Here are some tips and examples of projects you might consider to use. You can also
make up your own: Tips for Girl Scout Troops/Groups to Support Deployed service- members overseas or Veterans.
Girl members may support other organizations through service projects and by contributing a portion of their troop/group treasury to organizations or projects they consider worthwhile. Girls, in their role as Girl Scouts should not solicit money for a specific organization.
Girl Scout troops/groups may decide to:
- participate in a
memorial service or other community event by, for example, leading the
Pledge of Allegiance or handing out programs.
- donate money from
their current treasury to support deployed military members by
making care packages.
- donate some or all
of their troop/group proceeds from selling Girl Scout Cookies to a
veteran organization or to help the military troops. Troop members may
inform their customers that this is how they intend to use the money in
their troop treasury. For example, girls could say, "We plan to
use money that we earn from selling Girl Scout cookies to support
deployed military members by purchasing care packages."
It would not be appropriate for girls to say, "Buy Girl Scout
Cookies and we'll give the money to the 'XYZ Organization'."
provide a listing with names and addresses of agencies supporting veterans and deployed military members to individuals who are interested in making a donation to them.
- provide assistance to a local community service group on an on-going basis so that Girl Scouts continue to make a difference in their community.
Operation
USO Care Package. You can buy a "care package," which
will be delivered to a deployed service member with a personal note from you.
These care packages are purchased and delivered by the USO (United Service
Organization) with permission and support from the Department of Defense.
Send a PX/BX Gift Certificate to a wounded service member. Anyone can purchase a gift certificate from the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), and ask that it be donated to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. This is the medical facility where all service members wounded in the Gulf or Afghanistan are treated before they are transported back to the states. The certificates donated will be redeemed for toiletries, sweats, undergarments, socks, pre-paid calling cards and other items of convenience or necessity for our wounded heroes.
Donate a Commissary Gift Certificate to a needy military family. Anyone can give the "gift of groceries" to needy military families around the World.
Donate a Calling Card through Operation Uplink. Operation Uplink is a unique program that keeps military personnel and hospitalized veterans in touch with their families and loved ones by providing them with a free phone card. Using contributions from supporters like you, Operation Uplink purchases phone cards and distributes them to servicemen and women who are separated from those they care about.
Volunteer at a Veteran Hospital, National Veteran Cemetery, or Department of Veteran Affairs facility: You might consider to Paint a mural, Visit and talk with a sick veteran, Play bingo or other games elderly veterans, or help with a flag ceremony. Assist with food preparation and feeding of patients. Also, if you would like to go to a National Veterans Cemetery, you could help clean gravestones, place flags by graves, or put flowers on graves. Below is a link to find the nearest veteran facilitations near you:
Volunteer at a Military Food Pantry by collecting and sorting canned goods.