Best Little Known Way To Support Our Troops

During wars or armed conflicts, there have been many millions of people involved in little programs to support our troops. Most of the programs generally involve sending letters, health, beauty, entertainment items, and non-perishable snacks and goodies to our troops while they are involved in conflicts to show we care about them and give them a little taste of home.

However, what we often tend to forget is the fact that our troops also have families and loved ones that need support and assistance with a variety of problems and issues. We also seem to forget that even during those times in which there is not an armed conflict involving our troops... they still need and require our support.

There is one little known program established in 1942 that has not forgotten the constant needs of our troops, their families, and loved ones. That little known program is called the Army Emergency Relief(AER). AER is a private nonprofit organization whose basic mission is to provide emergency financial assistance to Soldiers and their families.

Not only do they help active duty Soldiers, and their family members... they also help our National Guard, Army Reserve Soldiers and their families, Retired Soldiers and family members, and surviving spouses and orphans of Soldiers who die on active duty or after retirement.

The Army Emergency Relief help with emergency financial needs for food, rent, utilities, emergency transportation and vehicle repairs, funeral expenses, medical and dental expenses, and personal needs when pay is stolen or delayed.

AER also gives undergraduate-level education scholarships to children, spouses, and surviving spouses of soldiers. Financial assistance is provided in the forms of interest free loans, or outright grants if repayment of loans will cause undue financial hardship. Also, there is no dollar limit on AER financial assistance to meet emergency needs.

Army Emergency Relief gets it's funding through voluntary contributions from active and retired Soldiers and Army Civilians, repayment of AER interest-free loans, investment income, and unsolicited contributions from the general caring public.

Even though active duty and retired service members are strongly encouraged to contribute to help fellow service members... they do not have to contribute to receive AER assistance.

In 2005 and 2006, AER provided over 100 million dollars in financial assistance to over 100,000 Soldiers and families. In 2007 alone, AER provided more than 70 million dollars in assistance to over 60,000 Soldiers and their families.

AER is the best little know way to support or troops and their families all through the year... in times of conflict, and peace. All that are in agreement with this can find out more information and contribute at the AER web site located at www.aerhq.org. Caring contributions may also be sent in the form or checks or money orders to Army Emergency Relief, 200 Stovall Street, Alexandria, VA 22332-0600.

Even though AER is sponsored by the U.S. Government, American Red Cross, and our military forces... they receive no funding from these organizations.

As our troops continue their commitments in support of the global war on terrorism, and our basic freedom which we enjoy... the need for our caring support of AER which supports our troops and their families... is as great as ever.

Remember, this is the best little known way to support our troops, and it's tax deductible.