You Can Be a Hero for Wounded Heroes

Just weeks before our son, Noah, was wounded in 2005, our much-loved friend Chuck Ziegenfuss was also wounded. From bad things, good things sometimes come. In this case, it is Project VALOUR-IT (Voice-Activated Laptops for OUR Injured Troops). This is the only fund raiser I participate in all year.

From Chuck Z:

In 2005, I was wounded. For some months, I was unable to use my hands. They were simply too badly damaged from the blast, and the surgeries to make them usable again left me unable to do anything for myself. 

Then came Soldiers Angels, who gave me a laptop, and paired it with special software that allowed me to control the computer, using only my voice! Imagine, being able to do anything you can do with a mouse and keyboard, using just your voice. For me, it allowed me to do one thing that I could do before I was wounded.

That one thing when everything --feeding, cleaning, scratching, everything -- had to be done for me... that one thing I could do for myself that allowed me to connect to my soldiers, friends, and family. That one thing... that one thing began a long road to recovery. It gave me hope that I could learn to do other things like I did before.

That one thing is only possible if people like you care enough to help. We have provided thousands of these systems since 2005, but the needs for these systems is still increasing. I visit military medical facilities and meet with wounded troops, and know that there are ways to help them... and right now, I have to tell them to wait because we need funding.

Should our wounded have to wait for something that can help them heal, take their mind off their pain, or bring them a little sense of self?

Please help us raise $100,000 between July 1-14 to keep us in the business of providing for our wounded. It seems like a lot of money, but every single dollar helps. Every dollar donated goes to the troops. None of the VALOUR-IT donation goes to administrative or other costs. You'd be hard pressed to find any charity that does that, but it was a stipulation I made when we set it up. That number seems huge, insurmountable. But you know how you eat an Elephant? One bite at a time. Give what you can, please. I know times are tough. Times were pretty tough for me, too, and are pretty tough for young men and women learning how to use prosthesis, getting skin grafts, having wounds washed out...

Donate if you can, please share the message with others. Get your friends to give what they can. Write about it on Facebook and twitter. Call in to a radio or TV show. Spread the word. Spread the love. Spread the hope.

Thank you.

This year DH and I are supporting Team Navy (it's just a friendly inter-service competition -- but ALL money goes to ALL wounded regardless of service branch!!)

For you with smart apps, here's the QR -- just scan and go!!

Please give what you can. EVERY dollar helps.  (and if you just can't bring yourself to give via TEAM NAVY, there are links to Teams Army, Marine Corps, Air Force on the page as well.

PS If you are still just THINKING about a donation, consider this: you just read this on a computer, using your hands... imagine how isolated you might be if you couldn’t.

Feel free to copy & paste this message to friends, families, co-workers... share the links... share the images. Good to go!

SEARS: HEROES AT HOME

As y'all are starting your shopping, I ask that you remember SEARS -

SEARS HELPS HEROES FULFILL WISHES THIS HOLIDAY

Sears Heroes at Home Wish Registry™ offers America the chance to say “thank you” and helps military families have the holidays they deserve!!

With more than 480,000 U.S. soldiers currently on active duty*, Sears is once again calling on America to step up and say “thanks” to the nation’s troops this holiday season. As part of its long-standing commitment to real life heroes, Sears is proud to bring back its annual Sears Heroes at Home Wish Registry™ to give back to the men and women who serve our country by inviting Americans to donate to the Heroes at Home Wish Registry.

With thousands of active-duty military fathers and mothers away from their homes fighting for our country, the Heroes at Home Wish Registry helps to bring the holidays home for many deserving families. By bridging the miles with a little holiday cheer, the Wish Registry provides a chance for active military members to connect with loved ones during the holiday season. Many families that were helped by last year’s efforts shared their stories to encourage active members of the military to register this year, some of which are posted on the Wish Registry website. One family shared:  

My husband has been deployed the last two Christmases and I have tried to cope by making it just another day – no tree, no presents, etc. When I heard he was selected for your program and received the email to go buy decorations I was crying. I thought, for once it would be nice to make myself happy and bring back Christmas! I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart and let you know what a difference you are making for military families.

Now through Dec. 31, Americans can support the Sears Heroes at Home Wish Registry by making a contribution to the Wish Registry either in-store or online at Sears.com/heroesathome. Donations made to the Wish Registry are not tax deductible and will be used to purchase Sears gift cards that will be equally distributed to all registered families.

“Through the Heroes at Home Wish Registry, Sears is able to give back and say ‘thanks’ to the military members who selflessly protect our nation every day,” said David Friedman, SVP, Sears Holdings and president of marketing, Sears Holdings. “The Wish Registry enables Americans to show their gratitude to our military heroes and help make the holiday season brighter.”

Year-over-year, demand among the military community continues to grow. This fall, thousands of active members of the military registered to participate in the Sears Heroes at Home Wish Registry; achieving more than 23,000 registrants in less than 24 hours after activating the website. Now in its third year, the Heroes at Home Wish Registry has helped more than 51,000 military families and has raised more than $12.2 million. For many, the wishes fulfilled in years past have been simple and practical, including everything from warm clothes to new toys for their children to a Christmas tree and other holiday decorations for their homes.

Furthering its long standing commitment to the military, Sears Blue Tool Crew will launch a new military discount program for tools this Veterans Day, Nov. 11. Starting on Veterans Day, Sears will offer a 10 percent discount on all in-store, regularly priced tool purchases, including Craftsman tools, when customers show a valid military I.D.

“We are honored to be able to provide our military heroes with the Sears Blue Tool Crew military discount as a token of our appreciation for the ongoing commitment and service they provide to our country,” said Steve Light, SVP of Tools and Hardware for Sears Holdings. “Being a member of the military is a lifelong commitment and Sears is dedicated to providing ongoing support to our military customers and their families who serve our country every day.”

Customers can also support America’s troops by voting for the “Deck Your Halls” sweepstakes. For every vote received during the sweepstakes Sears, along with its holiday trim shop business, will donate $1 to the Wish Registry, up to $10,000. Now through Nov. 22, customers who vote for their favorite holiday product theme as part of the “Deck Your Halls” sweepstakes will be entered to win prizes worth up to $2,000. For complete rules and entry please visit www.sears.com/deckyourhalls.

Sears Holdings’ ongoing commitment to assisting troops and their families includes several recruiting and employment programs, as well as a military pay differential to Sears associates employed (full time) who are reservists serving on active duty. Reservists who are employed full time are allowed to continue participating in life insurance, medical and dental programs.

For additional information about the Heroes at Home Wish Registry or to make a donation, visit www.sears.com/heroesathome.

SOME MARINES NEED SOME STUFF!!!

SOME WOUNDED MARINES NEED SOME STUFF. BOSTON MAGGIE SAYS SO (and I'd do what she says!!)

GO NOW AND READ... THEN SEND!!!

http://bostonmaggie.blogspot.com/2010/06/listen-up-i-want-something.html