Ways to Support our Troops
Remembering Soldiers on Memorial Day and Always
With Memorial Day just two weeks away, it is easy to remember our troops in Iraq and all over the world who are there trying to make the world a better place.
It is hard to know that you have a loved one in a foreign country where his or her life is on the line every day, just to make our lives in America safer. Even families who do not have relatives or friends in the military want to reach out and show that they care. If you do have family or relatives serving America, there is a certain peace of mind knowing that people want to let them know how much we appreciate their service. Here are some ways that even kids can get involved with.
Care Packages. Send gifts to troops overseas or right here in the United States. If you know someone in service, you can send the goodies that they cannot receive where they are stationed. Always include stationary and pens/pencils, and cards are always nice, too. For addresses and more information on sending care packages, visit Any Soldier.
Prayer. Remember to stop and pray for troops at a particular time each day, to make it easier for you to remember to do this. God hears our prayers, and he sees what the soldiers are going through. He does care, and your prayers help. Perhaps you can have group prayers at your church on a particular evening. Jesus says, "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." ~ Matthew 18:20.
Calling Cards. Donate a calling card to a family who has a loved one serving. Give them the chance to stay in contact. It is very costly to call another country and alleviating some of this expense is very appreciated. You can do this independently, if you know of someone in need, or you can contact Operation Uplink to make your donation.
Family Assistance. Having a soldier serving overseas can prove to be a financial burden on the family here in America. Project Linus makes and donates blankets to children who have family in service. North County Times will match donations made for scholarship funds for children's education.
Volunteer. You can see if your local Veterans Hospital needs volunteers and donate some of your time to work with fallen soldiers who need rehabilitation and extended hospital stays. There are jobs such as delivering flowers and bringing meals to the patients, and others.
Handyman Jobs. If you are a Jack-of-all-trades, why not provide your services to the families left behind? Operation Homefront provides you with information on how you can help fix and keep up the homes of military families who are in the States. If you do not have a chapter in your area, you can start one with the information provided at this site.
