Support Our Troops 
How we can help
- send books, food, and other items
- become an pen-pal
- help their families at home
- send school supplies to Iraqi children
- help fund scholarships for returning heroes
At least two of our members are actively supporting our troops overseas.
One member has sent over 7,700 paperback books to our soldiers in Iraq. |
You can contact her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Another member is sending clothing to children in Afghanistan. |
Review of Support Organizations
Charities For Veterans
Some Nonprofits Shortchange Troops, Watchdog Group Says
By Philip Rucker, Washington Post Staff Writer
Americans gave millions of dollars in the past year to veterans charities designed to help troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, but several of the groups spent relatively little money on the wounded, according to a leading watchdog organization and federal tax filings.
Eight veterans’ charities, including some of the nation's largest, gave less than a third of the money raised to the causes they champion, far below the recommended standard, the American Institute of Philanthropy says in a report. One group passed along 1 cent for every dollar raised, the report says. Another paid its founder and his wife a combined $540,000 in compensation and benefits last year, a Washington Post analysis of tax filings howed.
How They Fared
The American Institute of Philanthropy, a leading charity watchdog, issued a report card this month for 29 veterans and military charities. Letter grades were based largely on the charities' fundraising costs and the percentage of money raised that was spent on charitable activities.
- The charities that received failing grades are in bold type.
- Good guys are in red.
Air Force Aid Society (A+)
American Ex-Prisoners of War Service Foundation (F)
American Veterans Coalition (F)
American Veterans Relief Foundation (F)
AMVETS National Service Foundation (F)
Armed Services YMCA of the USA (A-)
Army Emergency Relief (A+)
Blinded Veterans Association (D)
Disabled American Veterans (D)
Disabled Veterans Association (F)
Fisher House Foundation (A+)
Freedom Alliance (F)
Help Hospitalized Veterans/Coalition to Salute America's Heroes (F)
Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund (A+)
Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation (F)
National Military Family Association (A)
National Veterans Services Fund (F)
National Vietnam Veterans Committee (D)
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (A+)
NCOA National Defense Foundation (F)
Paralyzed Veterans of America (F)
Soldiers' Angels (D)
United Spinal Association's Wounded Warrior Project (D)
USO (United Service Organization) (C+)
Veterans of Foreign Wars and foundation (C-)
Veterans of the Vietnam War & the Veterans Coalition (D)
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (D)
VietNow National Headquarters (F)
World War II Veterans Committee (D)
Support Organizations
Aid to Military Families - www.amhelp.org
America Supports You - www.americasupportsyou.mil
American Victory Project - www.americanvictoryproject.com
AnySolider.com - www.anysoldier.com
Connect Friend - www.connectfriend.com
Homes for Our Troops - www.homesforourtroops.org
Kids For Troops - www.kids4troops.com
Let's Say Thanks - http://www.letssaythanks.com/Home1024.html
Operation Hero Letters - www.operationheroletters.org
Operation Homefront - www.operationhomefront.net
Operation: Military Childcare - www.naccrra.org/militaryPrograms/index
Operation Paperback - http://operationpaperback.usmilitarysupport.org/
Quilts for Soldiers - www.quiltsforsoldiers.com
Project Prayer Flag - www.projectprayerflag.org
Soldiers' Angels - www.soldiersangels.org
Support Our War Heroes - www.supportourwarheroes.org
Toys for the Troops' Kids - www.toysforourtroopskids.org
Treats for Troops - www.treatsfortroops.com
Ukuleles and Songbooks for Troops - www.ukesfortroops.com
Yellow Ribbon America - www.yellowribbonamerica.com
Send military children to summer camp - www.nmfa.org
USO - www.usocares.org
Send a care package - www.oidelivers.org
Donate a calling card - www.operationuplink.org/
Adopt a military unit - www.vfw.org
Donate to a scholarship to the child of a fallen soldier - www.freedomalliance.org
Send school supply kits to children in Iraq - www.operationiraqichildren.org
Send a gift certificate to a military family - www.aafes.com/docs/homefront.htm