Sometimes those of us who are non-military need to know how to help (reserves, Air Force)

[OneDayAttaTime]

For Vets and Active Military-

Some of them offer free things, but others are organizations that ask for donations or other help from those of us who are looking for a way to help. Maybe you will see something in here that you want to share with family members or friends.

And PLEASE...if you see something that is not helpful tell me!!

I am starting with Vets since that is the group I am helping with right now:

Oklahoma American Veterans News http://oavn.org/

Help to build homes with special adaptations for our severely disabled soldiers.
http://www.homesforourtroops.org/site/PageServer



Send an e-card to paralyzed veteran for free
http://www.pva.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ECRD_homepage

Fisher House http://www.fisherhouse.org There are currently 31 houses in the Fisher House program that help care for casualties and their families. This is a “home away from home” that gives guest families help during times of need.


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America Supports You Show Your Support (http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/americasupportsyou/help.html - broken link)


Support Our Troops-An Index of Military Support Websites http://troopssupport.com/

Soldier's Angels http://soldiersangels.com/

Illinois Family Relief Fund http://www.standingupforillinois.org/homefront/

Let's Say Thanks in support of our troops http://www.letssaythanks.com/Home1024.html pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq. You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to some member of the armed services.

How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!! This is a great site. Please send a card. It is FREE and it only takes a second.


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COMMUNICATING- (Computers, cell phones and phone cards)

http://www.operationhomelink.org/ - Free computers for spouses or parents of deployed soldiers in ranks E-1 - E-5.


http://www.operationuplink.org/ - Free phone cards.

http://oavn.org/howwecanhelpyou.html Phone cards for Oklahoma VA hospitals

Phone cards for deployed or hospitalized service people http://www.operationuplink.org/request.cfm

AT&T Military phone cards http://www.usa.att.com/military/index.jsp

Cell phones for Soldiers http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com/


CARE PACKAGES-
http://www.anysoldier.com- To sign up for sponsoring soldier care packages for theater. Free subscripton to send to our soldiers: go to http://anysoldier.com/ use search features and actually type in names of specific magazines that our service people are requesting. If you request their address, you will have their apo. I send letters and packages to several and it is really a great program, free, not a scam , and very very effective.

Or click on the "Where to send" on http://anysoldier.com/ -- then under the rectangle that says WARNING there is a part that says click here to search. If you just put in the word magazine or even hunting magazine(for example) it will give you a list of people that requested that. Then if you click on the name it will give you the address.




http://www.booksforsoldiers.com/forum/index.php - Free books, DVDs, CDs.


http://www.militarymoms.net/sot.html - Free care packages (your family member signs up to have sent to you).

http://operationmilitarypride.org/smsignup.html - Free care packages.

https://www.treatsfortroops.com/ - Free gifts and care packages.


http://www.operationshoebox.com/ - Free shoebox care package.

http://www.okbluestarmothers.org/freedomboxes.htm from Oklahoma Blue Star Mothers Freedom boxes

http://www.treatthetroops.org/ - Free cookies.


http://www.okbluestarmothers.org/index.htm Blue Star Mothers in Tulsa and Oklahoma

http://www.bluestarmothers.org/mc/page.do?sitePageId=63339&orgId=bsma Find your Blue Star Mothers locally


MAILING CARE PACKAGES-

DefenseLink News Article: Postal Service Offers Free Shipping Materials for Military Families Free shipping/packing materials for shipping to troops. Read more about it: http://www.freesamplesite.com/ydf/sh...d.php?t=191896





Free for our troops overseas
http://truelemon.com/gratitude-mailer/


We've heard reports that families are sending 100% all-natural, 0 calorie True Lemon to their troops in Iraq and Afghanistan to help give the water fresh-squeezed lemon taste. Just like us, our troops enjoy the simple pleasure of adding True Lemon's refreshing taste to their water - literally anytime, anywhere.

* US Residents Only
Every time we get a request for free samples of True Lemon from a new customer, we will donate 10 packets of True Lemon to Operation Gratitude, a non-profit organization providing care packages to U.S. Troops.

It costs you nothing. It means so much to our service members. Make a little True Lemon go a long way. Our deployed troops will thank you for it.

PRAYER-
Adopt a Soldier to Pray for http://www.presidentialprayerteam.net/adopt_our_troops_in_prayer.php

Billy Graham Bless Our Troops https://www.billygraham.org/OBOT_Index.asp

CBN prayer http://www.cbn.com/special/prayershield/


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All Services Exchange https://thor.aafes.com/ics/default.asp

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KIDS-

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/2/prweb106818.htm - Free mail/gifts sent to children of deployed soldiers. (This was in 2004 but was a cute idea.)

Harms Way http://www.harmsway4kids.com/html/bracelet.htm

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AIR TRAVEL
http://www.heromiles.org/ - Free air travel for Emergency Leave, and for the family members of injured soldiers to travel to Medical
facility.


Wooden Nickels http://www.wooden-nickel.com/freedom/




SAVING MONEY AT COMMISSARIES OUTSIDE THE US Did you know that they can use coupons expired up to 6 months at the commissary if it is outside of the U.S? Stateside (within the continental United States) commissaries do not allow the use of expired coupons. http://www.coolmusicstuff.com/expired.htm and military expired coupons - Google Search




Commissary gift certificates http://www.commissaries.com/certificheck/index.cfm
http://www.certifichecks.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/web06/military_list_donate.shtml?L+scstore+kblh0565ff5e4 b5e

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Air Force Aid http://www.afas.org/index.cfm

USO http://www.uso.org/ and http://www.usometrodc.org/



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Texas Volunteers welcome home the troops http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15130526/

Are they telling the truth or are they just a wannabe hero? http://www.pownetwork.org/phonies/phonies.htm
http://stolenvalor.com/


Yellow Ribbon Campaign http://www.yellowribbonamerica.org/aboutus.htm

Blue Star Flag for family http://www.grantham.edu/promo/freebluestar.php

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Supporting our troops and their families

Operation Home Front OperationHomeFront.net - Supporting Our Troops by Helping the Families They Leave Behind. Ideas Donate to Operation Homefront (http://www.operationhomefront.net/Chapter_root/masterdonate.asp?Chapter_ID=4 - broken link)




Support severely disabled and wounded heroes http://www.saluteheroes.org/


Scholarship program for spouses and children http://www.fisherhouse.org/programs/scholarships.shtml



Donate to an Emergency Relief Fund. This money goes to help the soldiers and families with paying for food and rent, medical and dental expenses, personal needs when pay is delayed, and funeral expenses. AFR Trust http://www.afrtrust.org/



Red Cross helping American Red Cross


http://www.commissaries.com/ Has scholarships on it also.
Coupon links, military links (pay info, military news...), shopping spree info, how to give commissary gift certificates, sign up for commissary connection to get updated sales and promotions sent to your email, look up the sales going on at your commissary, pull up a map of the floor plan for your commissary, create a shopping list, look up what products your commissary carries.

www.militaryshoppers.com
Message boards, buddy locator, sign up to receive military coupons by email.

www.militarylife.com
Sign up and have access to what's on sale and make a grocery list, info on military discounts for not just groceries. Links for information on Space-A travel (easier to use than you think!)

www.afvclub.com Uniformed Services Savings Network
Great discounts on travel!!! Condos for as little as $249/week! Cruises, hotels, car rental...
This site is on the new paper bags from the commissary. .. looks like there's a lot of info there. They even have a toll free phone number if you need help or other information.

You have to login with the User ID: military & the password: onesource

http://www.militaryonesource.com/index.aspx

Military Onesource is the newest member of your military community support team. Provided by the Department of Defense at no cost to service members and their families, Onesource is available to help you 24/7 on the Web at http://www.militaryonesource.com. To obtain entry - User ID/military & Password/onesource.
www.satovacations.com

We just booked a cruise with them...saved us $100 per person over any other discounts out there!! The CS is very friendly and EFFICIENT!!

www.usptgear.com Great website for T-shirts and gift ideas for every branch of the military

prepaid calling cards (not sure if this is so great but some deployed have used them http://www.nobelcom.com/


Golden Corral http://www.goldencorral.com/military/ free “thank you” dinner is available to any person who has ever served in the United States Military. If you are a veteran, retired, currently serving, in the National Guard or Reserves, you are invited to participate in Golden Corral’s Military Appreciation Monday dinner.


[LEFT]What You Should Know About VA Benefits, Claims And Health Care For Veterans with Spinal cord injuries and disorders http://www.vetsfirst.org/veterans-self-help-guide/[/LEFT]


Folding cane: http://www.hugosalutes.com/

[LEFT] [/LEFT]

[TheJagMan]

Thank you for the post!

[OneDayAttaTime]

Originally Posted by OneDayAttaTime

SAVING MONEY AT COMMISSARIES OUTSIDE THE US Did you know that they can use coupons expired up to 6 months at the commissary if it is outside of the U.S? Stateside (within the continental United States) commissaries do not allow the use of expired coupons. http://www.coolmusicstuff.com/expired.htm and military expired coupons - Google Search


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Commissary gift certificates http://www.commissaries.com/certificheck/index.cfm
http://www.certifichecks.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/web06/military_list_donate.shtml?L+scstore+kblh0565ff5e4 b5e

Expired Coupons Help Military Families
Stop throwing expired or unused grocery coupons in the trash! Our U.S. military families stationed overseas are able to use them at the commissaries there on the military bases for up to six months after the manufacturer's expiration date! A great way to support members of our military and their families is through the donation of expired coupons.


www.pinchingyourpennies.com/troops.php (http://www.pinchingyourpennies.com/troops.php - broken link) says: Turn your expired coupons into gold.
For military families who relocate overseas, the financial transition can be difficult. Enlisted soldiers and their families may find stretching their dollars a real challenge even more so then those who are based in this country. Families who reside in the US are able to utilize the Food Stamp program, unlike those who live abroad. Fortunately, due to a recent change in policy, the WIC program is offered to families overseas but there is still a definite need for help.

One way that we can help is by saving expired and sending them to select co-op operations around the country. There are several military family support centers overseas who offer coupon exchanges.

What a treasure it is to know that our expired coupons can mean a real difference to the families who have dedicated and sacrificed a part of their lives for the sake of our country.

There are many ways that one individual can make a large difference to so many. If you are interested in participating in the collection of expired coupons to help these families, here is a small list of ideas that can help get you started.

• Post announcements in your company cafeteria or employee lounge and place a box for the coupons to be kept.
• Involve the members of any organization or clubs you may belong to such as your Senior Citizens Center, Garden Center, Book Club, Women's or Men Groups, etc., and get them involved in your efforts.
• If you are a teacher, use this as a project for your classes challenging your students to collect as many as possible. Offer a plaque of achievement to the class that collects the most.
• Solicit your fellow Church or Synagogue members to join in your cause!

What Do We Have to Do?
You can only imagine the huge tasks that these organizations have as they go about sorting and bundling the coupons that are sent in. Since it is everyone's goal to be of help and not a hindrance, there are guidelines that are suggested for groups or individuals that are participating in this program. It looks pretty much like what we do anyway! Just on a bigger scale.

- Tips -

• Clip the coupons. This is not only helpful to the receiving centers, but you do not want to pay postage on dead weight.
• Separate the coupons into two major categories - Food (for humans) and Non-Food (pet food would be non-food). Place them in large sealed freezer bags and label.
• Attach a dollar total of the coupons onto the bag.
• Prior to sending your coupons, you may want to touch base with whom you are sending them to, to make certain that they do not have any other preferences for you to follow.

Adopt Your Own Military Base
You may elect to start your own co-op. Often individuals who are interested in doing this will "adopt" a military base for their co-ops contributions. The process just takes good organizational skills and a team willing to help
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An envelope under 16 oz. will not require a customs form.
A envelope over 16 oz. or a package of any weight, will require a customs form.
United States Postal rates apply to this address.

[OneDayAttaTime]

BenefitsCheckUp - NCOA's Online Screening Service is one where people (not just Vets) can go in to see what benefits are available to them.

[chispirit]

Thank you for this post.

[OneDayAttaTime]

Anyone can get this....yes, even Donald Trump...you do not have to qualify. Maybe you know someone who would appreciate good food at discounted prices.
Welcome*- Angel Food Ministries?


Here is another one that is real good too
http://sharecolorado.com/index.cfm?action=menus (look on left for Host site locations because it is in several states--not just Colorado!) There are other Share groups but this one includes: South Dakota Wyoming New Mexico Nebraska Texas Kansas Oklahoma Missouri Arizona Utah

[OneDayAttaTime]

Thank you to fuzzymystic for telling me there was another thread about ways to support our troops on here. //www.city-data.com/forum/other...-troops-9.html

[irisheyes13]

Great thread.. Thanks OneDay!

[ArmyPoohFan317]

The Christian bookstores (and probably other places) are selling (for $10) these little bells that you can buy and with your purchase the company will send a Bible to a deployed soldier, and every time you ring the bell, or glance at it, you are supposed to pray for our deployed soldiers, vets and the military family. I think it is a neat way to remember to pray for our military (if you are so inclined).

[OneDayAttaTime]

Suze Orman's Free Book Download

Offer expires at 11:59 p.m. CT on Thursday, January 15, 2009.