Programs

NEW PROGRAMS YOUR SQUADRON CAN HELP WITH

Commanders Charity

Ronald McDonald House in Omaha. They are in need of new furniture, as most of what they have is over 15 years old. The house in Omaha has 20 rooms and I hope we can raise enough money to make this happen. The Ronald McDonald house will even get matching funds from Robert B. Daugherty Charitable Foundation for the monies we raise, so for every dollar we raise the house will get two dollars. Call to all squadrons, Please help with an event to raise money for the McDonald House.

Thanks for your help

David Kamenske

Detachment Commander

The American Legion family has raised more than $300,000 to purchase comfort items for U.S. troops recovering in hospitals and warrior transition units around the globe. Now we have the opportunity to nearly double what was raised.

     Pepsi Cola is offering a $250,000 grant to the top two charities (based on votes) as part of its  Pepsi Refresh project. There are 729 charities competing and as of Feb. 1, Operation Comfort Warriors is 21st  in votes.  There is no time to lose--the voting period ends on February 28, 2010.

     All overhead and administrative costs for Operation Comfort Warriors is paid for by The American Legion, meaning 100 percent of donations go toward helping the troops. If OCW were to receive the Pepsi grant, that money would also go entirely to the troops. Please go to http://refresheverything.com/operationcomfortwarriors and vote. Just as importantly, use your post and department newspapers, facebook pages, web sites, twitter and all other tools at your disposal to encourage others to vote for this great cause.

     The http://refresheverything.com grant can make a difference in the lives of hundreds of our disabled troops.  Log in and vote now, and share this email with all your friends and co-workers.

If you have any questions about Operation Comfort Warriors, please feel free to call Communications Director John Raughter at (317) 630-1350, or visit http://legion.org/troops/operationcomfort. 

JOSH AND FRIENDS KIT

If you have not heard about this it is called I'll Be OK".  Josh and Friends Kit.  Josh is a stuffed dog with a storybook that you can give to a child coping with a sickness or a hospital visit.  It is a great bonding tool that will help comfort a child.  Call 1-877-455-2365 or visit www.joshandfriends.com or e-mail info@joshandfriends.com.

This would be a good Project for your local Squadron and when it is time to fill out the Consolidated Report form you may list it.

Look at the smile it will bring!

WE LOVE OUR TROOPS.COM 365 DAYS OF GIVING

ITEMS SOLDIERS NEED

Shampoo & Conditioner, Liquid Soap, Chap-stick, Books, Calling Cards, Black Ink Pens, Cards and Letters offering your support and hope, Gum, Candy, Candy Bars, Pop Tarts, Breakfast Bars, Microwavable Popcorn, Fruit Snacks, Music CD's (new or pre-loved), Movie DVD's (new or pre-loved) for XBox 360, Wii, and Gameboy.

You can drop off any of these items listed and put them in the Barrel at The American Legion Department of Nebraska Headquarters, 200 North 56th, Lincoln, VFW Department Headquarters at 2431 North 48th, Lincoln, Elks Lodge, 5910 South 58th, Lincoln, DAV, 3901 North 70th, Lincoln.  You can also make donations just go to www.weloveourtroops.us

OPERATION COMFORT WARRIOR

WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO MEET THE CHALLENGE:

The U.S. Government does a good job providing for the essential needs of the men and women recovering from war injuries in hospitals like Walter Reed, Brooke Army Medical Center and Bethesday Naval Medical Center just to name a few.  But what about the so-called nonessentials, the items that don't show up as a budget-line on a government spreadsheet?  Nonessential comfort items such as loose fitting sweat suits that can cover a soldier's healing body without adding pressure to the burns he suffered during an RPG attack in Ramadi?  Or an I-Pod to help drown out the tinnitus that has plagued the medic ever since she drove too close to a roadside bomb in Afghanistan?  Or a gripping novel that provides a welcome distraction from PTSD?

In 2007, Past National Commander Paul Morin, Auxiliary National President JoAnn Cronin and S.A.L. Commander Earl Ruttkofsky challenged The American Legion family to raise $50,000 to purchase comfort items for our wounded warriors at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany.  Legion family members and other caring Americans responded in a big way. Thanks to the generosity, nearly $350,000 was raised and spent directly on the troops.

When the Red Cross notified The American Legion that zip-up sweatsuits were in short supply at Walter Reed, the Legion immediately ordered 100 sets. But it's just a drop in the bucket.  We have been told there is an even greater need for items at Fort Hood and Fort Bragg.  Consider that there are 67 other U.S. military inpatient facilities and 1,369 VA inpatient and outpatient centers, and you can grasp the enormous need.  Their size and needs, however, are dwarfed by the obligation that America has to these heroes.

The American Legion family is calling this effort Operation Comfort Warriors.  Contributing is effortless.  No trips to the post office or packaging of comfort items are needed.  We will handle all of that.  You can use your credit card to make an online donation at www.legion.org/ocw or you can mail a check to Operation Comfort Warriors, PO Box 1055, Indianapolis, IN 46206.

Administrative and promotional costs for Operation Comfort Warriors will be paid by The American Legion, so you can be sure that the entire donation will go directly to the troops.  Many centers are not equipped to store large quantities of care packages, so monetary donations are needed in order to purchase items that are truly needed.

Semper Fi, or Semper Fidelis, is the Marine Corps motto meaning "Always Faithful."  Well today's wounded warriors in all service branches remain faithful.  Faithful to their country, their comrades in arms and their loved ones back home.  Operation Comfort Warrior will never be able to compensate these heroes for their sacrifices. But it will show them we care.