Today Is Nothing brings a smile to The Troops like receiving a Care Package with something special from you. Here are some ways to help make sure that none of our Troops are forgotten. Stamp 'N For The Troops This is a great way to help us get Care Packages to The Troops. We are asking Patriotic Americans to donate one 39˘ Stamp to be used for postage. If you or your group collect 1,000 or more stamps, you will receive one of our beautiful Support The Troops Flags. Send a card or letter telling The Troops about your collection, and we will include it in the Care Package! Address Below at Bottom of Page Sock It To The Troops! The Troops work hard and wear their boots for long hours, so their socks wear out quickly. You or your group can help make sure our Heroes always have extra pairs of new, clean socks. White or Black Work Socks are needed. (crew or tube socks) You can send a note to the Troops and tape it to the Socks, and we'll include it in the Care Packages. Send Socks to OCP Kids (address at bottom of page). Project Pillowcase Time to show your talent! We are in need of hand painted pillowcases for our Troops who are in combat hospitals. Help brighten their room and lift their spirits. Please remember to use fabric paint to decorate your pillowcase. You may attach a card or letter for the soldier who receives your pillowcase. Send your finished pillowcase to OCP Kids (address at bottom of page). Cookies For The Troops The Troops love Cookies and treats from home. Here's a way to keep their cookie jar filled and smiles on their faces. Send us cookies and we'll forward them to the Troops. Calling All Girl Scouts! Next time you sell Girl Scout Cookies, why not ask the person if they would like to donate the box they purchase to The Troops. Send a note to the Troops telling them about your collection, and we'll include it in the care packages. All size boxes or packages of cookies can be sent. Other treats, such as nuts, chocolate, or candy are also needed. All items must be in sealed packages or boxes. Send cookies to OCP Kids (address at bottom of page). The Troops love receiving your letters and drawings. Here are some that you or your group can print out and send to us, and we will include them in the Care Packages. Please send your letters and color pages to OCP Kids (address at bottom of page) We are all so lucky to live in this great country. Kids in some countries are not so fortunate. You or your group can help our Troops give something special to the kids and the schools. Here are some items you can send: New/Used Beanie Babies, Stuffed Animals (small size) School Supplies, Pads of Paper, Pencils, Glue Crayons, Erasers, Small Kids' Backpacks New/Used Childrens Clothes, Shoes Please good condition on any used items. Send items to OCP Kids (address at bottom of page) Here are some ways to Support The Troops and have fun, too! OPERATION: Wipe Out Help Wipe OutTerrorism With all the desert sand and dirt, our Troops are always in need of WET WIPES Here's your chance to help. Ask family, friends, classmates, and groups to help Wipe Out Terrorism (Sand) by collecting Wet Wipes in either soft or hard packs. Sizes that are most useful and can easily be 'loaded' into the Troops' ammo packs are: Travel Size Package (approx 15 wipes) Larger Size Package (approx 125 wipes). Send items to OCP Kids (address at bottom of page). Send Hugs To The Troops HUGS FOR HEROS CALLING ALL ARTISTS The Troops love receiving your "works of art" and often display them in their living quarters. Send us your drawings, and we will send them to the Troops! Drawings should be no larger than 8 1/2 x 11, so they fit neatly in the Care Package. You may add your first name and town, or attach a note to the Troops. Please send all Artwork to OCP Kids (address at bottom of page) SAY THANKS TO THE TROOPS Type or print your message on the Group Card. We will include copies of the card in the Care Packages. Click on the link below. Add your first name and town. THANK YOU ! our e-mail address E-MAIL OCP KIDS our website: O.C.P. KIDS Mailing Address OCP Kids 611 Wilcox Street Joliet, Ilinois 60435 SUPOPRT OUR TROOPS OVERSEAS & HOME Make A Donation Provide support to the Armed Forces, and their families. Review the organizations below or search for other related charities American Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services Helping military members around world to send messages home. EMERGENCY SERVICES Free and the Brave Foundation Showing unity & support for military & emergency personnel. FREE & BRAVE Military Veterans and Patriotic Service Organizations of America Honoring veterans, active military personnel & their families. Military Veterans and Patriotic Service Organizations of America Operation Hero Miles Donate miles to help send troops home for the holidays. Operation Hero Miles Veterans of Foreign Wars and its Ladies Auxiliary Be a part of Operation Uplink. Help send free phone cards to servicemen & women overseas. Operation Uplink U.S.O.,Providing morale, welfare & recreation services to military personnel. U.S.O. Donate To Support Military Relief Societies Donate to these organizations that support military personnel & their families. Air Force Aid Society Emergency, education & community assistance to Air Force members & families. Air Force Aid Society Army Emergency Fund Emergency financial assistance to U.S. Army soldiers & families. Army Emergency Fund Coast Guard Mutual Assistance Financial support to men & women of the Coast Guard Coast Guard FISHER HOUSE Providing comfort homes at military medical centers. FISHER HOUSE Give an Hour Providing mental health services free of charge to military personnel and their families. Give an Hour National Military Family Association Support well-being of military families. Support well-being of military families. Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Assistance to members of the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps & their families. Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Non-Commissioned Officers Association Aid for active & retired members of the U.S. armed forces. Non-Commissioned Officers Association Special Operations Fund Benefits to families of those who have died in the line of duty. Special Operations Fund Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors Services to those who have lost a loved one in the Armed Forces. Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation Assistance to veterans, active military personnel, & families. Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation Be A Volunteer Volunteer with one of these organizations below. Search for related volunteer opportunities Books for Soldiers Send books to troops overseas Books for Soldiers Defend America Send your thanks to the U.S. Military Send your thanks to the U.S. Military National Military Family Association Supporting families of military servicemembers. National Military Family Association Operation Dear Abby Send an e-mail to men & women in the military. Operation Dear Abby USO If you are a celebrity, tour with the USO. USO VA Hospital Volunteer at a VA Hospital to honor veterans. VA Hospital FOR KIDS: Youth Noise Send an e-mail to kids whose parents are in the military and stationed overseas. FOR KIDS: Youth Noise SUPPORT OUR TROOPS OVERSEAS & HOME Operation Baby Blanket Volunteers make baby blankets, baby hats and announcements. You can contribute as much as you want. There's just one rule: Everything must be handmade! MOMMY PACKETS: This project consists of a hat, blanket, and twelve announcements. They are bundled together with ribbon and sent to stateside base hospitals for mommies, of deployed servicemen, that have yet to join our group. We presently send 20 packets a month to four base hospitals, but will increase the number as we get more volunteers. Part One: Blankets can be sewn, quilted, crocheted, or knitted. They can be any color (for boy or girl) and can be any size. Part Two: Hats can be made of any color. Remember babies heads are small-so adjust your pattern accordingly. Part Three: Announcements are made on regular card stock of neutral colors. The outside of the announcements can be designed with stamps, stickers, ribbon and/or lace, anything with a baby theme. The inside should have: Name of Baby, Weight, Length, Time, Date, and Names of Proud Parents. This should be stamped in or printed neatly. After making a bundle of twelve include envelopes and tie with lace, ribbon or yarn. You can make as many of any part of the packet as you want or you can make a complete packet. Its up to you!!! LINK HERE Operation Hero Miles. I also received a request for more information on this program. It is a site where you can donate your frequent flyer miles. The miles are used to fly soldiers home on leave from the warzones. And they are used to fly family members to visit injured troops in hospitals. The program needs your help. If you have frequent flyer miles, consider donating them. Most major airlines participate. LINK HERE AAFES Gift Certificates www.aafes.com/docs/homefront.htm The Army and Air Force Exchange Services is where most servicemen and women do their shopping. You can purchase gift certificates for those in Iraq and those hospitalized. LINK HERE THE AMERICAN RED CROSS will distribute your "Gifts from the Homefront" gift certificates to military personnel deployed in support of these ongoing military operations (not recognized as tax deductible donations). LINK HERE OPERATION INTERDEPENDENCE® is a Civilian-to-Military Delivery System® that provides a means for Americans to demonstrate their support for our deployed military. Operation Interdependence® will include your gift in care packages termed “Civilian Rations®” (C-rats®), which are delivered to the troops monthly without negatively impacting the military delivery system. Service members receive a touch of home as each individual C-rat® contains a note and goodies (toiletries, snack items, phone cards, playing cards, DVD/CDs). LINK HERE AIR FORCE AID SOCIETY as the official charity of the United States Air Force, agrees to accept "Gifts from the Homefront" gift certificates from individuals or companies who choose to contribute the certificates to Air Force members and their families. LINK HERE OPERATION HOMEFRONT was created to channel volunteer support to help the families of our deployed military personnel. With hundreds of thousands of service members deployed for war with Iraq, and countless others around the world fighting the war on terrorism, thousands of spouses and children are left behind, many in need. Your gift will enable Operation Homefront to provided much-needed support to military families while their loved ones are deployed and conducting the business of America. LINK HERE COALITION TO SALUTE AMERICA'S HEROES was created to provide an easy and meaningful way for individuals, corporations and others to help our severely wounded and disabled veterans and their families rebuild their lives. Your gift will be distributed in Coalition programs that provide emergency financial support to wounded heroes and the families in need, create job conferences, build handicapped-accessible homes, as well as many other initiatives. LINK HERE MILITARY MEMBERS PARTICIPATING IN USO PROGRAMS Your gift will be distributed by the United Service Organizations (USO), whose mission is to provide morale, welfare and recreation-type services to uniformed military personnel. The USO provides a wide range of programs and services worldwide. As a result, our service men and women have the opportunity to experience a "touch of home" even while serving far away from loved ones. LINK HERE DECA 'GIFT OF GROCERIES' Program Give the Gift of Groceries! DONATE Commissary Gift Certificate(s) to Military Families LINK HERE Adopt a Platoon www.adoptaplatoon.org Adopt a Platoon has several ongoing projects to ensure that no soldier overseas walks away from mail call empty-handed. LINK HERE AnySoldier www.anysoldier.com Any Soldier is a non-profit organization that helps people send care packages to members of the armed services in Iraq. LINK HERE Appreciate Our Troops www.appreciateourtroops.org Purchase a Support Our Troops mug and a free personalized mug will be given to a current or former service member. LINK HERE Blue Star Mothers www.bluestarmothers.org The Blue Star Mothers was founded by service members' moms during World War II. Any mother with a son or daughter in the military can join. LINK HERE Books For Soldiers www.booksforsoldiers.com/ Help the troops escape boredom by donating some books. You can also donate DVDs and CDs requested by soldiers. LINK HERE Camp Doha www.campdoha.org/ Camp Doha provides valuable information for those about to deploy, their friends and families and anyone who wants to support the troops LINK HERE Cell Phones for Soldiers www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com/pages/1/index.htm Donated cell phones are recycled and turned into cash. The cash is used to purchase calling cards for soldiers in Iraq. LINK HERE Defend America www.defendamerica.mil/nmam.html Thank any service member stationed throughout the U.S. and the world with an e-mail. LINK HERE Freedom Calls www.freedomcalls.org The Freedom Calls Foundation is helping families videoconference with their loved ones in Iraq. You can donate money to help keep this project going. LINK HERE Homes for Our Troops www.homesforourtroops.org Homes for Our Troops assists injured veterans and their immediate families by building new or adapting existing homes with handicapped accessibility. LINK HERE Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund provides grants to the families of servicemen and women who died in Iraq. You can donate online, through mail or by calling a toll-free number. LINK HERE Military Moms www.militarymoms.net This site provides support to all of the moms out there who has a son or daughter in the military. LINK HERE MarineParents www.marineparents.com MarineParents is a place for parents of Marines to meet up. You'll find advice, support and information. LINK HERE Operation: A Bit of Home www.operationabitofhome.com Operation: A Bit of Home supports over 150 different soldiers per day by providing necessary and hard-to-get toiletries. LINK HERE Operation Air Conditioner www.operationac.com Operation Air Conditioner provides not only air conditioners but space heaters (the desert is cold in the winter) for soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. LINK HERE Operation Give www.operationgive.org Operation Give provides toys, clothing and school supplies primarily to the children of Iraq and Afghanistan. LINK HERE Operation Gratitude www.opgratitude.com Operation Gratitude provides a way for you to show your respect and appreciation for the troops. It sends care packages and letters to troops stationed overseas. LINK HERE Operation Interdependence www.oidelivers.org Operation Interdependence supplies care packages to deployed soldiers. You can help out by providing goods, coordinating efforts or donating funds. LINK HERE Operation Iraqi Children www.operationiraqichildren.org Many soldiers are rebuilding schools in Iraq and scrounging around for school supplies. Help by donating a school supplies kit. LINK HERE Operation Kids for Troops www.kids4troops.com Write directly to men and women serving overseas in combat areas. Or place the names of loved ones serving overseas on the "OKFT Hero List" to receive encouraging mail. LINK HERE Operation Uplink www.operationuplink.org Donate money to Operation Uplink. The money is used to purchase phone cards so servicemen and women can call home. LINK HERE Packages From Home www.packagesfromhome.org Packages From Home sends personal care and comfort items to U.S. troops deployed overseas. Find out how to donate time, money or items to this non-profit organization. LINK HERE Soldiers' Angels www.soldiersangels.org/heroes/index.php Become some soldier's angel by adopting a service member. LINK HERE Treats for Troops www.treatsfortroops.com Treats for Troops helps get you provide packages to your loved ones overseas. If you don't know anyone, the Foster-A-Soldier Program matches you with a registered soldier by branch of service, home state, gender, or birthday - or you can choose to sponsor a group of soldiers. LINK HERE US Central Command www.centcom.mil Find out what the Coalition is doing. U.S. Central Command features up-to-date information on Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. LINK HERE USO Cares www.usocares.org You can sponsor care packages provided by the USO with a $25 donation. LINK HERE