Cell Phones for Soldiers

Back in 2004, two kids from Massachusetts came up with the idea to help troops and their families by way of cell phone service.  Since then Robbie and Brittany Bergquist and their family has raised more than "$7 million in donations and collected more than 8.3 million cellular devices" as Cell Phones for Soldiers.

Cell Phones for Soldiers operates as a nonprofit and is dedicated to providing deployed and returning troops cost-free methods to communicate with family while serving in the United States armed forces.

Since 2004, Cell Phones for Soldiers:

• Raised more than $7 million and provided more than 114 million minutes of free talk time
• Mails approximately 12,000 calling cards each week
• Recycled more than 8.3 million cell phones, reducing the impact on landfills
• Anticipates the launch of a new program, Helping Heroes Home, to provide returning troops with 30-days of free phone service following deployment.
• Has remained a family-run, non-profit organization operated almost exclusively by Bob, Gail, Brittany, Robbie and Courtney Bergquist.

You can support the effort by visiting the Cell Phones for Soldiers donation page.

Enham's History of Helping

Enham in the UK began as a rehab community for veterans of WWI and military families.  In the ninety years since, the foundation has expanded its scope to focus on empowering people with disabilities.

"We have been responding to an ever-changing world by developing unique and innovative ways to continue to help disabled people exercise choice, control and independence."

Because of Enham, seven people with disabilities were just afforded the opportunity to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Enham empowers by opening up opportunities and supporting choices for people with disabilities or in need.

Central to the organizations mission is making sure people with special challenges can:

• Live the lives they want
• enter into sustainable, paid work
• fulfill their dreams and aspirations

True to the nonprofit's history, Enham has reached out in support to the service men and women who fulfilled tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Operation Write Home

Operation Write Home provides a touching way to support America's armed forces by turning volunteers into makers of greeting cards.  The handmade cards are blank on the inside and meant to encourage a note home to family or letters to friends.  

People all around the world are participating.  And card makers are nearing a million card milestone.   Operation Write Home makes it easy to volunteer because people can create from the comfort of their own homes.

For those who are intimidated by making personal greeting cards, there are other ways to help out Operation Write Home.  Click the link to find out more.

Operation Homefront: Helping Military Families

Operation Homefront (OH) was founded in 2002 as a support system for families of deployed service members after 9/11. This 501 (c)(3) nonprofit is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, with 25 chapters serving 30 states and the main office taking care of everyone else. The lowest-paid service members (E-1 through E-6 enlisted ranks) constitute the majority of those receiving assistance.

The goal of Operation Homefront  is to offer emergency financial and other types of assistance to the families of our service members and wounded warriors.  Evictions, child care, food insecurity, and auto repair are just some of the areas where OH can step up to help.  Recently, laptops were donated to troops deploying overseas.

A network of generous donors makes Operation Homefront's efforts successful.

Visit Operation Homefront's youtube page to see what the organization is doing for the holidays.

Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund

Marines, Sailors, Airmen, and Soldiers distinguish their service with courage, commitment, and a willingness to answer the call of their country. Unfortunately, their jobs can have deadly or catastrophic consequences.  Service men and women with traumatic injuries face overwhelming financial burdens associated with the cost of recovery.  The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund provides financial assistance and quality of life solutions to all members of the armed forces who have served in support of Marine forces.

This 501(c)(3) nonprofit helps with the cost of hospitalization, rehabilitation, and recovery including the purchase of specialized equipment, adaptive vehicles, and making home modifications. Since May 2004 their mission has been steadfast serving those who preserve freedom. The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund operates at with a very low overhead, 5%, and has an outstanding rating at Charity Navigator (dot) Org.

Tunes for Troops: a gift of music

Kaylee Marie Radzyminski found a meaningful way to support the troops.  She began by collecting music for military personnel serving overseas because she had learned through contacts about the voracious appetite for good entertainment.  Her efforts yielded nearly 500 CDs in very little time.

Tunes 4 the Troops evolved from Kaylee Marie's original desire to find a unique way to help out.

As of January 21st, 2011, Tunes 4 the Troops has sent over 810,771 CDs and DVDs overseas with a value of more than $13.5 million dollars.

Kaylee Marie was eventually spotlighted as a CNN Hero.

Donations can be made here.

Find out about volunteering here.