Wounded Troops At Reed Need Phone Cards

[K8-EEE]

So sad...the number ONE request at Walter Reed hospital is phone cards. Because the priority of our government is to continue tax cuts for the likes of Paris Hilton, the government doesn't pay LD phone charges and these guys, many of them amputees, are rationing their calls home.

Many will be there throughout the holidays.

Remember that most are from poor families. It is disgusting that they cannot keep in touch with family after what they have been asked to sacrifice for BushCo; especially this time of year.

Support the troops -- cuz BushCo doesn't. Send phone cards of any amount to:

Medical Family Assistance Center
Walter Reed Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20307-5001

They say they need an "endless" supply of these -- any amount even $5 is greatly appreciated.

[MidwestTransplant]

1. Kick

[htuttle]

2. Yes, I'd imagine they do

[juliagoolia]

3. kick

Would be good for democrats to do this and say..

This is from a democrat please let the soldiers know we support our troops

[Tesibria]

4. YES -- VITAL to both support them AND let them know WHO is supporting them

kick

[Streetdoc270]

18. put on the card

'from your supporters at Democraticunderground.com' :)

[blondeatlast]

33. Think I'll have my son sign it "a fourth generation yellow dog!" nt

[CaliVoter]

5. Wounded Troops At Reed Need Phone Cards

I called the Walter Reed Medical Center Family Assistance Center this morning to find out if there was anything else they needed. The very nice Staff Sergeant confirmed that the soldiers do indeed need phone cards and advised that just last month, the patients went through 55,000 minutes of phone card time last month!!

I asked if they needed anything else. He said they have plenty of stuff like sweat suits and sundries, and that what they could really use for the wounded patients in addition to phone cards are breakaway pants and small pillows (he described them as polystyrene filled pillows in elastic type covers, which the patients, particularly the amputees, find helpful for comfort).

Most importantly, he provided a more specific address to send these gifts to:

Medical Family Assistance Center
Walter Reed Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue, NW
Building 2, Third Floor, Room 3E01
Washington, DC 20307-5001

He didn't say so, but I bet the wounded could really use cards, letters and holiday greetings. I told him we wanted to help in a way that directly helps the soldiers (rather than going through the Red Cross or some third party org) and he assured me that would be the case.

[K8-EEE]

6. KICK! Please Note Additions To Address...

Thank you & I will add the extra line to my orig.

[K8-EEE]

7. Where Is The Outrage???

God WHY DO THEY NEED US TO SEND THEM PILLOWS FOR THE AMPUTEES??????

That is seriously outrageous....they should be able to get any goddamned pillow they want...

That's just unbelievable. Especially in the context of all the "tax relief" for the richest who "support the troops..."

cripes...the phone card thing is bad enough the the pillows, that gripes me even more, you would think that phys therapy/comfort issues would be being addressed by the government.

[Eumenides]

8. Quite possibly...

one of the most disturbing things I've heard since this whole sordid affair began. At least they're in our wonderful VA system and not, gasp, a country with socialized medicine, like Canada.

....no body armor....no armored humvees....no pillows....the beat goes on.

[blondeatlast]

34. I think maybe an LTTE campaign concerning this very issue may be in order.

Absolutely disgusting; more cuts for the wealthy, while we tax the worker and CHEAT the soldiers.

[Erika]

9. Tax Cuts For The Rich But No $ for Phone Cards

It must really suck to be a Republican right now. Regardless, we'll do a letter to the editor in hopes of more funds.

[K8-EEE]

10. Great Idea....Too Bad All The Flag Wavers

with their "support the troops" banners don't actually do it...

They should be provided this by the govmt, can you imagine GWB asking for a phone card drive for Walter Reed on one of his radio addresses? They don't want us to worry our beautiful minds with the realities they have created.

LTTE is a GREAT idea. Everybody do one, and put it in your church bulletin or whatever communitiy thing you have if you're so inclined.

[CaliVoter]

11. Community Involvement

That's a great idea, to add this information to your school, church, or community group bulletins, whatever it takes to get the word out that our wounded soldiers need these basic items to help just a tiny bit as they struggle to recover from their wounds.

[K8-EEE]

12. $5 Phone Cards Are Great But Costco...

has one that offers 670 minutes for $20. I might pick one up the next time I'm there -- wow if 100 people do that, it might pay for the phone for a whole month for those guys.

[blondeatlast]

35. And CostCo is a good business to support.

They held my friend's job for him while he served in Afghanistan, and they are very supportive of, and generous with, their employees.

You can bet I will do this.

[Maeve]

13. K8-EEE, have you posted this in General Discussion yet?

If not, I recommend you do, for greater info distribution. A single cross-post up there would not be out of line.

[pantouflard]

14. Thank you so much for this-

for the wonderful idea, and for doing the legwork. Let's show them what real patriots do to support the troops.

[Baja Margie]

15. Thank you. Done

kick

[nwc]

16. Posted, spread, done deal... $321 raised so far by badvertisers as well

Hope nobody minds but when I read this last night and was so outraged that I had to pass on the thread to the kos community. The response has been incredible.

Kos Action Alert: Walter Reed Vets Need Phone Cards

A fund has been set up at Badvertisers (same guy that runs sbgboycott.com) and he is negotiating with phone companies to get a volume deal on minutes/cards (possibly with a customized print). If anybody is unable to get out and do this themselves, feel free to visit badvertisers and contribute to the fund and it will be taken care of for you. The fund is currently at over $300 in a matter of 12 hours. $2000 is what the goal is, as that will provide phone cards for an entire month. :)

Thank you so much for posting this. I was well aware of the outrageous bullshit coming down on our troops and veterans from this admin, but something as simple as long distance? I just find it unconscionable.

p.s. this is my first post on DU so.... if it screws up, please dont crucify me :p I just had to register to spread the news of how far your words are spreading. So many are spreading this far and wide and hopefully it will continue going like this as the days go on. :)

[K8-EEE]

17. Wonderful, Thank You,

I am really happy to see this everywhere, great for you with the $321!! YAY!

Hell even Free Republic, everybody spread this around whereever! It really is outrageous. People need to make some noice about it. Thanks and welcome to DU!

[Baja Margie]

19. kick

[seemunkee]

20. My boss comes to the office depressed after being at WR

He's 70+ and it saddens him every time he has to go there to see the young amputees. I'll send him the link and get him to contribute.

[LibInternationalist]

21. WHAT?

This is beyond obscene -- I wish I had the money to spare

[CaliVoter]

22. Free phone cards with purchase

In the past, I've seen a lot of products that have free phone cards included in the packaging. I bought something once that had a phone card included, and never had the need to use it, so it went unused before it expired (kicking myself now!). With the holidays coming around, maybe there will be offers like this on the shelves, on products we would buy anyway, and if so, that would be a practical way to contribute to the wounded troops needs.

[LiberalFighter]

23. Even low or uncharged cards would be good if explained

that they or loved ones recharge them. This would be true if the cost per minute is less then normal. Less than .04 a minute.

I've had only one card for several years and just keep recharging it.

[tomreedtoon]

24. How about producing a Xerox-able card for distribution?

I'd rather let someone at DU design it, and post a PDF that people can copy, cut apart and distribute. I'd suggest using a design that would let people copy on both sides of card stock, cut the card into quarters (which are postcard size), 5 1/2" x 4 1/4") and leave them as flyers or mail them to people.

My suggested text, but again, DU should design it. The front side should have some clipart of a soldier's helmet decorated with Christmas holly or something.

The back side should avoid being confrontational, buth should raise this point gently.


"America's soldiers, especially those from poor families, are hurting this time of year. Thanks to cutbacks by the Bush Administration, they must pay for their own phone calls to their families and loved ones. This especially hurts during the holidays.

"Support our heroes, especially because the Republicans won't. Our wounded vets urgenty need the following:

* Telephone long-distance calling cards. Any card will do; several cards with small amounts of time would be better than one card with a lot of time.

* Small pillows to help comfort amputees.

* "Breakaway" pants that can be easily removed.

* And of course, holiday cards and letters of support and encouragement.

Please send your phone cards, items and messages of support to:

Medical Family Assistance Center
Walter Reed Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue, NW
Building 2, Third Floor, Room 3E01
Washington, DC 20307-5001

Brought to you by www.democratidunderground.com - God bless you."

[sixfive]

25. kick

:kick:

[Baja Margie]

26. Check this out your guys,

The neo-cons excuse for not having calling cards is that never has our government supplied these cards to the GI's. Now, I spoke with some VETS from the Vietnam war & they told me they had been given unlimited access.

Check out what the pukes are saying under OFF TOPIC

http://www.bajanomad.conm

Dirty Fuckin Bastards.


These assholes pulled my IP, can't get in anymore unless I go into town.

FUCK EM !

[captain disgruntled]

27. I'm a little confused--as a former SM myself, I am

completely supportive of the troops, especially the sick and injured, but the Walter Reed website says something about their Family Assistance Center providing phonecards.
Are those phonecards only available to family members, or do they have to pay for them, or what's the deal?
I have a small group newsletter etc. and I would love to help publicize this, but I do want to make sure I've got my facts all straight.

[captain disgruntled]

28. Okay--I just got off the phone with somebody over at the WRAMC

FAC (love those acronyms), and she confirmed that while the Family Assistance Center does distribute phonecards, the phonecards they are distributing ARE AVAILABLE BY DONATION ONLY.

So yes, once again, troops are being screwed.
She said that the Red Cross is also distributing phonecards, and estimated that last month they went through 55,000 minutes.

[captain disgruntled]

30. Damn--waited too long to edit.

Sorry, K8-EEE, didn't mean to sound like I was second-guessing you--I live pretty close to WRAMC, and I just thought I'd check their website and see what they had in the way of requests or volunteer opportunities etc. when I spotted that card reference.

LeftyMom, post #16 above has a link to another site whose owner is pooling donations and purchasing cards from CostCo--if that's not an option for you, maybe you'd rather contribute to him and let him get them.

I have a friend who works with Worldcom, who's going to see if there are any special phone card rates available for employees--if so, I'll see what's possible.

[LeftyMom]

29. ANybody know where we can get a really good deal on phone cards?

We're doing fairly well this month and trying to keep holiday spending to a minimum so we can put a little money away for a rainy day and spend some on things like this. I just want to do the most good for our money.

Somebody upthread said Costco has a good deal on tem, but I haven't got a Costco membership. Does someplace else (besides Voldemart) have a good price on phone cards?

[K8-EEE]

37. EARTHTONES Is A Progressive Phone Company That Sells Cards

Go to "standard phone card" on this link to order.

http://earthtones.com/data/138/pages/callingcards.asp

A card in any amount, $5 is fine, is so welcome. Thanks to all the awesome DUers on this site!

Earthtone phone cards would be a GREAT gift for anyone who has a college student away from home! You can ge sure they'll use it and you'll have the honor of screwing the repuke tele-industry out of another $5.

Check out the Economic Activism/Progressive Living site for more low cost/no cost/lib-friendly gift ideas!

[captain disgruntled]

31. Here is another link to an organization which is also providing

phone cards--okay, it is the VFW, but if our goal is providing assistance and comfort to soldiers who are the victims of *'s lunacy, then that should be our first consideration--
http://www.operationuplink.org/ They only accept credit card or mailed donations, no PayPal option.
For many DU members, one of these two might be more efficient than a long drive etc. to buy and mail 'em.

[blondeatlast]

32. I'll have my 7 year old son send a phone and a greeting card.

What a wonderful thought; thank you for the reminder.

[blondeatlast]

36. Sources supportive of progressive ideals/causes:

I checked WorkingAssets, they don't offer phonecards, unfortunately.

CostCo and Target would be good sources.

Can anyone think of other progressive sources?

[rosyhue]

38. In Need Of Phonecards...How Pathetic Can You Get

I've been sickened by this phonecard biz for months now.
How revolting is it that the richest nation in the world
cannot supply teenage amputees with $5.00 phonecards to
call their families? We need to get cracking and start
helping these soldiers NOW. Imagine how it feels to be 20,
missing 1, 2 or 3 limbs...and realize there weren't even any
weapons of mass destruction in Iraq? Don't forget most soldiers
are in their teens and 20's. The least we can do for
these kids - whose lives are over - is help them call home.

They also need videos and dvds. Even used ones are fine.
Nothing war related, though, obviously. Comedies, arty films and the like are probally best.

[rosyhue]

39. B-Day Parties For Injured GIs At Walt Reede - Public Encouraged To Attend

one other thing - there are "birthday parties" at Walter Reede monthly for wounded soldiers. The public is encouraged to attend. As I"m sure you can imagine most Americans aren't jumping to go. (The results of war are seldom pretty).

I got some info about these b-day parties sometime back but cannot find the link now. A woman I spoke w/via email said the soldiers especially want females to come (can you blame them? remember their ages). I'm sure they'd be happy to meet warm, caring guys too.

If someone either calls WR or looks into "birthday parties soldiers WRH" you all can spread the word about visiting them. They are lonely and need our support.