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.

Operation Santa's Soldier

SGT Joshua Evans created Operation: Santa's Soldiers as a way to give back to those in need. His organization donates winter coats and boots to homeless shelters in the U.S.  Evans knows firsthand the struggles of being homeless:

"Just six years ago, Evans lost his job, home and had to send his daughter to live with his in-laws, KSTP.com reports. Today, the 33-year-old is finishing up his second deployment in Kuwait and [working to emerge as a nonprofit.] The organization provides warm coats and boots to those in need. 'I want this to go on in a pay-it-forward kind of way,' Evans told Stripes.com." Source.

Evans' mission is to give the gift of warmth to people less fortunate. Operation: Santa's Soldier is still growing.  Evans wants to see the effort spread beyond his own unit in Kuwait.  You can keep up with his work by following him on Facebook.

Vets4Warriors: Vets Helping Vets

Photo Courtesy: Vets 4 Warriors (dot) com
A local New Jersey help line is going national in services veterans all around America.  Vets 4 Warriors' assistance by phone, email and live chat focuses on suicide prevention and crisis counseling.  The success of the organization was rewarded with $5 million--making the nationwide service possible.

From the mission statement:

For any issue, at any time, a Veteran is here to help. We all need a helping hand sometimes and Vets4Warriors provide 24/7 confidential peer support, information, and referrals for all National Guard and Reserve service members.

1-855-VET-TALK is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Vets 4 Warriors staff undergoes specialized training to address the particular needs of military personnel in trouble.  Confidentiality is guaranteed. Vets 4 Warriors want no one to "suffer in silence."