Broadly said, donations other than those labeled as "care packages" sent to an individual by his or her immediate family will not be shipped overseas. Heightened security has resulted in additional precautions and the safety of service members is paramount.

The word from the front is that, although messages (and items) are appreciated, most of the Sailors and Soldiers utilize their limited downtime to communicate with their own families. Please use the following reasons to explain to others why their donated materials regrettably cannot be accepted.

• The military greatly appreciates the public's show of support and concern for service members, but until the safety of the mail service can be guaranteed, the military cannot accept letters or packages addressed to "any service member."



• Large quantities of donated food and material stresses military air and sealift capabilities and raises concerns over chemical or biological contamination. Because of these very real concerns, the military personnel simply cannot accept large quantities of donated materials (food or otherwise).



• Our Sailors and Soldiers appreciate the American public's show of support and concern. They also understand that safety and mission effectiveness must take precedence.



• The military asks that communities, organizations and individuals focus their efforts toward supporting families of deployed Sailors, Soldiers, veterans, charitable organizations and appropriate community activities.

There are a number of active programs to facilitate the public's interest in supporting deployed service members. While men and women from all over America are serving in the armed forces and away from their homes, those on the home front can be making a difference too. Here are a few ways that you can support our troops.

The America Supports You program, launched by the Department of Defense on 19 November 2004, recognizes citizens' support for the military men and women. Their website has links to organizations and programs that assist in that mission. The program also allows citizens to send a general message of support to the troops. In return, you will be sent a free "America Supports You" dogtag that you can wear as a symbol of your support. (www.americasupportsyou.mil)

The Handmade Afghans to Thank Our Armed Forces Project (HAP) is a group of volunteers that thanks those wounded in service to our country by presenting them with a handmade afghan. Most of the afghans are going to Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Andrews Air Force Base Medical Center.

Operation Dear Abby - To avoid straining mail delivery capacity, paper letters and packages are no longer accepted via the program. People can post messages on-line for our troops at the website; you may select the branch of the military to which to direct your message but not the particular individual. 

Operation USO Care Package (www.usocares.org) is accepting monetary donations to put together sanctioned care packages. Donations can also be sent to:

Donated items will not be accepted per the website: "The USO can only accept items that come directly from the manufacturer. Due to heightened security, the Defense Department will not allow items donated through other means to be included in the packages." Any additional questions can be answered by calling 571-261-1485 or emailing your question to questions@usocarepackage.org.

The United Service Organization (USO) operates the USO International Gateway Lounge at BWI International Airport, serving military members passing through BWI en route to being deployed or returning home. The Lounge accepts cash donations but also has a "wish list" of items that will help them in their mission. Contact Shauna VanBuren, the Deputy Director for Airport Services at 410-859-3890 for more information. (www.usometrodc.org/locationpage.htm#BWIAirport)

Operation Hero Miles - Donate your unused frequent flyer miles to help soldiers on leave get home. (www.heromiles.org)

Operation Paperback - Donate your gently used paperback books to American troops deployed overseas. (http://www.operationpaperback.org/)

Operation Uplink - Donate a calling card to help keep service members in touch with their families.(www.operationuplink.org)

In partnership with Books for Soldiers, the B.I.G. Project is sending 100 boxes of books per month to deployed military in the Middle East. Volunteers and/or cash donations are needed. Contact Steve Frantzich at 410-293-6865 to volunteer or for more information (www.big-books.org/)

MilitaryPetsFOSTER Project is a nationwide network of individual foster homes that will house, nurture, and care for the dogs, cats, birds and other pets for deployed Military and related personnel. Apply to become a foster home at www.netpets.org/netp/fosterhome.php and you will be contacted when there is a pet in need of fostering in your area fitting your individual criteria.

The American Red Cross stations at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the Bethesda National Naval Medical Center are currently overwhelmed with calling cards and care packages and request that additional donations be postponed until March 2005 at the earliest. For more information on volunteering or making donations to Walter Reed, call Aster Black at 204-782-6362 or see their website (www.wramc.amedd.army.mil/). For more on volunteering with the Red Cross at the National Naval Medical Center, call Lynn Costella or Paul Levy at 301-295-1538, Tuesdays and Thursdays between 8:00am-12 noon or visit their website (www.bethesda.med.navy.mil/patient/patient_support_services/american_red_cross.aspx)

Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society helps sailors, marines, and their families by making interest-free loans and grants. Monetary contributions are always needed. Send checks payable to NMCRS to:

Army Emergency Relief helps soldiers and their dependents with emergency financial assistance. Monetary contributions are welcomed. Send checks to:

Air Force Aid Society helps members of the Air Force and their families. Contributions are accepted directly from individuals, clubs and organizations, military and civilian. Credit card donations may be made by calling 703-607-3073 or 800-769-8951. Send checks to

Media for the Military – This organization is seeking donations of gently used adult and children’s Music CD’s, Videos, DVD’s, Video games, Magazines and Books. Donated items will be given to deployed servicemen and women and their families based at Fort George G. Meade through Army Community Service. For more information please contact Stacy Hale at 301-370-9278.

A Taste of Home is a Maryland nonprofit organization started two years ago Dr. Robert Strahl of Baltimore dedicated to sending care packages to U.S. troops serving overseas. A Taste of Home is completely nonpartisan and apolitical, taking no position on supporting or not supporting a politician, political party or war. One-hundred percent of all donations go to purchase and shipment of items, and Dr. Strahl pays all overhead and shipment costs out of his own pocket. Recent projects include raising funds for enough calling cards to enable 1,500 soldiers to call home for one-hour, and taping Christmas videos at the Annapolis Armory, giving families the opportunity to say Merry Christmas to the troops.

Visit or Volunteer at a VA Hospital to honor veterans from past conflicts. Many of the locations also accept donations of recent issues of magazines (with subscriber information removed) for use by patients. Facility options include the Glen Burnie Outpatient Clinic, the Baltimore Rehabilitation and Extended Care Center and the Veterans Medical Centers in Baltimore and in Perry Point. Because of post-9/11 security concerns, all volunteers and visitors must have their presence at these federal facilities cleared in advance. For the Baltimore Rehabilitation Center or the Glen Burnie Outpatient Clinic, contact Susan Kern at 410-605-7000, ext. 5877. For the Baltimore Medical Center, contact Dalles Renninger at 410-605-7000, ext. 5505. For the Perry Point Medical Center, contact Mary Barcikowski at 410-642-1038.

Disabled American Veterans needs volunteers to drive veterans to their medical appointments using DAV vehicles. Contact Cliff Stoffel at 410-590-4140, ext 4221 for more information.

Donate blood! The American Red Cross has a constant need for blood and blood products. Their website (www.redcross.org/donate/give/) will help you locate your nearest donation center; or call them at 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543).

Schools can create a "heroes" bulletin board display honoring friends and family of students or staff currently serving in the military.

Volunteer to do a good deed on behalf of a service member who is not able to be here to help out as they normally would. Volunteer to coach a children's ball team (whose regular coach is a deployed service member) or become a temporary Boy Scout or Girl Scout leader.

Contact the
Volunteer Center for Anne Arundel County
at 410-897-9207 for information about local organizations that need you to volunteer in your community.