FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, March 25, 2003
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USA Freedom Corps
Kathleen Mynster
202-456-7381
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Today, the USA Freedom Corps launched a new resource for people seeking
to support our troops, their families, and their communities called
“On the Homefront.”
Background
While hundreds of thousands of men and women from all over America are
serving in the armed forces and away from their homes, those on the
homefront can be making a difference too. Many individuals and organizations
are looking for ways to support our troops, their families, and our
country.
Partnering with the Department of Defense, the USA Freedom Corps is
offering resources to Americans who want to express their support for
members of the military, and help their families in meaningful ways.
Here are some of the ways to support our troops, give time and care
to their families, and strengthen our communities.
These resources are available online at www.usafreedomcorps.gov.
Support Our Troops
There is a long tradition of writing letters and sending care packages
to troops stationed away from home. To minimize delays and complications
in getting this kind of support to our troops, the Department of Defense
recommends the following:
- Through
Operation
Dear Abby, send e-mail messages to deployed troops of any
Service from your home state.
- Through
Defend
America, sign an online thank you card for troops.
- Through
Operation USO
Care Package, contribute to the purchase of a care
package of items requested by troops such as sunscreen, disposable cameras,
prepaid calling cards, and toiletries.
Help for Families
Families of reservists, National Guard men and women and active duty
military may need extra help in meeting basic home and family needs
during deployment. There are many ways individuals, organizations, and
businesses can offer their time and resources to help families of deployed
troops. Here are some of the opportunities now available through the
USA Freedom Corps’ new “On the Homefront” web resource:
- The local chapters of the
American Legion,
American Red
Cross,
Boys
& Girls Clubs of America,
BPO Elks of the USA,
Camp Fire
USA,
National 4-H Headquarters,
National Fraternal
Congress of America,
The Salvation
Army,
U.S. Chamber of Commerce,
Veterans of Foreign Wars, and
YMCA of the USA are among leading community service organizations providing ways
for volunteers to help local military families.
- Working with the National Guard and Reserve, as well as with military
bases, these organizations will match volunteers with families that
need help in areas such as household repairs, spring cleanings or tutoring
and direct those families to businesses and organizations that may be
offering free or discounted services. Volunteers can also help families,
including those who own small businesses, with specialized skills like
major repairs, financial planning or legal services.
- Some of these organizations are also helping to take care of children,
after school and on the weekends, whose families have a parent or caregiver
stationed away from home. Organizations such as
Boys
& Girls Clubs of America,
Camp Fire USA,
National 4-H Headquarters and
YMCA of the USA
are playing important roles in these efforts.
- Individuals can also make a difference at home by reaching out to
share their time and compassion with veterans to say “thank
you” for their service to our country and by volunteering with
a Department of Veterans Affairs hospital or other facility.
Service In Communities
Individuals who want to help strengthen their community and America
can do so through volunteer service. Some communities may need particular
help to replace valued volunteers who have been deployed.
Local opportunities for volunteer service such as mentoring a child,
teaching someone to read, working in a local police department or serving
at a local food shelter can be found through the USA Freedom Corps web
site at www.usafreedomcorps.gov
or by calling 1-877-USA-CORPS. President Bush created the USA Freedom
Corps office at the White House to foster a culture of service, citizenship
and responsibility.
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