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When called upon, our military forces voluntarily take up the fight to preserve our
safety and our
freedom. Veterans from past and current wars pay this price for us,
often at great personal cost
to themselves.
It's our turn to be there for them...
The scars of combat run deep. Disabled and wounded troops have life-long
special
needs.
They've paid their dues, now it's up to us to provide the
care and assistance
they require
to
ensure their mental and physical well being
and long term quality of life.
OneGoodCause.org is building a
network
of concerned citizens; individuals, corporations,
and
organizations
dedicated to providing
the
resources these
heroes need to return to family
life,
and to stand tall, and again become productive contributors in their
communities.
Please, take a moment and consider how you can say THANKS to those
who
have given so much.
Here are 11 quick and easy suggestions:
1. Give shelter
Homes for Our Troops constructs houses for severely injured veterans who served after 9/11.
You can donate equipment or help build a home. homesforourtroops.org
2. Offer a vet a ride
The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) provides free transportation to men and women unable to travel to VA medical facilities on their own. You can volunteer to drive a DAV van for those in need. dav.org/volunteers
3. Provide foster care for a pet
Take in the dog or cat of a deployed soldier or a wounded veteran while he or she is on duty or receiving VA medical treatment. guardianangelsforsoldierspet.org
4. Record a war story
Do you know an old soldier with tales from the front lines? The Library of Congress wants to hear
his voice. Go to the website below for tips on conducting an interview or to request a field kit, including biographical data and release forms. loc.gov/vets
5. Put those old cell phones to good use
Instead of stashing your used phones in the junk drawer, ship them to Cell Phones for Soldiers.
For each one donated, the organization will pay for an hour of talk time for troops overseas. cellphonesforsoldiers.com
6. Donate used DVDs
Drop off movies or television shows at your local VA facility, or mail them to DVDs4Vets,
a national organization that distributes them where needed. dvds4vets.org
7. Cut coupons
Have some expired coupons lying around? Military families can use them for up to six months
past their end date. coupsfortroops.com
8. Contribute to a holiday drive
Operation Gratitude’s annual campaign collects clothing, food, and more and packs it in gift
boxes
for service members. Pitch in by offering up items; local residents can sort them on-site. operationgratitude.com/volunteer
9. Post a care package
Through the organization Kitchen Table Gang, hospitalized veterans and troops abroad can receive personalized parcels containing everything from candy to board games. Get a service member’s address from KTG, bundle up items with a note of thanks, and send them off. soldierpackages.org
10. Share your expertise
MilServe connects volunteers with vets in many areas: financial counseling or legal services;
job search guidance; even carpentry, for building wheelchair ramps. milserve.org
11. Support Big Brothers Big Sisters
The national organization has a special Military Mentoring program for children with parents in
the armed forces. The group carefully pairs kids with adults serving in the military, as well as
with veterans and civilians. bbbs.org
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a) Make a financial donation |
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d) Volunteer |
e) Become a sponsor |
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f) Host an event |
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