URGENT! Project Valour-IT Needs Your Donations For Injured Troops

The Soldiers Angels Project Valour-IT provides laptops to severely injured members of all the armed forces. These are troops who have either disabled or lost hands, arms, eyesight, etc that would prevent them from using a computer. The Department of Defense provides voice activated software for them to use the laptop. It's just one more way to help those providing our freedom. Can you think of a better reason to give your donations?

Every cent raised for Project Valour-IT goes directly to the purchase and shipment of laptops and other technology for severely wounded service members. As of November 2008, Valour-IT has distributed over 2700 laptops to severely wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines across the country, and is now expanding its mission to include other technology that supports physical and psychological recovery.

Valour-IT accepts donations in any amount to support our mission, but also offers a sponsorship option for laptops.  An individual or organization may sponsor a wounded soldier by completely funding the cost of a laptop and continuing to provide that soldier with personal support and encouragement throughout recovery. This has proved to be an excellent project for churches, groups of coworkers or friends, and members of community organizations such Boy Scouts.

Originally Valour-IT provided the voice-controlled software that accompanies the laptops, but now works closely with the Department of Defense Computer/electronic Accommodations Program (CAP): CAP supplies the adaptive software and Valour-IT provides the laptop.  In addition, DoD caseworkers serve as Valour-IT’s “eyes and ears” at several medical centers, identifying patients in need of laptops and other technological support for their recovery.

My team is the Army team. I chose the Army team because I personally know many soldiers in the Army, many of them being to Iraq at least once. One of them was my cousin who was injured in a roadside bomb explosion on his Bradley. He suffered burns on his face, neck, and hands. The story is here.

To donate to the Army team, it's right here below:

If you wish to donate to other branches, click here

U.S. Marines & Their Families Lead Humanitarian Mission In Iraq

Despite what you may have heard or think, there is actually good things occurring in Iraq. The Border Transition Team 4222 Marines mission is to train Iraqi Security Forces in Anbar Province, Iraq. It then grew to also providing medical and dental aid for Iraqi civilians. SSgt. Dragonslayer's wife told me about this project that her friend started. They get donations of toys, clothes, non-perishable foods, etc, and send them to The BTT 4222 Marines, who then give them to Iraqi families.

If you would like to donate something, or would like more information about what is needed, please click the "Donate Now" button below to automatically send an email or the email is iraqmission@gmail.com. Someone will be in touch with you shortly

Here is some of the article from the Marines website:

Their mission is to train, mentor and advise Iraqi Security Forces on Anbar’s border, but the Marines of Border Transition Team 4222 don’t forget to provide help to western Anbar’s civilian population.

“Helping them out helps the mission out greatly, as far as winning them over,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class John H. Holscher, corpsman, BTT 4222. “Turning them from the impression that the military is bad, that all we do is kick in doors and cause hell, it’s not like that at all. We’re trying to help them.”

The transition team headed up a small civil affairs engagement here Oct. 24 to provide local Iraqis with medical, dental and logistical aid. Though it’s not part of their primary mission, team members here have learned that reaching out to the Iraqi people will make them more likely to reach out to Marines.

“It’s important we gain their trust, if we have their trust they’ll talk to us and tell us where (foreign fighters) are, and we’re able to eradicate any insurgent presence,” said Gunnery Sgt. Rob T. Mantilla, operations chief. “It provides safety for us to maintain contact with these people; we keep them safe and they keep us safe.”

[...]

“This is the face of Iraq right here, you could see it in their faces that we make a difference to them, one at a time. And if that’s what it takes, then that’s what we have to do,” said Mantilla, 36, Jersey City, N.J.

The project kick-started when Mantilla talked to his girlfriend about the dismal living conditions of a few of the more isolated Iraqi families. She took it on herself to contact different stateside associations, looking for donations of clothes and food.

“(Mantilla) just told me about how the kids had barely anything, so I decided to go on (the internet) and post an ad for all unwanted stuffed animals and toys,” said Erika C. Duke, 25, Escondido, Calif. “Everyone responded, (and) wanted to give me shoes, clothes and toys.”

Mantilla told other team members about Duke’s success, and the idea snowballed from there. Soon the team’s loved ones combined their efforts.

“People started writing home and things just started flowing in from back home, with lots of support from friends and family, and the whole inspiration was to help the locals out,” said Capt. Will D. Whaley, operations officer.

An outpouring of aid filled one of the Marines’ huts. Brown boxes filled to the breaking point with aid. Some bundles of clothes were separated by size and tied off with inspirational messages written in Arabic.

“It just to teach them that, although we have cultural differences, and maybe have a different belief system, we’re still goodhearted people that care for other people,” said Whaley, 32, Phoenix.

The locals thanked their visitors with chai tea and hummus bread. Kids ran around the Marines, laughing, playing with their new toys and trying on new clothes.

Here's some pictures of the kids getting the donated food, clothes and toys.

From Iraq Mission

From Iraq Mission

From Iraq Mission

From Iraq Mission

From Iraq Mission

From Iraq Mission

From Iraq Mission

From Iraq Mission

From Iraq Mission

From Iraq Mission

Obama's Plan To Make A Bad Economy Much Worse

I was reading a post over at Ace Of Spades and they had linked to Obama's transitional website, change.gov. The agenda part of the website had been scrubbed after some interesting information appeared. But, thanks to Google, we have a cached page.

The interesting tidbit I found was that Obama wants to raise minimum wage to $9.50/hr.

Increase the Minimum Wage: As president, Obama will raise the minimum wage to $9.50 an hour by 2011 and index it to inflation so full-time workers can earn a living wage that allows them to raise their families and pay for basic needs such as food, transportation, and housing – things so many people take for granted.

Now combine this minimum wage increase with the higher taxes he plans to impose on business. This is just another cost that is passed on to the consumer. That $9.50 is not going to make your life easier when prices increase because of higher taxes and higher wages.

That's CHANGE we can believe in.