Helping Effort #1.
Okay so I’m thinking about doing a regular feature here, maybe once a week or month, where I pick some charity or non-profit to contribute to and then blogging about it in the hopes that you will, too. Of course I’m still going to find things to do that require my actual time and personal presence but things like this are also important so I’m doin’ it. Some of my readers have been extremely generous with me and I don’t want to hog it all.
So the first one is something I found at Ace of Spades. It’s called CAUSE - Comfort for America’s Uniformed Services. It was founded by four West Point grads who are also Vietnam vets, and their wives. They have an Amazon Wish List for wounded troops recovering at Walter Reed Medical Center. From Ace’s site, a quote from his friend who forwarded the link:
The idea behind CAUSE is that morale among active and recovering soldiers and Marines can be dramatically improved through R&R activities. At Walter Reed, CAUSE has facilities at the Mologne House, which is an outpatient dormitory for personnel and their families. The CAUSE library carries DVDs, as well as video games and equipment and is open to anyone at Walter Reed, free of charge.
My goal this summer is to try and fulfill the wish list…
And please feel free to pass this link on for others to contribute and for those of you with blogs (you know who you are), please consider publicizing this effort.
I have a blog and I know who I am, so I am publicizing this effort. There is a ton of stuff on that wish list, all kinds of movies and games (note when you see items like every season of The Gilmore Girls that it’s also for the families of the wounded who are spending so much time at Walter Reed, and also some of the wounded are female troops).
So I just sent them the second season DVD of Rome
It’s not much but hey. Little things do count and this is a really easy way to give back to these people, who deserve it more than just about anyone.
I’m going to go back through the comment threads and emails I got about helping Rupert’s unit and troops in general to find more of these types of charities (is that even what you call it, a “charity”? should be more like “paying a profound debt” when it comes to giving to veterans), and you can always send me links to others, including those not military-related. Want to have a nice balance. I’m serious about doing something worthwhile with this here blog in between the dog pics and shit-fits I like to throw.
Again: the cause of the day is, appropriately, CAUSE. Here is the Wish List and here is the Giftpacks program. Help if you can!
Ordered.
Thanks for posting the link, it’s a great idea.
June 5th, 2008 at 10:48 amBecause it was in my best interest to do so,
I sent a fistful of DVDs to CAUSE.
But I totally want double credit, as this was also a Rachl Lukis suck-up offering.
June 5th, 2008 at 11:08 amJust sent the “Airborne: Medal of Honor” video game to CAUSE. Easy way to say “Thank You” and I will be passing the link on to friends.
Good on you, Rachel!
June 5th, 2008 at 11:45 amMaybe some sling shots for them to use on the Code Pink vermin at the gates to Walter Reed?
On the other situation, I have, as I figure others do, many books, CDs, DVDs, etc that I need to move out to unclutter things. If you can, let us know an APO for Ruppie’s Troopies so I can send them on directly rather than complicating things by sending to you to repack and send on.
Finally, years ago I decided that rather than contribute to a dozen or so charities yearly, I would contribute to a very few every year (i.e. Habitat for Humanity), then two or three for one year. The next year, I choose another two or three, in addition to the ones I keep on all the time. That way, I can make a good sized contribution to each rather than dissipate the dosh among many.
Of course, I get donation letters from them all for years to come. I got enough return address stickers to last three life times…
June 5th, 2008 at 12:03 pmWARNING, unsolicited advice to follow (it’s just something to consider):
i’d suggest once a month, or once every two weeks. weekly might burn people out, financially and possibly content-ly
sorry, i’m vocabularily lazy today
June 5th, 2008 at 2:14 pmRachel, Check out these guys and you can Adopt a Sniper — it’s non-profit with no paid positions, and all funds go directly towards purchase of equipment for troops. Sniper troops being especially effective, in my opinion, are totally worth the support. Plus it’s not the kind of organization that gets support from your average feel-good-about-supporting-the-the-troops person.
http://americansnipers.org/
June 5th, 2008 at 2:43 pmThanks, Rachel. I sent out a couple of DVDs, too. Hope they bring some smiles to some weary faces.
June 5th, 2008 at 3:00 pmSaw it first over at Ace. Saw it here and ordered them some Futurama, Die Hard and Oceans flicks. A worthy cause.
June 5th, 2008 at 3:38 pmThanks for “beating the drum”
I ordered Scrubs to be sent to them. One reason, I love the show, another is I think laughter helps heal, another no copies yet received, and last… it’s all I can afford this month.
I’ve bookmarked the wishlist and will forward it to my family.
Thanks for posting this!
June 5th, 2008 at 4:45 pmThanks for doing this - I just sent them all three seasons of The Office.
June 5th, 2008 at 5:08 pmFrom our house, House, first season, because the college girl assures me it will provide many hours of laughter :).
Go, Rachel, go!
June 5th, 2008 at 6:40 pmThanks, Rachel, both for the reminder and for vetting the charity. My husband and his brother were in the first Gulf War and I am so grateful to have them home and healthy. This is a tiny down payment on the debt we owe these guys. Today I sent Assassin’s Creed, Band of Brothers, and Superbad. Count me in for the next one!
Can we still adopt Rupert NHRN’s unit? I think if we support them in particular it would give us more of a real connection with boots on the ground.
June 5th, 2008 at 8:05 pmWhat a great organization, I have some Amazon gift certificates that will now be put to much better use than buying crap for myself.
Another organization that is worthy of a Lucas Look is the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). They provide vital support services for spouses, children, parents, siblings, fiances, friends, etc, etc, etc of our fallen service members. One of the most valuable things they do are the Good Grief Camps for kids… check out http://www.taps.org.
June 5th, 2008 at 9:36 pmCheck this site out for the guys over there..
June 5th, 2008 at 11:26 pmhttp://projectboresnake.org/
I went girly and ordered Gilmore Girls - 1st Season.
Excellent idea, Rachel. Thanks for pointing out this charity - I had no idea.
June 6th, 2008 at 12:26 amRachel-
http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htmurph/articles/20080606.aspx
Making the point I was making earlier: “The Army Is Safer Than College” is a six part series, this one about women and sex issues. I’ll link to the other Rupert-oriented items later, but essentially he’s safer there than as a quarterback at U of H.
June 6th, 2008 at 6:21 amJust ordered Suburban Girl (never heard of it), Scrubs, The Kingdom, and Transformer.
Wanted to order Emperor’s New Groove because it’s a really lighthearted entertaining Disney flick, but it didn’t have one of those “Add Cart” button. It looked like you have to order it in a more round about way.
June 6th, 2008 at 8:41 am