Although the Defense Department discourages unsolicited mail
as a method of supporting the troops (previous item), many
alternatives exist. For example, organizations such as the
services’ relief societies, the Veterans of Foreign Wars,
the American Red Cross, the Armed Forces YMCA and the United
Service Organizations are accepting donations to pay for
care packages. Donors can contribute to the USO, for instance,
through its Web site, or by phone or mail. Donors can direct
their contributions to one of several programs, including
“Operation USO Care Package,” which DOD endorses. Through
that program, service members receive items they have
indicated they want or need. The USO also runs “Operation
Phone Home,” using donations to buy international phone
cards for deployed troops. In addition, a general donation
to the USO supports, in part, USO centers worldwide that
offer free Internet and e-mail. Visit www.uso.org.
