Program gives more than $400,000 in gifts to troops

[darrels joy]

Program gives more than $400,000 in gifts to troops

DALLAS (AFPN) -- Since the Army and Air Force Exchange Service began ?Gifts from the Homefront? last year, people have contributed $406,745 toward the program.

The program is designed to lift the morale of deployed troops worldwide by offering gift certificates which can be purchased by any individual or civic organization. This allows servicemembers to purchase items of necessity and convenience at any exchange facility in the world.

?Gifts from the Homefront? certificates can be addressed to ?any servicemember? or individual servicemembers.

Because the gift certificates can be used for merchandise already stocked at contingency locations, they are a safe alternative to traditional care packages that strain the military mail system and present force-protection issues, said AAFES officials. Servicemembers can purchase exactly what they need with the certificates because they can be applied to a wide range of products. Reports from Operation Iraqi Freedom locations indicate the donated certificates are being used for the latest CDs and DVDs, comfort items such as snacks and beverages and phone cards for calling home.

Those wishing to send a "Gift from the Homefront" can log on to aafes.com or call (877) 770-4438 to purchase gift certificates in $10 or $20 denominations. From there, the "Gift from the Homefront" may be sent to an individual (designated by the purchaser) or distributed to "any servicemember" through the United Service Organizations, American Red Cross, Air Force Aid Society or Fisher House.