Military Phone Card Donation Program Goes Public

DoD ^ | April 23, 2004

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

United States Department of Defense News Release On the web: http://www.dod.mil/releases/2004/nr20040423-0646.html Media contact: +1 (703) 697-5131 Public contact: http://www.dod.mil/faq/comment.html or +1 (703) 428-0711

	No. 363-04
IMMEDIATE RELEASE	April 23, 2004

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Military Phone Card Donation Program Goes Public

The Department of Defense announced today that any American can now help troops in contingency operations call home.  The Defense Department has authorized the Armed Services Exchanges to sell prepaid calling cards to any individual or organization that wishes to purchase cards for troops who are deployed.  The “Help Our Troops Call Home” program is designed to help servicemembers call home from Operations Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

For those wishing to donate a prepaid calling card to a military member may log on to any of the three Armed Services Exchange web sites:  the Army and Air Force Exchange Service http://www.aafes.com/, the Navy Exchange Service Command http://www.navy-nex.com/, and the Marine Corps Exchange http://www.usmc-mccs.org/.  Click the “Help Our Troops Call Home” link.  From there, a prepaid calling card may be purchased for an individual at his or her deployed address or to “any service member” deployed or hospitalized.  The Armed Services Exchanges will distribute cards donated to “any service member” through the American Red Cross, Air Force Aid Society and the Fisher House Foundation. 

The Armed Services Exchanges operate telephone call centers in Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, and other countries and aboard ships -- anywhere servicemembers are deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.  All of these locations stay busy around the clock to keep up communication between deployed troops and their loved ones.  The cards available through the “Help Our Troops Call Home” program offer the best value for calls made from the call centers, never expire, and there are no added charges or connection fees. 

           Individuals and organizations also can show their support to deployed troops and their families with gift certificates.  The “Gift of Groceries” program allows anyone to purchase commissary gift certificates at http://www.commissaries.com or by calling toll free 1 (877) 770-GIFT.  The Armed Services Exchanges offer the “Gift From the Homefront” gift certificate for merchandise at these exchange web sites: http://www.aafes.com and http://www.navy-nex.com or by calling toll free 1 (877) 770-GIFT.  Gift certificates may be purchased to be mailed to servicemembers and family members or will be distributed to “any servicemember.”  Only authorized commissary and exchange patrons may redeem the gift certificates at military commissaries and exchanges, including those stores supporting deployed personnel around the globe.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

The Defense Department has authorized the Armed Services Exchanges to sell prepaid calling cards to any individual or organization that wishes to purchase cards for troops who are deployed.  The “Help Our Troops Call Home” program is designed to help servicemembers call home from Operations Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

For those wishing to donate a prepaid calling card to a military member may log on to any of the three Armed Services Exchange web sites: 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~      ( Ping! 

[jwalsh07]

COunt me in.

[GrandEagle]

Tagged for reference

[Coop]

Bravo!

[boxerblues]

Outstanding! Cheaper to send a phone card than trying to pay for collect calls from overseas.

[boxerblues]

Looks like it might replace it.

[Dante3]

Thanks for posting this.

[Reb Raider]

Thought this sounded like a good way to help. Thanks for posting the info Ragtime Cowgirl!

[MEG33]

I'm for it.

[BlessedByLiberty]

Passing this along to email list. Thank you!

[Enterprise]

Thanks for the post, I hurried up and got 5 cards to be sent to Iraq. I am in tears about the loss of Tillman. I realize how much he gave up, and it emphasized the loss of other great American Servicemen and Women. They gave a lot, and I can give a little more.

[1rudeboy]

bttt
I hope that they can keep this program clean.

[GaltMeister]

US ARMY BUMP!

Just sent one to my Niece, she's with the 84th Engineers, 130th Engineer Brigade somewhere north of Baghdad.

[Freebird Forever]

BTTT

[McGavin999]

Oh boy, is that great! I had to search all over town to find a card that could be used in Iraq.

[fatima]

Here's a bump.

[Veloxherc]

I got a phone card when I went over form the VFW. It's a great idea.

[Valin]

Bump!! I've been donating to Operation Uplink, run by the VFW

Operation Uplink is a unique program that keeps military personnel and hospitalized veterans in touch with their families and loved ones by providing them with a free phone card. Using contributions from supporters like you, Operation Uplink purchases phone cards and distributes them to servicemen and women who are separated from those they care about.
http://www.operationuplink.org/