CARE CONNECTION INFORMATION
Networking: Attached is a form that ESA’s Care Connection developed as a link to provide a network of services to ESA members, their families and communities. If you would like to participate, please complete a form for each ESA member and forward it on to Judy Huntley.
Crafters: If you can craft or crochet or knit check out the attached pattern for crocheting watch caps.
To find out where these hats can be used, peruse the following website. There are many other sites as well that share information on how to help with your crafts. http://familycrafts.about.com/od/craftingforcharity/Crafting_for_Charity.htm and more information can be found at our very own ESA wesite under “Make a Difference” and “Interest Groups”: http://www.epsilonsigmaalpha.org/member-center/interest-groups/groups/The_Caring_Crafter.
Wounded Warriors: Can you even imagine what our military and wounded veterans must be going through. As reported in the Lamp, many heroes are returning with multiple amputations or other disabling injuries not completely fixed even by fancy prosthetics, methodical rehabilitation, and job retraining. The Pentagon counts more than 29,000 combat wounded in the Middle East since the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. Tens of thousands more were hurt outside of combat or in ways that show up later. . . . insurgents have relied on disfiguring bombs and bombardment as chief tactics. At the same time, better armor and field medicine have kept U.S. soldiers alive at the highest rate ever, leaving 16 wounded for every fatality, according to one study based on government data. The ratio was fewer than 3-to-1 for Korea and Vietnam. . . . Treatment, recovery and retraining often can't be assured quickly or cheaply. . . .These troops are just starting to seek help in large numbers, more than 185,000 so far. But the cost of their benefits is already testing resources set aside by government and threatening the future of these wounded veterans for decades to come. . . .” http://www.military.com
Founded in 2003, the Wounded Warrior Project is a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization with headquarters in Jacksonville, FL. As of their fiscal year end in September 2010, 82% of total expenditures went to provide services and programs for wounded warriors and their families. Go to https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/Default.aspx?tsid=93 and you can donate $19 a month or even give a one time donation. Maybe this can be a chapter project.
Recycling is Caring: Obviously recycling ink cartridges and toners and phones can bring donations into Easter Seals, but how about those items that damage the environment that need to be recycled? Check out http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/electronics/default.htm It gives a wealth of information on how and where to deposit your tv’s, vcr’s, PC’s, laptops and chemicals and more.
Hope for Heroes: The ESA website has a wealth of information on how to help our heroes. Check out the Make a Difference button for the details. And in case you missed it from the January Lamp:
www.Homesforourtroops.org constructs homes for the severely injured vets who served after 9/11. Donate equipment or help build a home.
www.Dav.org/volunteers provides free transportation to vets unable to travel to VA medical facilities on their own. You can volunteer to drive a DAV van.
www.guardianangelsforsoldiers.org Take in a dog or cat of a deployed soldier or wounded veteran while they are on duty or receiving VA medical treatment.
www.loc.gov/vets Record a war story: conduct an interview of an old soldier with tales from the front lines. The Library of Congress wants to hear his voice. A field kit gives tips for the interview including biographical data and release forms.
www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com Send used phones to this organization. They will pay for an hour of talk time for troops overseas.
www.coupsfortroops.com Coupons are needed after all. I checked and there are drop off spots in Holiday, Bell and Melbourne, Florida. And the military families can use them up to six months past their expiration date.
So, now you know more about how you can help. God bless our efforts in caring.
