Shop and do good

Support America's soldiers
You could join Cher in her campaign to provide soldiers with helmet upgrade kits, which offer an added level of comfort and protection. The grassroots group Operation Helmet just launched another appeal to send kits to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

There are, however, lots of other ways to help support the soldiers overseas. Best known for its entertainment shows in World War II, the United Service Organization (USO) sends care packages to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. For a donation of $25, you can sponsor a package that contains at a minimum pre-paid phone cards, sunscreen, travel-sized toiletries and a disposable camera. Many of the goods are donated by corporations so the retail cost actually runs about $50-$75 per package.

Through “Gifts from the Homefront” at Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), gift certificates can be sent to soldiers, which are redeemable at one-stop military shops called PX (Postage Exchange) or BX (Base Exchange) worldwide. Currently, there are 57 exchanges scattered throughout “Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom,” says an AAFES spokesperson.

The exchanges stock anything from Slim Jims for .25 cents each to a $2,279 VAIO notebook computer. Munchies and magazines rank high on the list of popular goodies. Top-selling items include Red Bull energy drink, Rice Krispies marshmallow squares, a four-pack of AAA batteries and Maxim magazine, which sold 88,941, 26,601, 21,552 and 10,999 units in August respectively, according to an AAFES spokesperson.

Several programs exist where you can “adopt a soldier” and even “a platoon.” Among them are Operation Military Pride, Soldiers Angels and Adopt a Platoon.

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