These are some of the charitable organizations that help send gifts, cards and care packages to American troops:

• Adopt a Platoon — Support the troops through gifts and sponsored mail.

• Army and Air Force Exchange Services — Buy gift certificates for active and hospitalized service members.

• Blue Star Mothers — Organizes postcards to troops and care packages.

• Commissary Gift Certificates — Give the gift of groceries; buy or donate gift certificates.

• Operation Uplink — Donate a calling card to help keep service members in touch with their families.

• Operation USO Care Package — Sponsor a care package for $25.

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These are some organizations that provide support to wounded veterans and their families:

• American Red Cross Armed Forces — Offers medical services to active duty, veterans, reservists and families.

• Angels of Mercy/No Soldier Left in Need — Donate clothes to wounded soldiers returning stateside, or donate to long-term rehabilitation programs.

• Blinded Veterans Association — Volunteer and scholarship group provides care and support for blind veterans and families.

• Fisher House — Support families whose loved ones are being treated at military and VA hospitals.

• AAFES Gift Certificates — The Army and Air Force Exchange Services is where most servicemen and women do their shopping, for those in Iraq and hospitalized veterans.

• Camp Doha — Camp Doha provides valuable information for those about to deploy, their friends and families and anyone who wants to support the troops.

• Cell Phones for Soldiers — Donated cell phones are recycled and turned into cash. The cash is used to purchase calling cards for soldiers in Iraq.

• Groceries for Families — This helps military families to buy gift certificates to the commissary.

• Homes for Our Troops — This program assists injured veterans and their immediate families by building new or adapting existing homes with handicapped accessibility.