Troops' Charities

Send Letters, Gifts, and Packages to Troops Overseas

Any Soldier [7]
Sergeant Brian Horn from LaPlata, Maryland, was an Army Infantry Soldier with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in the Kirkuk area of Iraq when he started the idea of AnySoldier to help care for his soldiers. He agreed to distribute packages that came to him with "Attn: Any Soldier" in the address to the soldiers who were not getting mail. Sgt. Horn is no longer in Iraq but AnySoldier.com continues. Due to overwhelming requests, on 1 January 2004 their effort was expanded to include any member, of any of the Armed Services in harms way. Any Soldier® now has thousands of Contacts helping the majority of the deployed troops.
Books For Soldiers [8]
Books For Soldiers is a soldier support site that ships books, DVDs and supplies to deployed soldiers and soldiers in VA hospitals, via our large volunteer network. If you have old, but usable paperback books sitting around, collecting dust, why not send them to a soldier for a big morale boost?
AdoptAPlatoon [9]
The AdoptaPlatoon Soldier Support Effort™ founded in 1998 is a nonprofit 501C-3 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. To provide a better deployment quality of life, lift morale, and assist military families, the AAP created projects that meet the need of military requests, established special projects for holidays, and assigns individual morale lifting mail support to service members of all branches of the U.S. military serving their Nation around the world.
The USO [10]
USO mission is to provide morale, welfare and recreation-type services to uniformed military personnel. The original intent of Congress, and enduring style of USO delivery, is to represent the American people by extending a touch of home to the military. Thus, although some USO programs/services are similar to those provided by other agencies, the hallmark of the USO has been and will continue to be how--as much as what--services are provided.

Help Troops With Traumatic Brain Injury

The Bob Woodruff Family Fund for Traumatic Brain Injury [11]
The Bob Woodruff Family Fund for Traumatic Brain Injury has been established to raise money to assist members of the military with cognitive rehabilitation and other care needs following traumatic brain injury suffered in service to their country.

Help Troops Get the Supplies They Need

American Snipers [12]
We are active local, state, and federal police snipers as well as snipers from the various military branches. Our members have chosen to help support our fellow snipers, and brothers in arms, by helping supply them with items that they need to get the job done better as well as things to make their lives easier while on deployment. This has been everything from the basic hygiene type items such as handy wipes to tactical products such as holsters, high speed rucksacks, new optics, rifle accessories, to mini binoculars and batteries.
Operation Helmet [13]
Operation Helmet provides helmet upgrade kits free of charge to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as to those ordered to deploy in the near future. In addition to providing enhanced blast protection, the helmet upgrades are much more comfortable and stable than the 'strap/sling' suspensions, allowing the trooper to concentrate on the job at hand rather than a blinding headache. A helmet is effective only when the troops will wear it!

Help Troops Stay in Touch with Their Families and Friends

Freedom Calls Foundation [14]
Working closely with corporate contributors, individuals, and the military the Freedom Calls Foundation has deployed its first wireless VOIP telephone and video conferencing services in an Army Camp located in the Sunni Triangle. The Foundation's network offers 50 soft-phones and 20 hard-phones, 6 video conferencing stations, 10 video email stations, and 50 computers with email and internet access. As a result the more than 10,000 soldiers in the camp will be able to communicate with their families and loved ones at home on a regular basis free of charge.
Operation Uplink [15]
Operation Uplink is a unique program that keeps military personnel and hospitalized veterans in touch with their families and loved ones by providing them with a free phone card. Using contributions from supporters like you, Operation Uplink purchases phone cards and distributes them to servicemen and women who are separated from those they care about.
Cell Phones for Soldiers [16]
Cell Phones for Soldiers is a 501c(3) non-profit organization that collects donated cell phones, which are recycled and turned into cash. The cash is used to purchase calling cards for soldiers in Iraq. The total amount raised isnow over$250,000.00 More than 9,000 calling cards have been sent to our soldiers in the Middle East.

Support Military Families in Need

The Yellow Ribbon Fund [17]
Hundreds of injured servicemen and women are recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in Washington, DC, and the National Naval Medical Center, in Bethesda, MD. Their stays range from a couple of weeks to more than a year. Many are amputees. The Yellow Ribbon Fund has one mission: Welcoming our Injured Service Members into our Community. Over 500 individuals and companies in the Washington Metropolitan Area joined together to support these injured service members. We offer them an opportunity to use their free time to learn new skills with a local company. We provide hotel rooms, rental cars, and other transportation for their families. Our volunteers are mentors and friends who care.
USA Cares [18]
"Using the experiences we have learned with Kentuckiana Cares, USA Cares maintains a "call center" dedicated to the millions of Americans who have servicemembers in their family. We also have a family support account created with money generously donated to us, exclusively for use in supporting military families in the same tradition as Kentuckiana Cares. Trained and experienced "Advocates" will mentor, coach and be the friendly voice to help those families that may not even know the right question to ask."
Operation Homefront [19]
Operation Homefront was created to channel volunteer support to help the families of our deployed military personnel. With hundreds of thousands of service members deployed for war with Iraq, and countless others around the world fighting the war on terrorism, thousands of spouses and children are left behind, many in need. Operation Homefront is there for them. We support military families while their loved ones are deployed and conducting the business of America.
Building Homes for Heroes [20]
Building Homes for Heroes provides individuals, corporations and others with an opportunity to help our severely wounded and disabled veterans and their families rebuild their lives. Many of these young men and women are coming home badly burned, with permanent and unsightly body disfigurements, missing limbs, the loss of sight or ability to walk, psychiatric conditions or paralysis. Building Homes for Heroes is committed to supporting these extraordinary men and women, with a goal to build homes for families in dire need. We believe that it’s our responsibility to support those who have been called upon to make the ultimate personal sacrifice — to protect and safeguard our country by fighting America’s War on Terror.
Guide On [21]
Guide On is an organization where children who have been affected by the loss of a parent will be provided with leadership and skills training along with peers who have shared similar experiences. Professional staff will provide the leadership training, oversight and support for children attending Guide On Leadership Camps.
Evan A. Ashcraft Memorial Foundation [22]
The Evan A. Ashcraft Memorial Foundation is a private, non-profit charity. The intent of the Foundation established by Jim and Jane Bright is to memorialize SGT Evan A. Ashcraft who was killed in action in Iraq on July 24, 2003. Donations to the Foundation will be distributed in memory of Evan Ashcraft and his desire to help people. It will provide educational funds to the veterans and dependants of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Gifts from the HomeFront [23]
Send a "Gifts from the HomeFront" gift certificate to an individual military family member, friend or loved one. They can use it at any military exchange (AAFES, NEX, MCX, Coast Guard Exchange) retail store around the world including those supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Fisher House Foundation [24]
Because members of the military and their families are stationed worldwide and must often travel great distances for specialized medical care, Fisher House™ Foundation donates "comfort homes," built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. These homes enable family members to be close to a loved one at the most stressful times - during the hospitalization for an unexpected illness, disease, or injury.
Homes for Our Troops, Inc. [25]
Founded on February 4, 2004, Homes for Our Troops, Inc., a Massachusetts nonprofit corporation building specially adapted homes for our disabled veterans of war. We are an organization strongly committed to assisting our disabled and seriously injured veterans and their immediate families. The organization is dedicated to helping those who have selflessly given to their country and have returned home with serious disabilities and injuries.
Operation Comfort [26]
Operation Comfort's mission is to create a nationwide network of mental health providers and agencies to donate their services, free of charge, to family members who have a loved one serving in the Middle East.
Citizens Helping Heroes [27]
The families of America's fallen heroes need your help. Since September 11, 2001, more than 700 American and Allied soldiers have died in military operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere. More than half of these brave men and women have left behind a spouse or children. These families must now face their future without a husband or wife or father or mother. In addition to their grief, many of them must also address the questions of finding work, where to live, how to raise their children, how to provide for their education, and even how to get food on the table.
Citizens Helping Heroes (CHH), a non-profit organization, was founded to produce a national fundraising campaign and televised concert event to help military families endure this difficult time of service to our country.
Hope for the Warriors [28]
The mission of Hope for the Warriors is to enhance quality of life for US Service Members and their families nationwide who have been adversely affected by injuries or death in the line of duty.
Coalition to Salute America's Heroes [29]
The Coalition to Salute America's Heroes is a non-partisan 501(c) (3) organization, created to provide an easy and meaningful way for individuals, corporations and others to help our severely wounded and disabled veterans and their families rebuild their lives. Donations are tax-deductible.
National Veterans Foundation [30]
Since 1985, The National Veterans Foundation has been a leading resource for Veterans. NVF is a non-profit organization that offers emotional support, a listening ear, and information about Veteran services. NVF is run by Veterans, for Veterans. The mission of The National Veterans Foundation is to help Veterans get the help they need as quickly as possible.
[10]
The United Service Organizations, Inc. (USO) is enlisting support of individuals around the world to support the troops through Operation USO Care Package. These packages are being delivered to members of the U.S. Armed Forces deployed around the world to show them they have not been forgotten and to provide a ‘touch of home’. With a donation of $25 you can sponsor a care package and include a personal message of support and encouragement. These USO Care Packages at minimum, include requested items such as pre-paid worldwide phone cards, sunscreen, travel size toiletries, disposable camera and a message from the donor thanking them for their service and sacrifice.

Comfort for Courage [31]
Comfort for Courage is a student-led movement at the University of Minnesota that collects, manages and distributes resources for the sole purpose of providing comfort for deployed service members and their families. Comfort for Courage has recently added a Veterans Transition Center to their list of achievements, providing a place to help Veterans smoothly make the transition from military to civilian life.
Help Eddie Ryan
On April 14, 2005, Eddie Ryan’s parents were told that their son had suffered a serious head injury while serving in Iraq. They flew to Germany to be with their son and were told by his doctors to prepare for his death, but if by some miracle he were to live, he would never again recognize their faces as he once did. Eddie was eventually transferred to the Bethesda Naval Hospital and then to the McGuire VA, an extensive military rehab/hospital in Richmond, VA. Two months later, Eddie Ryan not only recognizes his parents and friends, but has limited speech and mobility. The Ryan’s are preparing to bring their son home, but can not afford to make the much needed improvements to their house, such as wheelchair access, that is necessary for their son to live in comfort.
Strikeouts For Troops [32]
Founded by Oakland A's pitcher Barry Zito, Strikeouts For Troops is dedicated to provide the “comforts of home” to our wounded U.S. service members and help make their stay easier while they recover from their injuries at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Bethesda Naval Hospital and other military hospitals. Strikeouts For Troops also assists with travel and housing expenses so families can be near their loved ones while they recover.
Semper Fi Fund [33]
The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund helps Marines, sailors, and their families meet their financial needs during difficult times. The Fund works closely with the Marine Corps, the Navy, and hospitals nationwide to identify and assess the needs of specific families.

Help Iraqi Civilians

Operation Give [34]
During and after Operation Iraqi Freedom, American soldiers passing through Iraqi villages were horrified at the squalor of Iraqi schools, which had been severely neglected under the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein. Corralled in sweltering one-room buildings without air conditioning, fans, windows, solid floors, or even toilets, Iraqi students lack even the rudimentary supplies that American children take for granted. Without these basic tools of education, Iraqi children face an uphill struggle to learn. Moved by the plight of these children, many American soldiers have taken it upon themselves to help.
Operation Give coordinates the collection and distribution of items for Iraqi children. After years of tyranny and war, the children of Iraq have almost nothing and are very grateful. With each toy we give to a needy child, we put a smile on their face and hope in their heart. We collect gifts at our Salt Lake City warehouse, inspect and sort the contents, repackage them, then put the gifts in huge shipping containers bound for Iraq. A soldier affectionately known as Chief Wiggles and his crew of volunteers distribute the gifts to the children of Iraq.