Remember the Soldiers

November 28, 2009

Iwo Jima Memorial, Washington D.C. by Ann Dayton

With charitable giving currently sharing the same fate as our economy, several charities that support our military need our extra help this holiday season. Here are a list of several wonderful organizations that I’ve either donated to or researched. See a full list of Military Aid and Charity Organizations.

1. USO

I’ve supported our USO for several years and this year will be no different. Best known for bringing rock stars and Bob Hope to war zones, the USO provides so much more. Prepaid phone cards for calling home, Care Packages of sunscreen (kinda necessary in Iraq and Afghanistan), toiletries and snacks, and their USO Mobile Canteens, equipped with refreshments, televisions, and mini-stages for live performances, can be deployed anywhere around the world to provide a little sense of home. They also have a special rooms in many airports where soldiers can get a meal, relax and often offer a shower and a place to sleep. The USO is not government funded thereby relying wholly on private donations.

www.uso.org

Donate to the USO

2. Operation Gratitude

Of course I love the name. Operation Gratitude care packages contain food, hygiene products, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation, all wrapped with good wishes of love and support for our soldiers. Most items are donated by corporations; your donations ships the boxes. They have a $1.2 million dollar budget, with $1.1 million spent on postage.

www.opgratitude.com

Donate to Operation Gratitude

3. Knights of Heroes

The Knights of Heroes mission is to provide young men who have lost their fathers in military service the opportunity to experience character building events with the positive support of a male mentor. Boys are invited to Colorado Springs for one week of fishing, canoeing, and horseback riding amid the company of other boys and mentors who share and understand the tragedy.

www.knightsofheroes.org

Donate to Knights of Heroes

4. Wounded Warrior Fund

This great charity provides support to the families of those who have been wounded, injured or killed during combat operations. They own 4 condos in Orlando and 4 in Galveston, Texas for the use of returning wounded soldiers and their families or those who have lost a family member. Wounded Warriors is also in the process of building a retreat facility for these families in northwest Nebraska. In addition, they also provide returning soldiers and their families with football and baseball tickets for a variety of professional teams.

www.woundedwarriorhospitalfund.org

Donate to the Wounded Warrior Fund

Our soldiers who are so far from home this Holiday season will thank you!

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12 Days of Giveaways

Announcing 12 Days of Givaways starting Monday, November 30th!! Why buy gifts for your adorables when you can win them? So mark your calendars for 12 days of amazing giveaways from Fisher-Price, Hasbro, eeBoo, EA Sports, Bakugans, just to name a few starting November 30th until December 12th. Enter every day! I just can’t wait…