Like most Americans, you’re proud of our soldiers.  They work hard, under incredible pressure, putting their lives on the line every day, isolated from their families and under constant danger.  You want to do something for them, but the economy has hit everyone hard.  So what can we do to show them how much we appreciate their sacrifice?  Below are 7 ways you can help.  They are either free, or as close to free as you can get.  Let’s show our troops how much we care!

1 – Lets Say Thanks
This will only take you about 10-20 seconds and it’s free.  Send a postcard to one of our deployed troops.  You can’t imagine the impact this has.  When I was deployed to the Gulf, reading mail that was sent to “Any Service Member” used to make my day.  It let us know that we weren’t forgotten. 

2 – Cell Phones For Soldiers
Most of us probably have old cell phones sitting around in junk drawers.  They’re effectively useless to us, but you can use them to make a difference in the life of one of our deployed troops.  Recycle it with Cell Phones For Soldiers and for each cell phone you send, a prepaid 1 hour phone card will be sent overseas.  That’s an extra hour a troop can talk to his/her family.  All for an old cell phone that you’ll never use again.

3 – Packages From Home
Being deployed is horribly boring.  We had to invent games just to keep from going crazy!  It didn’t take too long to run out of books to read, so any magazine or book that came in was immediately devoured.  The folks at Packages From Home will take your old magazines, books, CDs, and many other items, bundle them up, and send them to deployed troops!  Take a look at the “Things to Donate” list on their website.  There are drop-off locations all around Arizona, so it’s easy and convenient. 

4 – Any Soldier
What if you aren’t in AZ?  – “Any Soldier” has created a way for you to send these items to soldiers who will be able to appreciate and enjoy them!  Simply go to their site, find a group of soldiers that need the items you have and send them off.  The US Post Office has special flat rate boxes and savings for shipping to military addresses, so a full box of stuff will cost as little as $11 to send overseas!

5 – Books For Soldiers
This is another way to send relief supplies to the troops.  Join their forums, connect with soldiers, and send off your old books, magazines, and other items.

6 - Veterans Tickets Foundation
Do you have some sports tickets you aren’t going to use? Do you know of local plays or sporting events that often have empty seats?  This group takes ticket donations and finds active military, veterans and military families that can use the tickets.  To date 38,125 tickets have been given out already!  How cool is that?

7 – Hero Miles
Many of us have frequent flyer miles that we just can’t use.  If you have frequent flier miles that are going to expire soon or that you are willing to donate, you can transfer them to a soldier in need.   The Fisher House is a wonderful nonprofit the supports injured service men and women and their families.  They administer the Hero Miles program and make sure that miles are going to military men and women who are undergoing treatment at a military or VA medical center incident to their service in Iraq or Afghanistan, and their families.  We can’t stress highly enough how big a difference you can make through this donation. 

Make a difference in a soldier’s life.  Don’t wait.  Do it today.