Charity Profile: Books for Soldiers

If you love to read, I bet you've got a pretty nice stockpile of books. I'll go even further and say that I bet you only read 2-5 of those books on a regular basis, and the rest are just "dust collectors."

Am I right or am I right?

I just came across a wonderful charity that can help you downsize your library, opening up a little more space for something else! It's called Books for Soldiers.

Books for Soldiers connects those who have books to spare with deployed military troops in need of a little entertainment.

Having been in the military myself, I know firsthand that when deployed soldiers have free time, there's likely no internet, no TV, no phone. In other words, there's…

(1) nothing really to do, or

(2) if there happens to be "stuff to do and see" off-base, they may not be able to participate due to certain rules and regs or safety issues.

Books are a great way to help the guys and gals, who protect our freedom and our country, to pass the time. In addition, it's always nice to get mail when they're away from home, even if it's from total strangers.

The Books for Soldiers website explains, "After [the first Gulf War], we received many thank-you notes from soldiers who got one of our books. Unless it was time for them to fly back home, mail-call days were one of the most anticipated events of deployment."

The site goes on to say that "Regardless of why the military is deployed, the men and women of our armed services are there for us. They deserve our support and if we can make their deployment easier, then all the better."

So true!

For more information on this charity, see BooksForSoldiers.com - and btw, if you type it into your browser, there's no www with that!

Posted September 3, 2009, filed in Clutter Control Products, Books, Where to give it away, Living Simply, Less is More