts of Valor The Quilts of Valor project provides homemade quilts to wounded Service members. Tempered Steel, Inc. Tempered Steel sends Wounded Warriors to speak to schools, community groups and corporate events about their very personal stories behind their scars of war. Our members are all Iraq and Afghanistan veterans of all military branches; Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force who have been wounded during the last 10 years physically and/or psychologically. Wounded Warriors Family Support Fund Provides support and solace to the families of injured or fallen troops through vacations. Aid for Wounded Soldiers Aid for Wounded Soldiers is a non-profit project that provides comfort and relief items for soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines sick, injured or wounded from service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Specific items requested by Military Medical Centers, VA Medical Centers and Fisher House rehabilitation facilities are purchased and donated each week.

Send Care Packages Resources Adopt a Platoon AnySoldier A Soldier's Wish List Books For Soldiers Boatsie's Boxes Operation: A Bit of Home Operation Air Conditioner Operation Care and Comfort Operation Gratitude Operation Homefront’s eCarePackage.org Operation Interdependence Operation Shoebox Operation Troop Appreciation Operation Write Home Packages From Home The Scott Valelly Soldiers’ Memorial Fund Holiday Gift Drive Soldiers' Angels Support America’s Armed Forces Treats for Troops USO Cares

Emergency Assistance Resources American Soldier Foundation The Foundation can provide grants or interest free loans to help Soldiers and family members with unexpected events. Armed Forces Foundation Family Assistance Program The Family Assistance Program awards financial assistance to military families ranging from hotel room cost and utility bill payment, to laptops for recovering veterans. Families must apply for assistance through the website and are accepted based on their need in relationship to monthly income. Army Emergency Relief Army Emergency Relief provides emergency financial assistance to Soldiers and their families. Army Homefront Fund Provides emergency financial and other support to the families of soldiers, with a focus on wounded warrior care and transition assistance. Includes cash grants, not loans, paid directly to mortgage lenders, auto mechanics, utility companies, doctors and other providers. Assistance is usually provided within 24-72 hours after receiving pertinent information from the warrior or family member. American Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services The American Red Cross sends communications on behalf of family members who are facing emergencies or other important events to members of the U.S. Armed Forces serving all over the world. It also offers financial assistance to military families and veterans. Operation Eagle’s Nest Donations to this charity support the families of Soldiers stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Operation Homefront Operation Homefront can provide financial assistance to military families in need as well as help with emeregncy household and vehicle repairs. Reserve Aid Reserve Aid is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to providing financial support to the families of Reserve Service Members called to active duty in all five branches of the Armed Forces. Reserve Aid makes unrestricted, need based grants to military families who have a Reserve Service Member on full-time deployment to a combat zone or homeland security position. Support America’s Armed Forces (SAAF) SAAF raises funds, collects care package items and issues grants to veteran organizations, active duty or reserve personnel, or families in need of assistance. Unmet Needs (Veterans of Foreign Wars) The Unmet Needs Program provides emergency financial assistance and has a network of skilled volunteers able to assist military families. USA Cares USA Cares exists to provide military families with financial support and other critical resources in their time of need.

Donate Item or Resources Services Air Compassion for Veterans ACV ensures that no financially-stressed wounded warrior / veteran / active duty military person or their family member(s) is denied access to distant specialized medical evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, or rehabilitation for lack of a means of long-distance medical air transportation. ACV provides air transportation to Wounded Warriors. AMVETS Task Force DVD The American Veterans collect new and used DVDs to distribute overseas to US military personnel. Cell Phones for Soldiers This charity accepts donations of old cell phones, which it then recycles for cash to buy phone cards for deployed troops. Commissary Gift Certificates Gift certificates purchased though the Defense Commissary Agency can be used by military families. Freedom Calls Donations to the Freedom Calls Foundation help build and maintain a state-of-the-art telecommunications network for military personnel to keep in touch with family members back home. Green Care for Troops A nationwide outreach program connecting local lawn and landscaping companies with the families of deployed Service members to help with lawn and landscape care. Help Our Troops Call Home Purchase prepaid calling cards through military exchanges for troops serving overseas in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Homefront America, Inc. Homefront America is a volunteer, non-profit website that assists military families during deployment. Their programs include referral assistance, tuition and scholarship assistance, holiday programs, back-to-school supplies, teen education and routine auto maintenance. Operation Homelink Operation Homelink provides refurbished computers to the spouses or parents of junior enlisted (E1-E5) U.S. deployed Service members, enabling email communication with their loved ones deployed overseas. Operation Top Knot A program that supports the wives and children of U.S. soldiers through donations of baby gifts. Operation Uplink Run by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Operation Uplink accepts contributions in order to supply phone cards to troops and their families. Snow Care For Troops Snow Care for Troops is a nationwide outreach program that recruits local volunteers to provide free snow removal services at home for the men and women serving overseas USA Together Is a non-profit website that provides assistance through donors to injured Soldiers, Veterans and their families.

Help Soldiers Help Others Resources Operation Iraqi Children Many soldiers deployed to Iraq are rebuilding schools. Donations to Operation Iraqi Children help purchase desperately needed school supplies. Operation Give Operation Give provides toys, clothing and school supplies primarily to the children of Iraq and Afghanistan. Spirit of America Spirit of America helps US troops carry out humanitarian projects around the world through donations of much needed goods and supplies.