Care Packages for Troops

Posted: November 26, 2011 
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Tagged: cards, care packages, gifts, legion, letters, military, overseas, servicemembers, support, veterans
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Looking for ways to support and honor U.S. military servicemembers and veterans who protect our security and freedom? You may have a Legion member who is currently serving overseas that you can send care packages to but, if you don’t have a specific name of someone to send to then please use the following information.

In years past, you could wrap up a care package and mail it to “Any Service Member” for the holidays, but with increased mail restrictions, the Pentagon is asking people to help through financial contributions, letter-writing and e-mail, purchasing authorized pre-made care packages, or volunteering time through non-profits.

Below are links to programs that offer aid to our military — everything from care packages to emergency services to military family support. Show your pride in our armed forces today, either by purchasing a gift or card for a servicemember, or donating to programs that support our military.

Cards, Letters, Gifts, and Care Packages

In addition, the U.S. Postal Service is no longer accepting “Any Service Member” or “Any Wounded Service Member” letters or packages. Mail to “Any Service Member” that is deposited into a collection box will not be delivered. The following charitable organizations help send gifts, cards, and care packages to our troops:

The Billy Blanks Foundation – The Billy Blanks Foundation was founded by the creator of Tae Bo. One of the foundations many projects is sending care packages to U.S. Servicemembers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Adopt a Platoon – Support the troops through gifts and sponsored mail.
Any Soldier – Sponsor care packages to servicemembers in Iraq.
Army and Air Force Exchange Services – Purchase gift certificates for active and hospitalized servicemembers.
Blue Star Mothers – Organizes postcards to troops and care packages, and is currently petitioning Congress for reduced air fares for servicemembers.
Books for Soldiers – Donate books, movies, and more.
Cell Phones for Soldiers – Donate your old cell phones, which pay for calling cards for our troops.
Commissary Gift Certificates – Give the gift of groceries — buy or donate gift certificates.
DefendAmerica – Send a virtual thank-you card.
A Million Thanks – Collects emails and letters of appreciation for our armed forces.
Operation Air Conditioner – Help pay for air conditioners and heaters for the troops.
Operaton Dear Abbey – Send greetings and messages of support.
Operation Give – Donate toys to be given to the children of Iraq.
Operation Gratitude – Contribute to care packages sent to our servicemembers.
Operation Homefront Hugs – Contribute to care packages, or adopt a servicemember.
Operation Troop Aid – Provide care packages for our deployed U.S. Servicemembers.
Operation Uplink – Donate a calling card to help keep servicemembers in touch with their families.
Operation USO Care Package – Sponsor a care package for $25.
Treats for Troops – Purchase care packages for Soldiers.

Help with Mailing Packages
Instructions on Sending Mail to Servicemembers – Straight from the U.S. Postal Service, instructions and recommendations on sending individual mail to servicemembers.

Click here for some ideas of things to send in your care packages

sponsors

Posted: November 25, 2011 
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Tagged: dinner, housing for homeless veterans, pennsylvania, sponsorship
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Dear Supporter of the Pennsylvania American Legion Housing for Homeless Veterans

Did you know that one-third of the adult homeless population is veterans?  Is this how we support the brave men and women who have served our country with honor and dedication? I believe this is a disgrace.  We have an obligation to ensure they have the support necessary to live a productive life after their military service.  About 1.5 million other veterans, meanwhile, are considered at risk of homelessness due to poverty, lack of support networks, and dismal living conditions in overcrowded or substandard housing.

Why are veterans homeless?  In addition to the factors influencing all homelessness – extreme shortage of affordable housing, livable income and access to health care – a large number of displaced and at-risk veterans live with lingering effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse, which are compounded by a lack of family and social support networks.  A top priority for homeless veterans is secure, safe, clean housing that offers a supportive environment free of drugs and alcohol.

What seems to work best?  The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans states that “The most effective programs for homeless and at-risk veterans are community-based, nonprofit, ‘veterans helping veterans’ groups.  The programs that seem to work best feature: transitional housing with the camaraderie of living in structured, substance-free environments with fellow veterans who are succeeding at bettering themselves.”  This is exactly what Housing for Homeless Veterans provides for the men and women who participate in our program.

What can I do?  Support programs like The Pennsylvania American Legion Housing for Homeless Veteransprogram.  We are a nonprofit ‘veterans helping veterans’ organization that partners with the VA’s program for homeless veterans.  Our program is designed to enhance the quality of life for the veteran and their families by providing clean transitional housing; help them become productive taxpaying citizens again by securing a good, decent job.  Our homes are located in Moon Township, a suburb of Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Ephrata, Pennsylvania.  Our vision is to give homeless veterans a second chance at the American dream.

In order for the American Legion to finance this program, we are asking for your support.  We will be sponsoring a dinner on January 14, 2012 at the Holiday Inn Pittsburgh Airport, Moon Township.  There will be a cash bar beginning at 5:30 pm with dinner following at 7:00 pm. Dinner tickets are $25.00 per person and include a program book.  Ads can be placed in the program book at the following prices:

Full Page – $70 (of which $50 can be used for a tax write off)

1/2 Page – $50 (of which $30 can be used for a tax write off)

1/4 Page – $40 (of which $21 can be used for a tax write off)

Please make checks for dinner tickets and ads payable to:  PA American Legion Housing for Homeless.  Mail to:

The remodeling and upkeep of these homes is the responsibility of the American Legion Housing for Homeless Veterans, Inc.  We need your support!  Thank you in advance for your consideration and support.

Sincerely,

Ronald F. Conley, President

PA American Legion Housing for Homeless Veterans, Inc.

Just an idea – Take this letter to the company you work for and ask for a donation.  Or, you could take the letter to companies that you patron asking them to support this cause.

Happy Thanksgiving

Posted: November 24, 2011 
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Wounded Warriors donation

Posted: November 23, 2011 
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Tagged: afghanistan, american legion, chapter 571, pennsylvania, riders, wounded warriors, wounded warriors project
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Troy Baer ( right ) presents a  certificate from the Wounded Warrior Project to Presdent Gary O. Weaver for the donation $ 2,524.00 in the name of Cpl. Jarrid L. King .     Jarrid L. King was killed in Afghanistan in January 2011.     This was the total monies raised in Chapter 571 ( Wesleyville )  Cpl. Jarrid L. King Memorial Dice run.   All costs were donated or paid for by Legion Riders Chapter 571 of Wesleyville .

Holiday Hospital Tour

Posted: November 22, 2011 
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Tagged: Holiday Hospital Tour
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Please join Commander Kerrie Gill, Department Adjutant Kit Watson, and Santa for the Holiday Hospital Tour.  This gives us the opportunity to visit our veterans throughout the state and spread holiday cheer.  We are looking forward to seeing you.

Click Here for a printer friendly version of the Holiday Tour schedule

Monster Bash Party

Posted: November 1, 2011 
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Tagged: american legion, bash, monster, motorcycle, party, pennsylvania, riders
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The Monster Bash Party was a great success!

This fundraiser for Housing for Homeless Veterans Corp was a blast for all those involved.  It was held on October 29th; during the Legion College East weekend. There was a DJ, Karaoke, silent auction, costume contest, door prizes and light snacks.

Please check out our photos!

Happy Halloween

Posted: October 31, 2011 
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No mail after November 17th

Posted: October 30, 2011 
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U.S. forces are coming home from Iraq by the end of the year, the U.S. Postal Service will stop accepting mail addressed to military post offices in Iraq starting Nov. 17, Defense Department officials said.

Military post offices in Iraq also will stop processing mail Nov. 17, and service members there should begin now to advise those who send them mail about the Nov. 17 deadline.

Mail still in the postal system through Nov. 17 will be processed and delivered to service members in Iraq, officials said.

In November, U.S. military postal service responsibilities in Iraq will transition to State Department embassy or consulate post offices for service members assigned to Office of Security Cooperation or the Chief of Mission in Iraq.

These sites will provide letter and parcel mail services to service members assigned to the Office of Security Cooperation or the Chief of Mission in Iraq.

The transition will be closely coordinated with the U.S. Postal Service Agency, which will delete ZIP codes for Iraq military post offices from the USPS database to prevent undeliverable mail from entering the postal system after Nov. 17, according to defense officials.

If APO mail arrives in Iraq after a service member departs, mail will be redirected to the new mailing address provided or, if no mailing address was provided, returned to sender.

Any mail mistakenly accepted by a USPS post office after Nov. 17 will be returned to sender once it reaches the International Gateway in New Jersey.

U.S. service members in Iraq who do not receive an absentee ballot by Nov. 17 should contact their U.S. Local Election Office to change their address. Unit voting assistance officers can provide state-specific voting details.

Service members who are remaining in Iraq after Nov. 17 and who are there on behalf of or are assigned to the Office of Security Cooperation or the Chief of Mission in Iraq should coordinate with their chain of command and the servicing State Department mail location to receive a new mailing address.

According to defense officials, conditions and situations in the Iraq transition change often. Officials recommend that service members check the Military Postal Service Agency website and USPS Postal Bulletins frequently for updates.

Your news

Posted: October 29, 2011 
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We want your news.  The quarterly newspaper for the American Legion Department of Pennsylvania, ”Keystone News” wants to publish what great things your Post has been doing.

What are you doing at your Post for your community, our veterans, and the youth of our nation?  Let us know!

The “Keystone News” will now be scheduled for release after our DECs and Department Convention to get the latest information on Resolutions and Committee information reported at department meetings.

Since we have a DEC in January, the first issue of the year will be released in February.  The following DEC is in April so, the second issue of the “Keystone News” will be start for May.  The Department Convention is always in July so the third issue of the year will be released in August.  And finally our last DEC is in September but to keep the news quarterly the last issue of the “Keystone News” will be released in November.

The issues will now follow this quarterly order:

If you have any questions regarding the “Keystone News” please contact Shannon Kyle

We also want your news for the website.  Please include a little who, what, where, when, why and pictures for the “Keystone News” articles as well as your articles for the website.

The website allows us to post many pictures of your events; whereas, the “Keystone News” normally allows for only one or two because of space limitations.  Please, Please, Please send in MANY pictures of your rides and what you do for your Chapters!  We want to know!!

Please email or mail your articles to Shannon Kyle

Dollar Tree Recognized

Posted: October 28, 2011 
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On Tuesday, 25^th of October Chapter 940-W. Brownsville presented a plaque to the patrons of the Dollar Tree Store #23, located in Washington, PA.

Through the efforts of the Store Manager, Barb Landis (holding the plaque), the customers of this store donated well over $5,000.00 of personal care items, stationary, clothing, etc., which helped not only the veterans in Care Homes, shut-ins, patients in VA Hospitals, but also troops serving in Iraq.

Barb is a member of The Ladies Auxiliary of Post 940 and knows the wants and needs of our troops, her husband Vince (not in Picture) and his Reserve Unit were deployed 3 times to Iraq.

Pictured from left to right: Chapter 940 officers; LuAnn Waters- Treasurer, Bob Koval-Chaplain & Post Commander, Roy Sluk-VP, Frank Stazko-Secretary, Scott Waters- Sgt of Arms, Chris Bruce-President and Will Biddle-Road Captain.

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