Red Cross 'Operation Phone Home' Information Help Service Men And Women Keep In Touch

News 4 WYFF Greenville, SC ^ | March 27, 2003 | Carolina Channel

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GREENVILLE, S.C. -- WYFF News 4 is teaming up with the American Red Cross to help keep our men and women overseas in touch with their families.

"Operation Phone Home" will distribute long-distance phone cards to U.S. military units stationed in the middle east.

A $20 donation will buy one international phone card and contribute to Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services.

Because the phone cards are specially designed for use in satellite telephones made available to troops at overseas bases, donations of regular phone cards cannot be accepted -- Operation Phone Home is taking cash contributions only.

People who want to donate can do so in person, by mail or by phone.

Donations in person can be made at the Greenville Red Cross office at 940 Grove Road.

By mail, donations should go to P.O. Box 9035, Greenville, S.C. 29604.

Calls to the Operation Phone Home Hotline can go to (864) 271-8222.

Operation phone home will continue until the war in Iraq ends.

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Ways to help support our troops.

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I know you recently posted on Home Front resources, but I didn't see this mentioned. This link is local, but I'm sure the military or Red Cross can direct how folks nationwide can contribute.

[GrandmaPatriot]

Is the Red Cross going to charge our troops to use these phone cards like they charged for coffee and other things that were donated by us in the last war?

[jbg]

A $20 donation will buy one international phone card and contribute to Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services.

How much do these cards cost, and how much of the $20 is the red cross keeping?

[anymouse]

USO Canteen info.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

I don't trust the Red Cross/Crescent as far as I could throw them. Gave to the USO last night though - they have a care package program.

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I called the the hotline, and the woman said $15 buys the card, which provides 50-90 minutes of phone time. She said the cards are given to the military, which sends them over in bulk and hands them out to the troops. The troops DO NOT PAY ANYTHING for the cards. She said the other $5 goes to the local Red Cross to be distributed to military families to help with any financial hardship. She emphasized all the money is for the cards and the military families, none for anything else.

[YOMO]

While a laudable purpose donating $20 seems like a good thing on the surface. I don't want to hurt any effort helping our troops but,,,, How about the RED CROSS using some of the HORDED FUNDS FROM THE 911 FUND that didn't get used??? That should be enough to buy a PHONE COMPANY.

[AlaskaErik]

Ways to help support our troops.

The Red Cross is a vile and despicable organization. As a member of the armed forces I will accept nothing from them nor wili I give them anything. This is just a sleazy fund raising campaign designed to appeal to our support of our military. DON'T FALL FOR IT!!! Donate to the Salvation Army and other reputable organizations. DO NOT give any money to the Red Cross.

[jbg]

Thanks for checking with them. For months a military-affiliated non-profit organization of which I am a member has been sending regular ATT 60 minute cards for $2.50 each, bought in bulk from Sams -- I don't know how much phone time that gets from Kuwait. So "special" cards at $20 each makes me suspicious (along with the red cross involvement).

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I don't know what/how much the Red Cross hoarded from 9-11, but that money was for a different purpose, and should still go to that.
I don't think that's any reason to not help our troops now with the phone cards.

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Well, my last experience with the Salvation Army was that they won't accept anything that doesn't look pretty new.

[dware]

Their copycats:

The Original Operation Phone Home

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Regarding final disbursements of Liberty Disaster Fund monies:
http://www.nyredcross.org/news/2002/020131_addassist.asp


Some other research I did noted that much of the money that went to support costs (as opposed to direct disbursements to victims, families, and recovery workers) came from interest on the funds and not the funds themselves.

While there is no doubt that the Red Cross mishandled funds initially, they have done a tremendous amount of good. In fact, because of the criticism, they seem to be making a much greater effort to be truer to their causes.

They are cuurrently doing alot in support of the troops in Operation Iraqi Freedom (as well as civilians in the area).
If you feel the cost of the phone cards is excessive (I don't know what the difference would be between regular phone and satellite phone cards) I suppose you can investigate and see if anyone or any company is profitting excessively. I don't have the time or the inclination right now.
I posted the info for anyone to avail themselves of it. After that, it's up to the individual whether they want to donate or not. In all honesty I probably won't, just can't spare it.

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You mean "they're", not that he is "their" copycat, right?

The article at carolinachannel.com specifically stated that regular phone cards won't work for the satellite phones, so in that regard they aren't duplicating his efforts. Besides, I don't think any of the troops will be complaining they have 'too many' phone cards.

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The site dware directed me to stated that calls from Kuwait run upwards from $1.55 per minute. So the Red Cross card at 50-90 minutes for $15, that's way better. So the satellite phones are actually much cheaper than land lines?

[AlaskaErik]

One more reason to not support the Red Cross.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/877470/posts

[AlaskaErik]

One more reason to not support the Red Cross. This time hopefully the link works.

(Red Cross Supports Terrorists)

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It would seem they too are useful idiots at times.


::Sigh::