Help for our troops

mike55 · 12-12-2007, 04:42 PM

I posted this on the Porsche 911 Tech forum:

Well fellow Pelican members, it's the Christmas and Holiday Season. A time of caring and giving. Wayne and Pelican parts have graciously allowed me to post this request.

I was moved by 2 stories I recently heard. One directly and the other on the TV. Firstly, my oldest daughter is in a class with a boy who has a brother serving with the Canadian forces (joint with US troops) in Afghanistan. His cel telephone bill was $700 in October, calling home to keep in touch with family and friends. Also, on TV I saw a story about a couple of kids that raised several thousand dollars in their local community (in Indiana I think???) to help out a soldier from their town that rang up an $8000 phone bill.

This got me thinking and motivated. I have a friend that distributes pre-paid phone cards and may be able to give me a wholesale price on any sized purchase. What I'd like to do is ask for small donations from members/guests and friends - $5, $10 or ??? - to purchase pre-paid phone cards. All proceeds (after Paypal fees) would go to buy the cards and I would send them off via our troop support organizations. They would be distributed in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere I would think. I do not profit at all and would do all the leg work for nothing, not that it's that much anyway. Also, there's no tax deductions for me or any donor.

If you can, great. The easiest way to donate is through Paypal. I've setup a Paypal account - troopcalls@gmail.com. I'll post status updates with amounts and donor names if so desired. Anonymous is fine too. If not, that's OK too. Maybe you can help in other ways.

Feel free to email or message me using the PP message system. Thanks and happiest of Holidays to all!

Mike

If your interested or can help, it's best if you can follow the thread by clicking on the link below. Thanks.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?t=381491

speedracing944 · speedracing944's Garage

I belong to an organization which does the same thing you describe.

Speedy

mike55 · 12-13-2007, 10:06 AM

....good on you. For those others that can, please donate whatever you can. I've received several emails from soldiers saying this small gesture goes a long, long way.......... Thanks,

Mike

myskyon · 12-20-2007, 07:32 AM

i just saw this and would like to Add something. IF the people in Afghanistan were to buy a prepaid Sim card and call home it is only$0.50 per min VS $4.99 and up, a min using a us company. now here is the best part the cell systems they use there are on the European network, IE if you want to get someone a phone buy a QUAD band phone then it will work there. but the best bet would be to send them the money to buy the same phone there for about 1/2 the price you would pay here! one company that works really well is called "Roshan" it is a prepaid cell company in Afghanistan. i used them for 4 out of my 6 month deployment. well worth it! also you can buy phones and the prepaid cars from the Base exchange (store). If you would like some more information on this please drop me a line.

mike55 · 12-20-2007, 08:40 AM

Thanks for the reply myskyon. There's no substitue for experience! Several alternatives have been suggested to me, all of them good. Calling cards are one way that I know to work and when combined with the ability to purchase and send online, it's about the best I can do.

If you're following the main thread, you'll know we've pooled enough funds to purchase 50 cards. Hopefully we can raise enough for another 50 in the next few days! Best of the Season to all,

Mike

firefighter7128 · firefighter7128's Garage

I am a local Radio DJ and own my own buisness selling Emergency Vehicle Equipment.
For a few years now i have been sponsoring and working the "Give to the Troops" that we do out in front of Sam's Club every year. Awsome response. You can check out the main site at www.give2thetroops.com

mike55 · 12-26-2007, 10:15 AM

.....that's great! There are many ways to give, and many things to give as well. The calling cards worked out really well and from all accounts are very much appreciated. The important thing is to remember there are many in harm's way. Regardless of your opinion on whether or not they should be there in the first place is not the issue here. The fact that they are over there is. Doing anything to bring home a little closer is a good thing.....

I'd like to keep this thread going for the rest of the week or so. Thanks to all of you for the kind donations. Let's try to keep them coming! We're half-way to buying another 25 pack of cards.

To those of you over there, stay safe.......

Mike

USMC_944lover · USMC_944lover's Garage

I really wish I saw this thread before now. I know how much it helps and how much our troops appreciate those kinds of gestures. God Bless and Go GOP!

mike55 · 01-06-2008, 01:38 PM

USMC_944lover, thanks for the reply. I thought I had taken the drive as far as I could; but there still appears to be interest; so I'll keep it going. Here's the link to the new thread:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?t=385849

Mike

porsche9442285 · 03-19-2008, 09:03 PM

i know this was months agao but i want to say that is awesome of you guys to help the troops. i served in iraq for a year and it was literaly hell on earth. and support from people back home is what keeps you alive....so even though im no longer in the military i want to say thank you to you guys

mike55 · 11-22-2008, 10:06 AM

Version III is underway. Check out the main thread here and please donate if you can:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?t=437488

GrantM951 · 11-23-2008, 05:44 PM

I'm in the Army and have deployed to Iraq twice. Great ways to support the Soldiers are listed on the website http://www.americasupportsyou.mil

Grant