Adopt A US Soldier Supports Our Troops in 128 Countries Around the World
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Our deployed troops feel they are alone. Letters and packages truly brighten their day and lift moral. AAUSS has truly helped some of the soldiers from committing suicide!
By the grace of God and the help of a whole lot of volunteers, Adopt A US Soldier began during my son’s first deployment to Iraq in 2004/2005.
His battalion of 3,600 soldiers was living in a large airplane hangar in Habbinyah, a small town between Ramadi and Fallujah. Cots were jammed in the hangar to accommodate all 3,600 soldiers, and for the first 5 or 6 months their meals consisted of nothing more than MREs (meals ready to eat).
I learned that no matter how much I sent to Paul, it was never enough because he would share everything with his unit. I talked with friends, co-workers and church members for help. The more we sent, the more everything was shared. First with Paul’s unit of 7, then with his platoon of 45, and then with his company of 175. Before Christmas of 2004, we had sent Paul three microwaves, an X-Box, DVD movies, books, magazines, hygiene products and tons of food (microwavable and snacks).
The ‘thank you’ letters from Paul’s company started coming and they tore out my heart.
“Our barracks look like a house on Christmas morning when everyone started ripping into the packages.”
“All we hear on the news is how against the war everyone is. Thanks for giving me hope.”
“You are the real heroes supporting us.”
“If you have time, could you write back?”
I was crying my eyes out when a friend called and asked me what was wrong. I started to read him the letters and he alerted the media. (To hear that first interview, please click here: http://www.adoptaussoldier.org/index.php/site/comments/original_radio_850_koa_interview_with_ann_johnson_founder_of_aauss/)
The interview aired on January 10, 2005 with such a large response that I received 600 e-mails. It aired again the next day and that is when the first 3 volunteers came on board. Each called and asked what they could do to help. I asked what their area of expertise was and learned that one was clerical, one was web, and one was a free lance writer!
On February 4, 2005, we had a website up and on February 6, 2005, Fox ran a piece that I knew would go out not only nationally but international as well. On February 7, 2005, our first supporter, the Finley’s from Australia, asked if they could “adopt”. We also received a request from an airman, R. Boyd, in Ballad, asking how he could get “adopted”.
Adopt A US Soldier organization was up and running with supporters from all over the world.
Our organization was 7 years old on February 4, 2012. We have over 725,000 supporters from 128 countries and 48 volunteers that help me. One year ago, we had 518,945 supporters in 86 countries and 20 volunteers.
More About This Charity
Region
West
Category
Human Services
Name
Adopt A US Soldier
Mission
Adopt A US Soldier is a non-profit organization that seeks volunteers to help show the brave men and women fighting for our freedom that their sacrifices will not go unnoticed. It connects supportive civilians with deployed troops and offers a channel by which to communicate encouragement and express gratitude to those brave men and women serving in the United States Armed Forces.
Impact
- This charity raised under $5,000 in the past year
- This Achievement helped over 1,500,000 people
- This charity helped 404,000 people in the past year
- This charity helped over 1,500,000 of our troops serving overseas
Works In
United States, Germany, Thailand, Australia, Africa, Belgium, Canada, Bermuda, Yukon, and Spain
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