Thank you for thinking of our troops!

Thousands of Americans are asking what they can do to show their support for service members. Below are Web sites for several organizations that are sponsoring programs for members of the Armed Forces.

The public is urged not to send unsolicited mail, care packages, or donations to service members during the holiday season.

During this time of the year, the number of donation programs increases and causes mail from families and friends to be mixed with mail from unknown sources resulting in delivery delays.

Service members should receive mail only from those friends and family members to whom they personally give their address.

Military addresses should not be passed around by family member for use by donation program. Unknown mailers could then obtain those addresses and mail harmful items to service members.  

Michigan National Guard Family Fund

Consider a donation to the Michigan National Guard Family Fund. One hundred percent of this not-for-profit fund goes to financially struggling families of deployed Michigan National Guard members.

Send your check or money order to:

Michigan National Guard Family Fund Inc.
3411 N. Martin Luther King Blvd.,
Lansing MI 48906.

For more information, call 517-481-8357.

Military Family Relief Fund

In the Fall of 2004, the Michigan Legislature passed, and Gov. Granholm signed into law, the Military Family Relief Fund Act. The Military Family Relief Fund provides grants to qualifying families of military members in either the Michigan National Guard or Reserves who are called to active duty as a result of the national response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Download an application for the Military Family Relief Fund:
MFRF Application

Other sources to support service members

Visit to the following Web sites to show support:

Want to send a Gift Certificate to someone you know or someone you don't know.  To find out how, visit the CertifiChecks website at
http://www.aafes.com/docs/homefront.htm

Budweiser honors families with complimentary admission to theme parks.  Here's to the Heroes!

America Supports You:   http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/

Donate a calling card to help keep service members in touch with their families at Operation Uplink at http://www.operationuplink.org

American Legion activities http://www.legion.org/homepage.php

Learn more about the Michigan Project Blue Star:
 http://www.michigan.gov/homeland/0,1607,7-173-23612_34175---,00.html

Send a greeting via e-mail through Operation Dear Abby at http://anyservicemember.navy.mil/ or www.OperationDearAbby.net

To find out ways to support service members and their families throughout the year visit the U.S. Department of Defense at
http://www.defenselink.mil/

Make a donation to one of the military relief societies:

Army Emergency Relief at http://www.aerhq.org/

Navy/Marine Relief Society at http://www.nmcrs.org/

Air Force Aid Society at http://www.afas.org/

Coast Guard Mutual Assistance at http://www.cgmahq.org/

Donate to "Operation USO Care Package" at http://www.usometrodc.org/donationpage.htm

Other ways to support:

Support the American Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services at http://www.redcross.org/services/afes/

America Supports You at
http://www.americasupportsyou.mil

USO *** until everyone comes home at
http://www.usocares.org/home.htm

Operation Iraqi Freedom FAQ at
http://www.army.mil/operations/iraq/faq.html