Army launches new Web site for 'Gifts' to Soldiers

By Army Public AffairsJuly 18, 2008

Screen shot of new Web site
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, July 21, 2008) The Aca,!A"Gifts to ArmyAca,!A? Web site, launched Monday, is an online resource developed to streamline and process gifts to the Army that benefit Soldiers and their Families.

Citizens often ask Soldiers, their Family members, and Army Civilians how they can support their Army. They want to know how they can help men and women in uniform. This Web site will provide the public an online resource to answer the question: Aca,!A"How can we help'Aca,!A?

"Many individuals have asked how they can help the Army,Aca,!A? said Joyce Morrow, administrative assistant to the secretary of the Army. Aca,!A"We appreciate how generous the public is and the concern they have for the welfare of our Soldiers and Families. We've developed this Web site to provide information on how to contribute money, goods or services to benefit Soldiers and their Families.Aca,!A?

The launch of the site centralized the many venues and paths for the public whose offers of support fall within the ArmyAca,!a,,cs overall Gift Program, which is managed by the Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army. Contribution options addressed on the site include support for the Army, Soldiers and their Families, wounded warriors, Army installations and more.

"This Web site is not intended as a solicitation, but merely as a way to provide information on the options and programs available to those who have expressed a desire to make a contribution," said Morrow.

The Army Gift Program has existed for many years under the authority of Title 10 United States Code, Section 2601. On Jan. 28, 2008, President Bush signed into law, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law 110-181, Section 593), which expanded the Army's gift acceptance authority to include acceptance of gifts on behalf of wounded Soldiers, wounded civilian employees, and their Families.

AmericaAca,!a,,cs support of its military is not new. During World War II, tin drives, support for food rationing, and canteens were common. At a train depot in North Platte, Neb., a small group of volunteers in a city of no more than 12,000 provided food, magazines, and conversation to the hundreds of troop trains that stopped in their town. This major undertaking went on for the duration of the war and was done without government support.

The people of the United States carry on the tradition of caring for and supporting their men and women in uniform.

The Aca,!A"Gifts to ArmyAca,!A? Web site provides a central source of information to refer those interested in contributing to and supporting Soldiers and Army Families and offers ways for them to express that support, should they choose.

For more information, visit the Aca,!A"Gifts to ArmyAca,!A? Web site at <a href="http://giftstoarmy.army.mil/ "target=_blank>

http://giftstoarmy.army.mil/ </a>.