Supporting Our Troops

When Gainesville High School Humanities teacher Jim Owens received a letter from American soldier Adrian Gent--a former student of his-- he was hit with a wonderful idea. The letter requested that Owens send good books and hygiene supplies over for him and the rest of his unit. With his fast-thinking and quirky mind, Owens quickly put together a preliminary idea for a class project. That project has grown into the Friends of Adrian Program. More

@friendsofadrian.org, our mission grows by the day. It was initially our mission, back in September, to write every soldier in Adrian's unit. Then it was our mission to gather from among ourselves a few amenities to send the troops: chapstick, skin lotion, paperbacks and lifesavers.

When our parents and friends made cash contributions to help us with postage, we decided to share the opportunity with others in our community. When Office Depot donated 4,000 envelopes we began writing every business listing....More

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.

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 online 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