Cause of the Month

SA Needs You....To Spread the Word.

No matter how important a cause, or how great the need, if the population at large does not know about it, an organization will not live to its full potential. Our Angels are a dedicated group and work tirelessly to write letters, send care packages and provide our special teams and projects, such as Backpacks for the Wounded, with the necessary supplies to support our sailors, soldiers, marines and airmen. However, Soldiers’ Angels continuously receives more requests for soldier adoptions and, therefore, always needs more Angels and even more community support. This is where our challenge comes in for each and every Angel. Spread the word across the nation (and globe) about our cause.

Unlike many other programs in Soldiers’ Angels, writing or calling newspapers, radio shows and TV programs does not cost money and is relatively quick and easy to do. For newspapers, look in the print edition or visit their websites to find out requirements, such as word limit, and how to submit letters. Many let you email letters, which adds ease. You may have to make a choice whether to submit it as a Letter to the Editor or as an Opinion Article. The specific newspaper will depend on which is the better choice. For radio/TV shows, you can either call or email with information on SA and a request for the show to either mention SA or for a personal/live appearance for a Q&A session.

So you’ve decided to contact a local newspaper and/or radio/TV show. But what do you tell them? First, decide whether you are going to relate your own personal experience with SA or if it will be a more informative piece on the organization in general. Pam from Ohio called a local radio station and asked if they would be interested in doing a story on SA. They requested that she come to the show and do a live interview. “We discussed what SA is and what they do… We talked about how much support for our troops is needed. I talked about my adopted soldier (don't worry, used first name only) and what types of things I send over to him,” Pam said. She said it was a great experience. Pam reminds us, “Small steps...small steps....if all of us take small steps, they can turn into one giant step!”

Deb in MI took a similar approach but instead wrote a letter to a newspaper. She kept it relatively short and simple, so as to grab attention and provide information but not to overload readers. First, she gave a brief description of SA and then told how to register and what the basic requirements were (writing once a week and sending a small care package once a month). Deb also gave a few examples of other ways to get involved, such as the Letter Writing Team and Blankets of Hope. Finally, she closed with, “I encourage all of you to join and support our troops. Regardless of how you feel about the war, our soldiers...need your support. They need to know that they are not forgotten.”

Angels! Our challenge is for each and every one of you is to take thirty minutes of your time to contact a local newspaper, radio, or TV station and spread the word. The only thing it costs is your time, but it could make a drastic difference in the lives of our troops.