Support Our Troops
This information is being
provided for residents and businesses
wishing to support
our St. Charles neighbors and family members
who have been called into active duty.
Our troops overseas greatly need and appreciate what we can send to them. The United States Postal Service has instructions on how to send a military care package at: http://www.usps.com/supportingourtroops. Suggested items for care packages include:
Military Care Package Suggestions: |
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DVDs, CDs, batteries (all sizes)
Books, magazines, Bibles
Computer flash drives
Beanie Babies, novelty items (these are given to children)
Disposable cameras
Preparid international phone cards
Travel-size board games, handheld electronic games
Mini battery-operated fans
Commercially-wrapped individual packets of trail mix, beef jerky, nuts, energy bars, sunflower seeds, candy (no chocolate) and cookies.
Ready-to-eat tuna or chicken salad kits.
Ramen noodles, Easy Mac, canned ravioli, or soup
Packets of powdered cold beverages (lemonade, Koolaid, Gatorade, etc.) |
Commercially sealed medicated lip balm, roll-on deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes
Individual packets of moist towelettes
Foot powder, body powder (Shower to Shower)
T-shirts, socks, sports bras, underwear
Bug spray (no aerosol)
Razors, lotion, soap, toothpaste (travel size)
Feminine hygiene products
Baseball caps, knit hats and gloves
Tobacco products (cigarettes and smokeless tobacco)
Unsealed personal cards and letters (blank)
Used cell phones, video games and systems, iPods, PDAs |
|
Do
NOT send: pressurized
items, chocolates (they melt), obscene articles or pornographic material (illegal in some
countries), pork or pork products, homemade food items, alcohol, flammable liquids or lighters, anti-Islamic propaganda or material.
|
Other Ways to Support
Our Troops: |
| Links to Relief Programs |
Find numerous links to care package programs, tragedy assistance, phone cards, cell phones, letters/messages, military family support programs and much more. |
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| Adopt-A-Platoon |
The AdoptaPlatoon Soldier Support Effort™ founded in 1998 is a nonprofit organization managed nationwide by volunteer mothers to ensure that deployed United States Service members in all branches of the military are not forgotten by providing needed mail support and to promote patriotism in our schools and communities. |
| Adopt-a-Soldier |
This site is dedicated to helping those who desire to support the wounded, injured, and ill troops at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Bethesda Naval Hospital. |
| Air
Force Aid Society |
The Society provides worldwide emergency assistance, sponsors education assistance programs, and offers a variety of base community enhancement programs that improve quality of life for Airmen and their families. |
| America Supports You (U.S. Department of Defense) |
"America Supports You," a nationwide program launched by the Department of Defense, recognizes citizens' support for our military men and women and communicates that support to members of our Armed Forces at home and abroad. |
| American
Red Cross |
The 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.
Red Cross workers in hundreds of chapters and on military installations brief departing service members and their families regarding available support services and explain how the Red Cross may assist them during the deployment. |
| Army
Emergency Relief |
AER is a private nonprofit organization incorporated in 1942 by the Secretary of War and the Army Chief of Staff. AER's sole mission is to help soldiers and their dependents. |
| Cell
Phones for Soldiers |
Founded by two
young teenagers, this group collects used cell phones, sells them to
a recycling center and uses the proceeds to buy calling cards for troops. |
| Coast
Guard Mutual Assistance |
Coast Guard Mutual Assistance is a non-profit organization providing financial assistance to the Coast Guard community. |
| Cool Our Troops |
Their goal is to send misters to every soldier serving in the Middle
East. |
| Marine
Corps Community Service |
MCCS is responsible for a number of military personnel services programs, such as: Casualty Assistance, DEERS Dependency Determination, Voting Assistance, Postal Services, and Personal Claims. MCCS delivers goods and service at over 2,250 facilities and has a staff of more than 12,000 employees worldwide. |
| Marine
Parents |
MarineParents.com, Inc. (formerly MarineMoms.us), was founded in January, 2003 in response to parents' needs to find information and to Connect & Share™ with one another during deployments. |
| Navy-Marine
Corps Relief Society |
The mission of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society is to provide, in partnership with the Navy and Marine Corps, financial, educational, and other assistance to members of the Naval Services of the United States, eligible family members, and survivors when in need; and to receive and manage funds to administer these programs. |
| NetPets.org |
Foster
a military pet ... many
troops have to send their pets to shelters when they get called up
for service. |
| Operation Dear Abby |
Dear Abby, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the U.S. Department of the Navy's LifeLines Services Network are providing this private and secure online resource that will allow you to send a Sailor, Marine, Soldier, Airman, or Coast Guardsman a holiday greeting or message of support. |
| Operation
Hero Miles |
Donate
Frequent Flier Miles ... to
help troops get from their U.S. drop-off points to their home town. |
| Operation
Homefront |
Serving National
Guard and Reserve Members, this organization is home base to a variety
of programs supporting our troops. |
| Operation Top Knot |
Volunteer your
sewing or knitting abilities or donate money or materials to help support
our troop's families. |
| Postal
Service Regulations |
Special postal service regulations for military addresses. |
| USO |
"Proudly
serving the men and women who serve out country" ... "until everyone
comes home." |
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