Hawkeye Chapter of the American Red Cross - Armed Forces Emergency Services

Support U.S. Troops During the Holiday Season and Throughout the Year

Nextel DONATE A PHONE^®
Nextel sponsors a unique program in support of the American Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services entitled DONATE A PHONE^®. This program is a simple way for Americans to support military members and their families by donating their old wireless phones. The Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA) Wireless Foundation, the philanthropic organization for the nation's wireless industry and the creator of the DONATE A PHONE^® program, estimates that approximately 30 million old wireless phones lay idle in American homes and businesses.

Americans can participate in the program by taking their old wireless phones from any manufacturer to any one of Nextel's 700 retail stores. After recycling and refurbishing the phones, Nextel will donate the net proceeds of the resale value, which averages $1.90 for each phone collected, to American Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services, the arm of the organization that supports members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families.

Operation Dear Abby
Dear Abby, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the U.S. Department of the Navy's LifeLines2000 Services Network in association with SPAWAR SCC (National Capital Region) provides a private and secure online resource that will allow people to send a sailor, marine, soldier, airman, or coast guardsman a holiday greeting or message of support.

Armed Forces Emergency Services

Providing emergency communications anywhere in the world. You're never out of touch; around the clock, around the world, you can depend on the American Red Cross. Servicemen and women know they can count on the Red Cross to help them stay in touch with their families and offer assistance when emergencies arise. Every 11 seconds, the Red Cross helps a current or former member of the armed forces or one of their family members. 40,000 to 50,000 messages go out every year!

Reporting and Emergency Communications
In the event of an emergency, critical accident, illness or death in a service member’s immediate family, the Red Cross should be called at once. The Red Cross is equipped to verify the situation and relay an emergency leave request, if necessary, to proper military authorities. It is up to the commanding officer to decide whether or not to grant a leave.

Information, Referral and Advocacy
The Red Cross also helps military families cope with non-urgent problems by confidentially providing information, referral, and guidance. These services include helping military families receive assistance from other agencies and provide assistance with arranging family support.

Health and Welfare Inquiries
Regular communication between service members and their families is ordinarily no problem, but sometimes a long time with no word can be worrisome. The Red Cross can help. Through our worldwide communications network, we can communicate with the installation or ship where the service person is stationed. You’ll get a report on their welfare to give you peace of mind. Also, service members can request the same service related to families back home.

Nobody ever said being in the armed forces was going to be easy, for yourself or your family. Adjustments have to be made, problems solved, stresses and tensions resolved, and separations dealt with. THE GOOD NEWS IS WE CAN HELP! And you can help us, too, by supporting the American Red Cross with a donation of time or money.

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