Monday, June 30, 2008

One more site with great resources

http://www.ausa.org/webpub/deptfamilyprograms.nsf/byid/KCAT-6DCK7U





Charities Supporting Soldiers and their Families

The following is a list of websites of belonging to charities and other non-profit organizations whose mission it is to support Soldiers and their families. These organizations provide a variety of services from programs to “adopt” a unit or to provide military families with emergency assistance to funding scholarships for the children of fallen troops or supporting wounded Servicemembers and their families.

Disclaimer: AUSA Family Programs does not endorse any of the the organizations listed below nor the information about services provided on their websites. We strongly encourage anyone who plans to contact one of these organizations for assistance or to make a donation to ask questions about both the services provided and how the money being raised is spent.

There are several independent "watchdog" sites that individuals can visit to learn more about how to identify effective and efficient charities. The Independent Sector is a coalition of philanthropic organizations which establishes principles for ethical and efficient charitable practices. It is also possible to research specific charities through Charity Navigator, GuideStar, and the Better Business Bureau. Please be aware that each of these organizations uses different methods to evaluate and rate charitable organizations so conclusions may differ depending on which site is consulted. Last, the Internal Revenue Service has an online search facility to enable members of the public to verify the tax-exempt status of an organization.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Browse organizations by type of program or service:

Help Soldiers Help Others | Donate Item or Services | Emergency Assistance | Letters and Messages |
Military Children | Staying Connected During Deployment | Send Care Packages | Wounded Warrior and Family Support |


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Helping Soldiers Help Others

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.

-Back to top-

Donate Items or Services

AMVETS Task ForceDVD
The American Veterans collect new and used DVDs to distribute overseas to US military personnel.

Commissary Gift Certificates
Gift certificates purchased though the Defense Commissary Agency can be used by military families.

Green Care for Troops
A nationwide outreach program connecting local lawn and landscaping companies with the families of deployed Servicemembers to help with lawn and landscape care.

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 Top Knot
A program that supports the wives and children of U.S. soldiers through donations of baby gifts.

Support for Military Pet Owners during Deployment
The Military Pets Foster Project helps find temporary foster homes for the pets of Servicemembers who have to deploy. More information about the project is available by emailing info@netpets.org. Operation Noble Foster can help Servicemembers find temporary foster homes for cats only.

-Back to top-

Emergency Assistance

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.

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.

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.

-Back to top-

Letters and Messages

Operation Kids for Troops
Write directly to military men and women stationed overseas through this site or learn how your local school can participate in sending mail to troops. You can submit the names and addresses of loved ones (serving overseas in a combat area) to the mailing list.

-Back to top-

Military Children

Believe in Tomorrow Foundation
The Believe in Tomorrow Foundation provides respite care to families with critically ill children, including military families.

-Back to top-

Staying Connected During Deployment

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.

Caring Bridge
Caring Bridge offers free, personalized websites to connect family and friends who are separated by deployment.

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.

Help Our Troops Call Home
Purchase prepaid calling cards through military exchanges for troops serving overseas in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Operation Uplink
Run by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Operation Uplink accepts contributions in order to supply phone cards to troops and their families.

-Back to top-

Send Care Packages

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 Troop Appreciation

Packages From Home

The Scott Valelly Soldiers’ Memorial Fund Holiday Gift Drive

Soldiers' Angels

Treats for Troops

USO Cares

-Back to top-

Wounded Warrior and Family Support

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 recoveryat Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.

Fisher House
The Fisher House Foundation provides affordable lodging for family members of hospitalized military personnel.

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.

Project Valour-IT
Project Valour-IT provides voice-controlled software and laptop computers to wounded Servicemembers 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 Servicemembers.

Wounded Warriors Family Support Fund
Provides support and solace to the families of injured or fallen troops through vacations.

No comments: