CALIFORNIA TROOP SUPPORT GROUPS OUTPACE THE NATION

LOS ANGELES - The numbers tell the story. More non-profit groups dedicated to assisting the troops and their families are joining America Supports You from California than from any other state in the country. The America Supports You (ASY) program is a Department of Defense
initiative dedicated to showcasing Americans’ support of the troops.

Currently there are over 50 America Supports You homefront groups in California, and nearly half of these groups have become part of ASY within the past year, evidence of the strong and growing support of Californians for the nation’s military men and women and their families.
Across California and around the nation, these homefront groups are supporting the military through stuffing care packages, helping returning veterans find civilian jobs, giving toys to military children who have a parent deployed, coordinating the adoption of deployed units by cities across the country, and more. The more than 50 California-based America Supports You groups include:

Watering Seeds Organization, in Woodland Hills, one of the newest America Supports You groups, provides recreational and athletic opportunities for wounded service members. Also new to ASY, Snowball Express in Costa Mesa, which was founded in 2006, brings together military children and spouses of fallen service members to share experiences and have fun for the children. The all expenses paid 5 day experience includes a trip to Disneyland, Universal Studios and much
more. This year’s event is from Dec 16-20, 2008.

Longtime ASY supporter, A Million Thanks, based in Orange, was started by Shauna Fleming when she was just 15-years-old to send cards to deployed service members. Shauna is now 19-years-old and has since sent over 4 million cards to military men and women serving overseas.
Headquartered in San Diego, United Through Reading provides an opportunity for powerful emotional connections that relieve the stress of separation for military families by having deployed parents read a bedtime story via DVD for their child to watch at home.

America Supports You homefront groups are making sure military members around the world are receiving care packages. Adopt-A-Chaplain, in San Jose, has served over 250 chaplains deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan by sending comfort foods, study books and other materials to help chaplains meet the personal and emotional needs of service members.

During the month of May, Military Appreciation Month, Operation Gratitude, based in Encino, is preparing to send their 350,000th care package to troops serving overseas. Another California group sending care packages overseas, Operation: Care and Comfort, based in San Jose, will also be celebrating Military Appreciation Month with a benefit concert, TroopFest 2008, on board the USS Hornet in Alameda, California to raise funds for future care packages.

“It means so much to our men and women serving our country to know they have the support of the American people,” said Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for public affairs and the architect of the America Supports You program. “It’s wonderful to see that so many
people in California and across the country are recognizing the needs of our troops and care continuing to step up to assist military members and their families, creating new homefront groups to meet new needs, and supporting the existing ones.”

To learn more about America Supports You homefront groups helping the military and their families in California, or any other state, log on to AmericaSupportsYou.mil for a complete list of organizations. To set up an interview with Allison Barber contact Michelle Shortencarrier at
562-980-2908 or michelle@susandavis.com.

***

About America Supports You: America Supports You is an ongoing, nationwide program organized by the Department of Defense to showcase Americans’ support for the men and women of the Armed Forces and their families. Since its launch in November of 2004, America Supports You has
welcomed more than 370 homefront organizations, in all 50 states, and 40 corporations to the program. Many America Supports You homefront groups demonstrate their support for the troops through letter writing, care packages, helping the wounded when they return home, assisting military families, sending an email and much more-to learn more about how you can support military personnel please visit http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/americasupportsyou/index.aspx.

Submitted By: LTC Tom Lasser, USA (RET)

Comments RSS