A Million Thanks was started by Shauna Fleming in 2004 when she was a freshman in high school. What started as a small community service project to collect thank you letters for U.S. troops turned into a nationwide campaign. Her goal was to collect one million letters of appreciation for service members stationed around the world. Within six months, her goal was reached and to date, over five million letters have been distributed to troops. While Fleming expands her organization to collect letters, she also started a foundation called Wounded Soldier’s Wish, which raises funds to grant wishes to military injured in the War on Terror.

To participate, here are a few easy ways to help:

• If you know a service member that would like to receive mail, submit his or her address to AMillionThanks@aol.com
• Apply to become an official drop-off location and collect letters in your local community at www.AMillionThanks.org

BooksForSoldiers.com is a sister site to CollegeForSoldiers.com and BiblesForSoldiers.org. All sites are charities managed by the Order of the Red Grail, an IRS registered 501 (c)(3) non-profit, interfaith outreach ministry.

The BooksForSoldiers.com model is simple; a soldier comes to their website, fills out the request form for most any book, DVD or video game. Volunteers can give back by tracking down whatever the soldier requests and sending it directly to the soldier.

Since 2004, Cell Phones for Soldiers:

• Raised more than $7 million and provided more than 114 million minutes of free talk time
• Mails approximately 12,000 calling cards each week
• Recycled more than 8.3 million cell phones, reducing the impact on landfills
• Anticipates the launch of a new program, Helping Heroes Home, to provide returning troops with 30-days of free phone service following deployment.
• Has remained a family-run, non-profit organization operated almost exclusively by Bob, Gail, Brittany, Robbie and Courtney Bergquist.

To support Cell Phones for Soldiers you can visit their site to make a monetary contribution, or you can donate a used mobile phone. Phone donors can find their nearest drop-off location or print a postage-paid shipping label. For every $5 raised, 150 minutes of talk time can be sent overseas, bridging the communication gap for military families.

Coups For Troops was created by a stay-at-home mom, trying to save money for her family by couponing. Their mission is to assist soldiers by making their lives and their families lives a little easier by shipping coupons right to their door. Volunteers can give back by donating coupons either by directly sending them to military oversees or sending their expired coupons directly to Coups For Troops.

Others way you can help include spreading word about the cause by posting printed fliers throughout your area, hosting your own coupon collection boxes in your own area, and/or a simple donation to help pay for the postage. More information is available on their website.

Homes for Our Troops is a national non-profits, non-partisan, 501 (c)(3) organization. They are strongly committed to helping those who have selflessly given to our country and have returned home with serious disabilities and injuries since September 11, 2001. It is their duty and honor to assist severely injured Servicemen and Servicewomen and their immediate families by raising donations of money, building materials and professional labor and to coordinate the process of building a home that provides maximum freedom of movement and the ability to live more independently.

To give back you can simply make a donation to their cause. To find out how, Click Here.

Or other volunteer opportunities include holding a fundraising event, joining their street team and more. For more information on getting involved, Click Here.

The iPads for Soldiers Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds to provide our active duty and severely wounded soldiers with iPad2’s. For the active duty troops overseas, they are life changers. Their small size and weight allow them to fit into their packs and be carried on mission. As well as the FaceTime feature allows for communication and more visual contact with their loved ones.

For severely wounded soldiers, it allows for communication with loved ones during their lengthy recoveries in military hospitals, utilize applications helpful for PTSD, and the “swipe” technology make easy for soldiers who have lost their hands/fingers and can’t use traditional keyboards.

To give back, donations can be made online at www.ipadsforsoldiers.org. Or checks payable to “iPads for Soldiers Foundation” can be mailed to 259 Buttonwood Drive, Key Biscayne, FL 33149.

The Jones Act, also known as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, is one of the most important laws for seamen who have been injured on the job. As outlined in its Preamble, the Act is designed to support a vibrant maritime industry in the U.S. There are many sections to the Act and many components including regulations for maritime commerce and coastal shipping, and these have been revised many times, most recently in 2006.

Now more than ever, it is important for service members to understand the significance of the Jones Act and how it impacts the captain and crew of merchant ships hauling military cargo in times of engagement. You can find out more about the Jones Act at www.maritimeinjurycenter.com/jones-act/.

Operation Gratitude is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, volunteer-based organization that sends care packages year-round to service members deployed overseas, to their children left behind, and to Wounded Warriors in Military hospitals and transition units. Their mission is to lift morale, bring a smile to a service member’s face and express to our Armed Forces and Military Families the appreciation and support of the American people.

Volunteers can find out how to give back here: Ways for Individuals and Businesses to Help
And information on how and where to send donations here: Donation & Shipping Information

Pets for Patriots is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that helps service and veteran members of the U.S. military adopt last-chance shelter dogs and cats. To prevent these animals from re-surrender, the charity provides access to reduced cost veterinary care and direct financial contributions towards the cost of pet food and other essential needs. Their mission is to consistently give the gifts of fidelity, joy and companionship to both pet and person.

Volunteers can find out how they can make an impact here: About volunteering with Pets for Patriots.
And information about how to make a donation can be found here: Make a Donation.

The Military Warriors Support Foundation awards mortgage-free homes to wounded heroes injured during combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. The homes are for families who have severe and/or face unique circumstances due to their injuries received while serving our country. In addition to the home, families receive 3 years of family and financial mentoring.

If you would like to give back, Military Warriors Support Foundation accepts donations here.

Also, if you know a Military Warrior who may need these support services please direct them to the The Military Warriors Support Foundation website.

The Troops to Teachers (TTT) program helps eligible military personnel transition into rewarding careers as K-12 public or charter school teachers.

Services offered through Troops to Teachers include:

• Information on the state teacher licensure process
• Reciprocity assistance for those already licensed to teach in other states
• Identifying employment opportunities
• Financial assistance for eligible participants

You can give back by spreading the word to Veterans who may be interested in a career as a teacher. For further information contact www.proudtoserveagain.com